Retouching images

Retouching images

You can retouch images using the smudge focus toning and sponge tools.

Note: These tools cannot be used with Bitmap Indexed Color mode or 16-bit-per-channel images.

Using the smudge tool

The smudge tool simulates the actions of dragging a finger through wet paint. The tool picks up color where the stroke begins and pushes it in the direction you drag.

To use the smudge tool:

Select the smudge tool .

Do the following in the options bar:

Choose a brush and set brush options (See "Working with brushes on section 228

Specify a blending mode and strength (See "Setting options for painting and editing tools on section 241

Select Use All Layers to smudge using color data from all visible layers If this is deselected the smudge tool uses colors from only the active layer.

Select Finger Painting to smudge using the foreground color at the beginning of each stroke If this is deselected the smudge tool uses the color under the pointer at the beginning of each stroke.

Drag in the image to smudge color.

In Photoshop press Alt ( Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you drag with the smudge tool to use the Finger Painting option.

Using the focus tools

The focus tools consist of the blur tool and the sharpen tool. The blur tool softens hard edges or areas in an image to reduce detail. The sharpen tool focuses soft edges to increase clarity or focus For information on other ways to adjust sharpness see "Sharp- ening images on section 155 and "Improving performance with filters on section 324

To use the blur or sharpen tool:

Select the blur tool or sharpen tool .

Do the following in the options bar:

Choose a brush and set brush options (See "Working with brushes on section 228

Specify a blending mode and strength (See "Setting options for painting and editing tools on section 241

Select Use All Layers to blur or sharpen using data from all visible layers If this is deselected the tool uses data from only the active layer.

Drag over the part of the image you want to blur or sharpen.

Using the toning tools

The toning tools consist of the dodge tool and the burn tool Used to lighten or darken areas of the image the dodge and burn tools are based on a traditional photographer s technique for regulating exposure on specific areas of a print Photographers hold back light to lighten an area on the print (dodging) or increase the exposure to darken areas on a print (burning).

To use the dodge or burn tool:

Select the dodge tool or burn tool .

Do the following in the options bar:

Choose a brush and set brush options (See "Working with brushes on section 228

Select what to change in the image: Midtones to change the middle range of grays; Shadows to change the dark areas Highlights to change the light areas.

Specify the exposure for the tool (See "Specifying opacity flow strength or exposure"

on section 243

(Photoshop) Click the airbrush button to use the brush as an airbrush Alternately, select the Airbrush option in the Brushes palette (See "Creating airbrush effects

(Photoshop) on section 239

Drag over the part of the image you want to modify.

Using the sponge tool

The sponge tool subtly changes the color saturation of an area In Grayscale mode the tool increases or decreases contrast by moving gray levels away from or toward the middle gray.

To use the sponge tool:

Select the sponge tool .

Do the following in the options bar:

Choose a brush and set brush options (See "Working with brushes on section 228

Select how to change the color Saturate to intensify the color s saturation Desaturate to dilute the color s saturation.

Specify the flow for the tool (See "Specifying opacity flow strength or exposure on section 243

Drag over the part of the image you want to modify.