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Dodging and burning are essential techniques in photo editing, allowing for precise control over light and shadow to enhance depth and focus. In ON1 Photo RAW, the use of a luminosity mask combined with an Edges-shaped gradient and the masking brush provides a highly effective way to apply these adjustments with both accuracy and ease. The luminosity mask targets specific brightness values in an image, ensuring that the dodge and burn effects are applied only to the desired tonal areas. The Edges gradient mask and masking brush further refine the mask, allowing for more control over where the adjustments take effect.

This method not only streamlines the editing process but also prevents unwanted spillover into unintended areas, a common issue with broader dodge and burn applications. The ability to selectively brighten or darken parts of an image without affecting surrounding tones ensures improves the story and strength of your photo. I use this technique all the time. You get professional-grade results with minimal effort.