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Digital Photo

Dodging minor imperfections

To minimize the appearance of fine lines and blemishes, without destroying the skin’s texture, create a special layer for dodging and burning (selectively lightening and darkening).

First, hold down the option key and click on the New Layer icon in the Layers palette (or select Layer: New: Layer). This will bring up the New Layer dialog box. The trick is to change the Mode to Soft Light and then select the Fill With Soft-Light-Neutral Color option. This will fill the new layer with 50 percent gray. In a Soft Light or Overlay layer, 50 percent gray has no effect on the underlying image. However, when you use the Dodge tool to lighten the gray layer, it will lighten the underlying image as well, without affecting the color or texture. I recommend using the Soft Light mode because it has a gentler effect than Overlay and tends not to increase the saturation as much.

Next, select the Dodge tool in the Tools palette, choose a low Exposure setting, and then brush over the wrinkles or blemishes to gradually lighten them.

If you temporarily change the layer mode back to Normal, you’ll be able to scrutinize your work. The dodge marks will appear in the gray layer. Reduce the layer’s opacity to see where your dodge marks line up on the face (see “Nip and Tuck”).

If you go too far, you can repair the effect by painting over the Soft Light layer with a brush set to 50 percent gray at a low opacity. If you need a stronger lightening or darkening effect, you can duplicate the layer by dragging the Layer thumbnail onto the New Layer icon in the Layers palette.

[ Lee Varis is a Hollywood photo-illustrator. His images have appeared in National Geographic, Newsweek , and Fortune.]