What does the Dodge and Burn effect change?

Dodge and Burn reshapes the image's exposure and contrast curve, changing dark, middle, and bright regions deliberately instead of applying one uniform brightness offset. The strength control determines how much of that treatment replaces the unedited appearance.

Which photos work best with Dodge and Burn?

Choose Dodge and Burn for backlit portraits, landscapes with a wide exposure range, or architecture with deep directional shadows when the source has clear detail and balanced exposure. Start with a lighter setting if it contains heavily clipped highlights, crushed source files, or flat illustrations that contain little recoverable tonal information.

Dodge and Burn applied to the same source image — The same source image before and after applying Dodge and Burn.

Original source image before Dodge and Burn — The same source image before and after applying Dodge and Burn.

Dodge and Burn Lighting Effect Online

Dodge and Burn creates more intentional exposure, local contrast, and light placement without changing the composition; tune the strength before exporting the finished image.

Upload a photo for the Dodge and Burn effect

Upload an image

Drop a file here, or click to browse

Supported formats include JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF, RAW, PSD. Maximum file size: 11 MB.

What you can do with the Dodge and Burn effect

Review the available effect capabilities before you begin.

Apply the Dodge and Burn effect to any photo
Fine-tune the effect strength to taste
Preview your photo live as you edit
Download your edited photo in high quality
Apply Dodge and Burn to many photos at once

Use this effect

About the Dodge and Burn effect

Dodge and Burn redistributes luminance and local contrast with highlight and shadow protection. Its intensity control blends the processed output with the uploaded pixels, so the edit can remain restrained or become the dominant look.

How to use Dodge and Burn

Upload a photo, adjust the Dodge and Burn intensity, compare its processed preview with the source, and download the finished result.

Why use the Dodge and Burn effect?

Dodge and Burn, tuned to your photo

Use the intensity control to balance the Dodge and Burn treatment with the detail and character of your original photo.

A fast Dodge and Burn workflow

A reduced Dodge and Burn preview keeps adjustments responsive. Free downloads are clean and web-size; Premium or a credit unlocks the original resolution.

Secure Dodge and Burn processing

Dodge and Burn uploads are processed on secure servers and automatically removed under the normal Pixoate retention policy.

How it works

Processing

Dodge and Burn runs as a classic image effect and does not use an AI action.

Best for

Dodge and Burn works best for backlit portraits, landscapes with a wide exposure range, and architecture with deep directional shadows, especially when the source is sharp and well exposed.

Less suited to: Dodge and Burn is less reliable on heavily clipped highlights, crushed source files, or flat illustrations that contain little recoverable tonal information.

Ways to use Dodge and Burn

Build backlit portraits with the Dodge and Burn effect.
Use Dodge and Burn to prepare landscapes with a wide exposure range.
Try a lower-strength Dodge and Burn treatment for architecture with deep directional shadows.

Dodge and Burn questions

What does the Dodge and Burn effect change?: Dodge and Burn reshapes the image's exposure and contrast curve, changing dark, middle, and bright regions deliberately instead of applying one uniform brightness offset. The strength control determines how much of that treatment replaces the unedited appearance.
Which photos work best with Dodge and Burn?: Choose Dodge and Burn for backlit portraits, landscapes with a wide exposure range, or architecture with deep directional shadows when the source has clear detail and balanced exposure. Start with a lighter setting if it contains heavily clipped highlights, crushed source files, or flat illustrations that contain little recoverable tonal information.