How to create dramatic lighting in Photoshop:

01 Make Basic tweaks

Open Adobe Bridge and navigate to your raw file, then right-click it and choose Open in Camera
Raw. Alternatively, download our raw file used in this tutorial! Now go to the Basic Panel on the
right and set Temperature 5200, Tint -9 to correct the White Balance. Next, set Whites +8,
Blacks -20, Clarity +9, Vibrance +18.

02 Adjust colour saturation

We can use the Targeted Adjustment tool to lower the dominant yellows. Grab the tool from the
Toolbar. Right-click in the image and choose Saturation. Drag downwards on the background
wall. The HSL Greyscale Panel shows the colour values as you drag. Set Yellows to about -35
and Greens -24.

03 Paint an adjustment
Well use the Adjustment Brush to boost the irises. Zoom in close then grab the Adjustment
Brush from the Toolbar. Go to the sliders on the right and set Exposure +1.55. Set Brush size to
about 3, Feather 50 and check Show Mask, then paint a precise mask directly over the irises.

04 Enhance the irises

Check Erase and set Brush Size to about 2, then paint to erase the mask over the pupil. When
youre happy with the mask, uncheck Show Mask Overlay, then go to the tonal sliders at the top
right. Keep Exposure at +1.55 and set Contrast +26, Clarity +40, Saturation +49.

05 Select the background

Hold Shift and click Open Object to open the image into Photoshop as a Smart Object. Grab the
Magic Wand tool from the Tools Panel then go to the Options Bar. Set Tolerance to 10 and
check Contiguous, then click on the background wall to begin a selection.

06 Refine the hair

Hold Shift and continue clicking to add to the selection until all but the baby is selected. Next go
to Select>Inverse, then Select>Refine Edge. Select View: On Black then set Radius 2.4px. Grab
the Refine Radius tool from the left of the box, then paint over the edge of the head to increase
the area of refinement.

07 Fine-tune the selection

When youve improved the edge around the hair, set Contrast +9, Shift Edge -8. Go to the
Output Options and check Decontaminate Colors, then set Amount 70%. Choose Output to: New
Layer with Layer Mask, then hit OK. Go to Window>Layers to access the Layers Panel.
08 Position in the middle
Press Cmd/Ctrl+T to enter Transform Mode, then drag inside the bounding box to reposition the
baby in the centre of the frame. Hold Shift and drag the corner of the box to resize slightly larger,
and drag outside to rotate. When youre happy with the position, hit Enter to apply.

09 Choose background colours

Hold Cmd/Ctrl and click the Create New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel to add a
layer below the cut-out baby. Grab the Gradient Tool, then click the foreground colour and set it
to white. Next, click the background colour and choose a dark blue tone (weve used R:66, G:76,
B:119).
10 Make a gradient
Go to the Gradient Options and click the Gradient Preset dropdown. Choose the first preset,
Foreground to Background. To the right of the preset dropdown, click the second Gradient Style
icon Radial Gradient, then drag a line outwards from the babys head to make the gradient.

11 Retouch the face

Click the Create New Layer icon, then grab the Spot Healing Brush tool. Check Sample All
Layers, then paint with the tool to remove blemishes. Switch to the Clone tool and again set
Sample: All Layers, then Alt-click to sample sources and clone to remove the highlight under the
chin.
12 Copy and change mode
Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E to merge a copy of all the layers. Rename it Dodge Burn, then right-
click it and choose Duplicate Layer. Set Destination Document: New, and hit OK. Now go to
Mode: Lab Color, then go to Window> Channels to access the Channels Panel and click the
Lightness Channel.

13 Burn the shadows

Grab the Burn tool from the Tools Panel and set Range: Shadows, Exposure 15% in the options.
Zoom in close and paint with the Burn tool to darken down shadow areas on the face and body.
Get in close to the eyes and use a small brush to emphasise the lines and detail.
14 Dodge the highlights
Continue burning to emphasise shadows and detail across the face and hair. Switch to the
Dodge tool and set Range: Highlights, Exposure 15% then paint to lighten the brighter areas on
the face and body, such as the upper cheeks, dribble and whites in the eyes. Click on the Lab
channel when youre done.

15 Copy and mask

Right-click the layer and choose Duplicate Layer. Select Document: baby_before and hit OK. Go
back to baby_before and click the Add Layer Mask icon in the Layers Panel. Grab the Brush tool,
hit 2 for 20% opacity and D for black, then paint to soften the effect in areas where it looks too
strong.
16 Boost the colours
Click the Create Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel and choose Vibrance,
then set Vibrance +22, Saturation +18. Next add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer. Select
Yellows from the Master dropdown and drag Saturation to -31. Hit Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E again to
merge another layer.

17 Sharpen selectively
Right-click the new merged layer. Go to Convert to Smart Object, then Filter>Other>High Pass.
Set Radius to about 3.5px then hit OK. Change Blend Mode of the layer to Overlay, then hold Alt
and click the Add Layer Mask icon to add a full black mask. Grab the Brush tool and paint with
white to selectively sharpen.
18 Final touches
Click the Create Adjustment Layer icon and choose Curves, then drag the curve line downwards
slightly to fine-tune the overall brightness of the image. Finish by highlighting the upper dodge
burn layer, then use the Burn tool set to Range: Midtones to darken the corners.