Adjusting highlights, midtones and shadows

1.) When working with the Dodge tool or other similar tools in Photoshop that have options for selecting to work with midtones, does this mean that it will not lighten the light areas or the dark areas?
2.) And if shadows are selected will it only work with a dark area?
3.) And if highlights are selected it will only work with light areas?
Thanks in advance.

That has been my experience.  It will have no effect on totally black or totally white areas, but does a good job to a point. The thing is, You must have SOMETHING to work with. I back up my originals to a separate hard drive. I can then do anything I want to the download and as long as I don't "Save" the result of my tinkering, I will always have the original to fall back on. I work on the background to make changes in the shadows. (Usually increasing exposure) Then go to the top copy and erase the parts I want to lighten. Then flatten the image, resize, and save for the web.
Hope this helps.

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