HELP..Photo Effect

[bgohre]

Hope this isn't to vague.

There is a photoshop type effect that you can do to a picture that allows you to blur part of the photo while keeping the main part crystal clear. I can't remember what it is called. I thought it started with an S. Any help?

Thanks
Bobby

 

[MarkBarbieri]

There are a lot of ways to do it, but they tend to be time consuming. Your best bet is to use a DSLR and a lens with a wide aperture. If you can't do that, you'll want to cut out your subject using your favorite PS selection technique, invert your selection, and blur it on a separate layer. Using the guasian blur filter will get the job done. Someone sells a plug-in that allows you to specify the exact focal length and aperture you want to simulate for the blur. I can't recall the name of it off the top of my head, but I can look it up if it is important to you.

Just be aware that getting good results is hard. It's hard getting your subject selected perfectly (or good enough). It's hard balancing how much to feather your selection with how much to blur your background. If you get it wrong, the effect is obvious and cheasy looking. It's probably not too difficult if you are shooting things with clean geometry (straight lines), but people's clothing and hair are a pain.

 

[ssanders79]

If you want to do this in photoshop you can use a gaussian blur and then mask the areas you want crisp.
This is a quick fix, but the more time you spend on it the better it will look.

If you can reshoot then Mark has the best advice.

 

[bob100]

Hope this isn't to vague.

There is a photoshop type effect that you can do to a picture that allows you to blur part of the photo while keeping the main part crystal clear. I can't remember what it is called. I thought it started with an S. Any help?

Thanks
Bobby

don't know the term you're looking for but if you do a google search on "background blur" you will get lots of Photoshop techniques

http://www.republicofcode.com/tutorials/photoshop/video/gradient_mask_blur.php

 

[disneyboy2003]

Someone sells a plug-in that allows you to specify the exact focal length and aperture you want to simulate for the blur. I can't recall the name of it off the top of my head, but I can look it up if it is important to you.

I think you're referring to FocalPoint 2, made by onOne Software. Here's the link to their Photoshop plug-in: http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=35. It costs $160.

It simulates background blur, keeping your main subject in focus. I've never used it, but I always see huge ads for it in photography magazines.

I also agree with Mark, however. If you can get it right in-camera or if you can re-take the photo using a lens with a large aperture, you'll get the effect you want and it'll save you hours of unrealistic Photoshop work (unless you're really really really good at Photoshop ).

 

[jann1033]

Hope this isn't to vague.

There is a photoshop type effect that you can do to a picture that allows you to blur part of the photo while keeping the main part crystal clear. I can't remember what it is called. I thought it started with an S. Any help?

Thanks
Bobby

what are you using for editing? i know these both work with elements but not sure what other programs or what you have

try virtual photographer free, http://www.optikvervelabs.com/ or xero the fuzzifier might be closest to what it seems you are looking for, also free. you can adjust the area, amount of blur etc. xero is imo a little more along the lines of what you are looking for, virtual p has more preset actions that do things like make it aged or something. xero you can use different actions in stages if you want to get a more custom effect. but i do use both on occasion.
http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm. if neither of those ae it check Harry's filters. tons of free plug ins there http://www.thepluginsite.com/products/harrysfilters/index.htm
you also might try to add just a vignette to the edges by using a fairly transparent brush or if you have the ability to use a blur feature with a brush but put a large feather on the edge so it doesn't look like a hole... that would make the center area pop out more...not really positive about the effect you want. you probably could also do a couple layers, blur the top one then erase the on the top layer the portion you want sharp but the above programs do it one click so lots easier
lastly you can buy a soft spot filter .i got a ton of filters on ebay a few yrs ago for like $10 since most people use photoshop now. personally, i'd rather use photoshop than in camera since i can retain the original photo without what ever effects i add to it.

 

[wenrob]

On the rare occasion that I do it I duplicate my layer, lasso around my subjects, feather about 5pixels, invert, do Gaussian Blur around 10pixels then zoom in and clean up a little. I don't find it that hard(a PITA yes, lol), you just have to have a steady, light hand and know your program. Always best to do it in camera of course and while we as photo enthusiasts can pick out all the flaws with these kind of methods most people won't even notice that you did anything. (provided you're not really sloppy about it and leave huge halos)

 

[GrillMouster]

It's so much easier to just do it in camera. Use a large aperture (low f-stop), get close to your subject and move the subject farther away from the backgorund.

 

[REL1203]

Since i didnt see anyone mention it yet, the terms for the in-camera ability to do this is called BOKEH... Pretty easy to do with a dslr and a wide apeture lens, generally Prime lenses do it best...

 

[islac]

thanks for starting this thread. i don't have a DSLR so i rely on photoshop to get good editing done.

 

[jann1033]

i could be wrong but i don't think the op is talking about normal bokeh, i think he is talking about a special effect you used to get using a spot filter with film. so dof isn't really the problem. with the effect i think he is talking about it's more like a soft edge around the subject. not the background blurred . with a shallow dof you aren't going to get the same effect since the soft spot leaves the center totally focused including the background and only the edge( the part where the filter is frosted) is blurred

 

[GrillMouster]

i could be wrong but i don't think the op is talking about normal bokeh, i think he is talking about a special effect you used to get using a spot filter with film. so dof isn't really the problem. with the effect i think he is talking about it's more like a soft edge around the subject. not the background blurred . with a shallow dof you aren't going to get the same effect since the soft spot leaves the center totally focused including the background and only the edge( the part where the filter is frosted) is blurred

That reminds me of an old "cheat" I learned from old pros back in the day. Smear vasoline around the perimeter of a clear or UV filter to get that blurry vignette. It allowed us to customize the effect more than a spot filter, cause we'd wipe the filter down and reuse it! Maybe the OP is talking about a glamour/soft filter effect, where everything's got that hazy, dreamy effect, yet the subject is still sharp.