Photoshop Help: Softening/diffusing a photo

I am always amazed by the knowledge and helpfulness of everyone here so here I go again with another Photoshop question. I recently switched to digital but prior to that I used a Nikon N55 often with a Cokin filter system. The main filter I used was one to soften (I think it was actually called a diffuser). It gave a very subtle but appealing tone. Since going digital and getting Photoshop, I love being able to apply effects after the picture is taken but I can't figure out for the life of me how to achieve the same effects with Photoshop (I have CS2 if that helps). I still can't get over how technical PS is. I ordered a Scott Kelby book but even the book goes over my head. If anyone has any good PS books to recommend (for a beginner) I would love to know. Thanks so much in advance....
Lisa

Lisa,

Scott Kelbys books are very good. Yes they appear a bit over the head at times, but if you try doing the steps as he does, you certainly start to get an idea of how things work. One thing with Photoshop, you really need to know what each tool is for.

Look under Filter Guassian Blur.

Another thing I use is Neat Image or Noise Ninja to also handle noise in images, but it is also very effective in softening skin tones as well. Need to play around with the settings a little as well in those which are stand alone or plugins for Photoshop.

If you post an image that you are trying to work on, that way you might get some better help/ideas/examples from people as well.

Try copying your background by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer. Apply the Gaussian blur to the new layer, then reduce its opacity or use the eraser tool to bring back sharpness in critical parts of the image (like eyes).

-J

Gaussian Blur is a good start. You can do it subtly or heavily, as you choose. You access it via Filter > Blur

There are actually lots of blur strategies you can use. One thing that Photoshop does is offer the opportunity to do more than just a plain blur. I made a few samples for you. The first is Gaussian Blur at a radius of 0.4

The second sample used Filter > Artistic > Plastic Wrap

That may not seem like a good idea, but it can have a similar effect as blur, with a little more of an artistic feel. My settings were Highlight Strength: 3; Detail: 6; Smoothness: 12

On the third sample I got a little more creative and used a filter on transparent layer. The filter was Filter > Artistic > Neon Glow

The Glow Color was a medium gray, Glow Size: 5; and Glow Brightness: 26

I copied the layer I wanted to use this on, ran the filter on the new layer, then changed the Layer Mode to Luminosity and Layer Opacity to 10%.

I tried to keep all of these pretty subtle. As you can see, there are lots of strategies and you can mix and match these effects using layers, layer modes, and layer transparency. Portrait photographers have come up with all kinds of custom blur recipes and you can even buy custom actions and filters just for this type of effect. Try playing with the effects I've shown you and then try some other stuff. Gaussian Blur is nice but in my opinion, it's a little too even and conservative. It's not quite the same as a blur filter you'd use on your camera lens.

Hope that helps!

The Neon Glow Layer is the best effort John. Although the original is quite good.

J-
Thanks for sharing. That's a good trick - with the eyes. I do that, as well as sometimes lowering the saturation on the whole image and masking the eyes so that they're brighter and more saturated.