Effect used by many wedding photographers- how to do this?

[photochick]

Hi there!

 

This effect I see on many photographers websites. I took this picture from

New Light Photography as an example to ask how this is done. Can anyone let

me know?

 

Thanks!<div></div>

[vlad khavin]

Kate,

 

This is called soft focus. You can do this by duplicating a layer, applying Gaussian Blur to the new layer, and then reducing its opacity until you get the desired amount of softness.

 

More specifically:

 

1) Merge all visible layers to a new layer (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E)

 

2) Select the new layer

 

3) Put Gaussian Blur on it ( 5px or 10px radius ) which will yield a blurry picture.

 

4) Reduce the opacity of the blurred layer to approximately 66%, or possibly less if you want a more subtle effect.

 

Hope that helps.

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

Commonly known as 'soft focus', 'diffusion' or 'glow', this is best done using a a soft focus filter, the best ones are apparently the Softar range of filters where you can adjust the effect by turning the filter. They are pricey though. I used to use a Cokin filter in the old days.

 

To do this digitally, my method involves these steps: Duplicate the background layer. On the background layer up the contrast in the highlights and apply a basic sharpen (I use 100,1,0). On the new layer above apply a gaussian blur of 20. Then alter the opacity until you get an effect you like, I use 50-60%. Flatten the layer then apply an 'add noise' set to uniform/monochromatic at between 3 and 5%.

 

Of course there are a hundred and one methods out there, I like the subtle effect this gives.

[merlin]

I'm not sure, you'll have to ask someone from the 80's...only, only kidding, a bit

 

just a soft focus effect, there's probably 100's of free actions out there that will do just that

[rezdm]

Actually this shot seems to be just blur, as it is.

 

If you are interesting in such shots, try to find:

Minolta Soft Focus 135/2.8 SFT Lense for 135 format

Imagon lense for med. format.

 

Anyone can make it's own 'soft' focus lense by themselvs. The thing is to create a lense that has spheric abberations not eliminated totally.

Here's the example:

<img src="http://www.mdf.ru/i/photo/006/6630.jpg"/>.

 

Though the image on monitor doesn't show this correctly, a final print has all details in it, plus all 'bright' places have some kind of extra lightning around them. I don't know whether the term translation is correct, but actually it is called as 'monocle effect'.

[annealmasy]

Kevin Kubota's "Soft Glow" action does the same thing.

[matt_needham]

Here's a good tutorial...

 

http://www.rangefindermag.com/magazine/jun06/showpage.taf?page=88

[lucafoto]

Try a lensbaby

[beau 1664876222]

To get that sickly, waxy-skin look, use a digital camera instead of real B&W film and then convert. To get that blurry look, apply gaussian blur on a separate layer and then erase the parts of that layer (e.g. the middle in this case) where you want it to look sharp.

[bruce levy]

It looks like the opacity of the blur was further reduced around the facial details and left heavier as one goes to the edges. It approximates the old Vaseline around the edges of the camera filter technique. As was said, there are a multitude of ways to approximate the effect, all slightly or greatly different.

[photochick]

Thanks for your responses. Yeah, I know the black and white isn't the best, it seems the picture was slightly over-exposed, I just wanted to find a picture quickly to show what I was going for with the blur- or soft focus. Thank you!!

[emmett_s]

Beau...I laughed out loud at the 'waxy' comment. That's the term I have been searching for....the way people look like waxed fruit. I also got quite a chuckle from the Stephen's 80's comment...all that is needed is a sunset backlight to make it toally 70's.