Soft Focus/Glow/Diffusion Software

[brian_ellis19]

<p>Could anyone recommend a source for a good CS3/Vista plug-in that will allow me to create soft focus, glow, and similar effects. I'd prefer that it be free but I'd pay up to about $100 for something good. I've Googled and found a number of sources but two didn't respond to my question of whether their software worked with 64 bit Vista and others included a whole bunch of other things that I don't need or want to pay for.</p>

[anna_nielsen]

<p>i know you are asking for a plugin but you do have it allready - cs3!- i would get the book "skin" by Lee varis. there is a chapter with nothing but blur methods - all done in photoshop.</p>

[dbcooper]

<p>Depending on what you're doing, you can do a quick-and-dirty global version with CS3's Camera Raw. Just move the 'Clarity' slider to the left a good bit, and twiddle with the contrast, vibrance, sharpening, etc. to get it how you want. You might check around online for PS actions for what you want to do as well.</p>

[charlesheckel]

<p>There's a free plugin called Edgarian Blur that will give you a classic soft-focus effect. Google, and ye shall goggle.</p>

[peter]

<p>Nik colorEfex has a very nice "Glamour Glow" filter - and many others including other blur effect filters. There is a trial verison. Give it a go- thats what I did.</p>

<p> </p>

[tobey_bilek]

<p>Layer-new layer . Make it white and adjust opacity to get the glow you want.<br>

Dup background layer and add gausian blur. Between the two and erasing where you do not want the effect, you save $100.<br>

If you want highlights to glow, make a luminosity mask, refine edge, expand selection, then add blur.</p>

<p>It is all there already.</p>

[patricklavoie]

<p>gaussian blur in CS1-2-3-4, applied on a background copy, set the blending mode to screen to get the glowing effect, adjust opacity to suite your need.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Make it white and adjust opacity to get the glow you want.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>That will not do any glow effect, it will only drop the contrast and add a white film over your image, loosing sharpness and light..dont see the point.</p>

[peter]

<p><a href="http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa_img/cep3/filter_list/glamour_glow.html">http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa_img/cep3/filter_list/glamour_glow.html</a><br>

<a href="http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/entry.php?view=intro/cep3_filters.shtml"></a></p>

 

[robert goldstein]

<p>I agree that Color Efex Pro is a good place to look. In addition to the "Glamor Glow" filter, it has many other filters--some weird, some wonderful, and some both.</p>

<p>Rob</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>I will add that Color Efex Pro has more control than many other plug-ins. You can modify the effects fairly heavily, and you can use local tools to either add only to certain parts or to remove it from certain parts.</p>

[brian_ellis19]

<p>Thanks for the responses, I'll check them all out.</p>