softening

chjing · 15th April 2007

hi, just to check how to soften a portrait photo using photoshop without interferring with contrast, saturation etc.....

catchlights · 15th April 2007

apply Gaussian Blur.

Patryk · 15th April 2007

one way you can do it:

1. duplicate a layer with all the other PP work

2. you can either apply gaussian blur or surface blur whichever looks good to you. don't worry if the preview looks like all the details are being lost, that would be fixed later at step 5.

3. you would want features such as the eyes and mouth to retain sharpness, so first add a layer mask.

4. next, use a black soft edged brush tool and apply to the areas you would want to remain sharp (eyes, mouth). what you're doing is simply revealing the layer beneath that does not have the softening effect caused by the gaussian/surface blur.

5. finally adjust the opacity of the layer so as to determine how much of the softening effect you want on the skin.

15th April 2007	#1
chjing Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 618	softening hi, just to check how to soften a portrait photo using photoshop without interferring with contrast, saturation etc.....

15th April 2007	#2
catchlights Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Punggol Posts: 10,776	Re: softening apply Gaussian Blur. __________________ Shoot to Live, Live to Shoot www.foto-u.com \| www.benjaminloo.com \| email

15th April 2007	#3
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Re: softening one way you can do it: 1. duplicate a layer with all the other PP work 2. you can either apply gaussian blur or surface blur whichever looks good to you. don't worry if the preview looks like all the details are being lost, that would be fixed later at step 5. 3. you would want features such as the eyes and mouth to retain sharpness, so first add a layer mask. 4. next, use a black soft edged brush tool and apply to the areas you would want to remain sharp (eyes, mouth). what you're doing is simply revealing the layer beneath that does not have the softening effect caused by the gaussian/surface blur. 5. finally adjust the opacity of the layer so as to determine how much of the softening effect you want on the skin.