How to do a centre focus effect in PS?

Ansel · 18th September 2003

Anyone care to share your workflow for doing a center focus effect, ie, the subject at the centre of the picture is sharp and as you go towards the edge of the picture it gets more and more soft. This effect is achieved traditionally and optically with a centre focus filter.

Togu?

harlowmac · 19th September 2003

if u want to upload a photo can show u based on that.

togu · 19th September 2003

Er... something like this?

This is my flow, a short one indeed,

1. Use the Elliptical Marquee tool to make a circular selection. (For this case, the area where you want to focus)
2. Select Feather from the Select Menu, type in a value ( I used 20 for this example. If you prefer more gradual softening on the selection edge, use a bigger value ).
3. Select Inverse from the Select Menu.
4. Apply Gaussian Blur filter, ( I used 10 for the radius )
5. Flatten the image.
6. Post!

Hope this helps.

togu · 19th September 2003

Alternatively, get 1 of those center focus cokin filter.

Ansel · 21st September 2003

Wah...Togu... another classic! Thanks.

BTW, was that you in that pic above?

StreetShooter · 21st September 2003

My preferred way is to create a new layer and apply Gaussian blur to it.

Then create a layer mask and use the gradient tool (radial gradient) to make the centre sharp and the surrounding blur. This provide better control because you can decide exactly how gradual you want the peripheral blur to be.

togu · 21st September 2003

Originally Posted by Ansel

Wah...Togu... another classic! Thanks.

BTW, was that you in that pic above?

Yes, the one on the left is me...

togu · 21st September 2003

Originally Posted by StreetShooter

My preferred way is to create a new layer and apply Gaussian blur to it.

Then create a layer mask and use the gradient tool (radial gradient) to make the centre sharp and the surrounding blur. This provide better control because you can decide exactly how gradual you want the peripheral blur to be.

That's a better flow.

18th September 2003	#1
Ansel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Land Downunder Posts: 2,069	How to do a centre focus effect in PS? Anyone care to share your workflow for doing a center focus effect, ie, the subject at the centre of the picture is sharp and as you go towards the edge of the picture it gets more and more soft. This effect is achieved traditionally and optically with a centre focus filter. Togu?

19th September 2003	#3
togu Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: ToFusland Posts: 5,563	Er... something like this? This is my flow, a short one indeed, 1. Use the Elliptical Marquee tool to make a circular selection. (For this case, the area where you want to focus) 2. Select Feather from the Select Menu, type in a value ( I used 20 for this example. If you prefer more gradual softening on the selection edge, use a bigger value ). 3. Select Inverse from the Select Menu. 4. Apply Gaussian Blur filter, ( I used 10 for the radius ) 5. Flatten the image. 6. Post! Hope this helps. Last edited by togu; 19th September 2003 at 01:14 PM.

19th September 2003	#2
harlowmac New Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 31	if u want to upload a photo can show u based on that.

21st September 2003	#5
Ansel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Land Downunder Posts: 2,069	Wah...Togu... another classic! Thanks. BTW, was that you in that pic above?

21st September 2003	#6
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	My preferred way is to create a new layer and apply Gaussian blur to it. Then create a layer mask and use the gradient tool (radial gradient) to make the centre sharp and the surrounding blur. This provide better control because you can decide exactly how gradual you want the peripheral blur to be.