Project #12 - Create Soft Focus Effects

For many years now, photographers have been able to add haze and fog effects to their photographs by using filters and gels. The end result is a more romantic portrait or landscape, with softer edges leading to a dreamy atmosphere. Not only did they use gels and filters, most used ladys' stockings - sometimes on the camera lens and sometimes on the enlargers' lens in the darkroom. This technique was used to hide blemishes on the skin or to add a romantic air. You can achieve a similar effect in Photoshop by using layers, adding Gaussian Blur and adjusting the blend mode and the layer's opacity. Have a look at the Layers Palette [below/right] to familiarise yourself with where the various settings, sliders and menus are.

1. The first thing to do is make a duplicate of the background image. Click and drag the background layer onto the Create New Layer icon (middle icon on the Layers palette).

2. From the Filter Menu, select Blur and then Gaussian Blur. In the radius value box enter a high number (I used ten in my example).

3. Now to adjust the blurred layer. This now depends on what sort of finished effect you want:

To reduce the haze effect but still apply it to all the tonal values in the selected area, choose Normal for the blend mode and adjust the Opacity of the layer until you are happy with the result.

To refine the haze effect to soften the highlights only, choose Lighten for the blend mode and adjust the Opacity of the layer to control the strength of the haze effect.

To get a painted look, reduce the number of colours and soften them, choose Darken for the blend mode and change the Opacity of the layer of the layer.

Here are a few examples with the settings shown:

Layer Mode: Normal - Layer Opacity: 52   

Blend Mode: Lighten - Layer Opacity: 75   

Blend Mode: Darken - Layer Opacity: 67