Any Photoshop Experts, I Need Some Advice

[theantiquetiger]

A friend of mine shopped this photo of my youngest daughter. She basically took the background out and made everything except her eyes, blurry.

How did she do this? I have PS on my computer no, so I want to try and do it myself with the third picture (my other daughter).

I don't want anyone here to do it. These pictures are quite large. They are reduced to fit on this board.

[Brad]

This may help you.

5 Great Background Masking Techniques in Photoshop

[Hector]

Various techniques possible...

Masking
Refine Edge (on new CS5)
Magic Wand
Extract (older CS4 and under)
Blur etc...

[mego73]

The way I would tackle it is that I would duplicate the layer (make a copy of the picture over the picture that Photoshop thinks of is stacked on each other).

I would use the blur filter on one layer and erase away the eyes from that layer to show the sharp layer underneath.

I didn't see the take out the background part in the beginning.

Before doing the blur process you can duplicate the background layer and add an additional layer in between it. On that layer you fill it with black. Then you can use the lasso tool to select large parts of the picture layer above the black layer and use the clear function to erase it. When you get to the actual hair and face of the picture you can use the eraser tool to have more control over what you erase.

Then you will have your daughters face in a separate layer over a layer of black. You can duplicate the daughter face layer and use the blur filter to blur it and erase away what you wish to keep sharp.

[theantiquetiger]

The way I would tackle it is that I would duplicate the layer (make a copy of the picture over the picture that Photoshop thinks of is stacked on each other).

I would use the blur filter on one layer and erase away the eyes from that layer to show the sharp layer underneath.

I didn't see the take out the background part in the beginning.

Before doing the blur process you can duplicate the background layer and add an additional layer in between it. On that layer you fill it with black. Then you can use the lasso tool to select large parts of the picture layer above the black layer and use the clear function to erase it. When you get to the actual hair and face of the picture you can use the eraser tool to have more control over what you erase.

Then you will have your daughters face in a separate layer over a layer of black. You can duplicate the daughter face layer and use the blur filter to blur it and erase away what you wish to keep sharp.

Man, I suck at this photoshop. I cannot figure it out. Thanks for the info, I guess I will get my friend to do this one as well.

There is a place here in Baton Rouge that gives photoshop courses. I am going to sign up.

[Mikey]

Looks kind of scarry

Makes her look like an evil doll

[theantiquetiger]

Looks kind of scarry

Makes her look like an evil doll

She does look like a China Doll.

When I took this picture to Walmart to print out, the first print, they tore up and said I could not print these because they are professional photos. After arguing with them and signing a waiver saying the pictures are not professional, I got my copies.

The inbred, toothless dirty hillbilly Walmark worker could not comprehend that I took this picture. I take great pictures, just suck at photoshop.

The secret to taking great pictures, take 500 pictures, and you may get three or four good ones.

[Hector]

Thanks for the personal info, mego73...much appreciated.

Sincerely, antiquetiger.

[mego73]

Just think of Photoshop as having the capability of putting color and art on clear plastic "cels" like they did for animation.

your picture is the background layer that you can duplicate and build other layers on top of.

Figure out how to do that and you are halfway there.

[Hector]

antiquetiger...taking a Photoshop class will do wonders for you...I myself took two semesters of Photoshop at a local community college...and boy...glad I did.

I know mego73 is making it sound easy...but to someone who has never toyed with Photoshop (especially the full CS5 version)...it can be a complicated program to learn...especially on the fly.

It's best you take classes...and you really should...since you are a photographer...you won't regret it.