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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[theantiquetiger]

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.

I took B/W photography in college. It was my favorite class of all times. Learning to manipulate the photo the way you want it, was the greatest thing, and now that is a dying artform.

[Hector]

I took B/W photography in college. It was my favorite class of all times. Learning to manipulate the photo the way you want it, was the greatest thing, and now that is a dying artform.

I know what you mean.

I also took two years of photography courses back in the 80s...I used to develop negatives...and printed in both black & white and color.

I remember the days of physically burning and dodging photographs...those were the days.

Loved the smell of all those chemicals...lol.

I started with a Pentax K1000 for Christ's sake...nothing more old school and manual than that camera.

But yes...it's sadly a dying form...the digital camera dominates now...and knowing Photoshop is a must as well.

[Hector]

BTW...cute kids, antiquetiger...

[artskull]

Any time I run into situations like this, I do google search for tutorials. Doing quick search for "photoshop tutorial blur background", I found this video that might help. Even searching "photoshop tutorials" might come up with something you like AND save you the cost of taking course.

[megoapesnut]

I started with a Pentax K1000 for Christ's sake...nothing more old school and manual than that camera.

Right on Hec. My first beloved camera was a Pentax K1000 also. You couldn't have parted me from that camera for the first year or so. I took it to school and everywhere. I was in 8th grade when I got it and was lucky in that our school had a photography and graphic arts shop. The teacher recognized a kindred spirit and made me his lab assistant in 9th grade, so I could spend all of my free time in his classes. I remember one time, I stuck my camera in the girls bathroom and fired off the flash, just to get a reaction. I didn't even push the shutter button on the camera and didn't even have any film in it. I was very pleased with the plethora of screams that erupted, that is until one of my other teachers came around the corner and caught me doing it just as they started screaming. He glared down at me for a few seconds and then patted me on the shoulder and said "Scottie Miller.....make sure I get a copy of that photo!!".