Kim's Question

For a clean magazine/model-like-perfect-soft focus look......I have always used smart blur. (after selecting the eyes and then inverse-ing to select everything else). Is that right? And how much? I am always afraid I am using too little or too much. Is there a different route I should take?

This is a very good question and will very a tad with every photo. The more complicated way to go about this is to use the channel system (I am not sure if you are familiar with that), but really it does almost the same effect just doing it the plain and simple way.

Here is what I do.....

1. I open my image.

2. I duplicate the background layer, and name it Blur.

3. Go to filter....scroll to blur and I usually use Gaussian Blur. So hit that. I would bring it to about 20, but in preview you can decide what is best for the photo you are using.

4. Then on your Blur layer create a mask....it's on the bottom of the layer box...kinda by the adjustments. This mask will show up right next to the little photo on the blur layer and it will be white. Click on it.

5. Then grab a soft brush, and change your opacity to 100%.

6. Select the color black to paint with.

7. Then go over the eyes, lips, eyebrows and nostrils.

This is VERY fast once you get the hang of it, and I find it works almost exactly the same as the WAY more complicated methods. It is very important to paint back the eyes, lips, teeth, eyebrows and nostrils. Your photo will look strange to the untrained eye.