C.C.P.I.C.S. Class 8 - Special Effects

[pierces]

C.C.P.I.C.S.

Cruise Critics Photo Instruction and Creativity Series

(No direct sponsorship by Cruise Critic or any employee therof.)

 

It's been a loooooong while, hasn't it? This new article was triggered by a question about a photo I posted and I thought a little basic PS Elements tutelage was in order.

 

Adding special effects should always be approached with caution because the fine line between a pleasing effect and a garish horror is easy to cross.

 

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough showing how to apply a radial blur effect using the Elements software. I used Elements 10 for the illustrations, but they hold true for all versions back to 7 or 8.

 

Link to the article: http://pptphoto.com/ArticlePages/Class8.htm

 

As usual, feel free to post any questions.

 

Dave

 

 

 

Class 1 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=791007

Class 2 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=807836

Class 3 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=824433

Class 4 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=835827

Class 5 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=848866

Class 6 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=874451

Class 7 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1411883

[awboater]

Nice effect.

 

Its great you are sharing your knowledge with others...

[TheRoff]

Nice article, Dave. Thanks for taking the time.

 

larry

[Cindy]

Thank you for posting this! I am currently trying to teach myself Photoshop Elements (11). It's not as easy as experienced people make it look!:o

[johneeo]

C.C.P.I.C.S.

 

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough showing how to apply a radial blur effect

 

Thanx for that, great step by step tutorial.

 

The only difficulty was zeroing in on the center of the area that I wanted "not blurred", lots of trial and error. Is there a better way to zero in on the area that you want as the center?

[pierces]

Thanx for that, great step by step tutorial.

 

The only difficulty was zeroing in on the center of the area that I wanted "not blurred", lots of trial and error. Is there a better way to zero in on the area that you want as the center?

 

Not that I've found... I agree that it's kind of a pain!

 

Dave

[johneeo]

Not that I've found... I agree that it's kind of a pain!

 

Dave

 

Kinda figured that.

 

OK ..... next question.

 

Is there a way to increase the size of the center area that is to be "unblurred"?

[pierces]

Kinda figured that.

 

OK ..... next question.

 

Is there a way to increase the size of the center area that is to be "unblurred"?

 

Short answer...no.

 

Long answer...yes, in roundabout ways.

 

The easy one is to use the eraser with a large feathered edge to erase some of the top layer from the center before you flatten the image. Set the eraser shape to Soft Round and adjust the opacity to less than 50% to give you finer control over hoe much you remove with each pass.

 

This second one may actually work for re-centering the zoom origin now that I think of it.

 

Use the rectangular mask tool to select and cut your entire image from the background.

 

From the Image menu, choose Resize > Canvas Size

 

Enlarge the canvas to about double it's current size and paste the image back onto the now larger background (do not re-size your pasted image).

 

Find the center of the image by making a cross with guidelines. (View menu Rulers or Ctrl-Shift+R to show rulers, click on each of the two rulers and drag the guideline out to where you want it.)

 

Position the image layer with the origin point for the blur on the center cross point. Doubling the size of the canvas gives you a lot of room to adjust the original image over the center.

 

Once positioned, duplicate your image layer and apply your blur filter to the top copy (no need to adjust the center since you adjusted the position of your image). The un-blurred center point should be larger since it is based on the canvas size now and the origin will be the spot on your image under the crosshairs.

 

Set transparency of the top copy and flatten the image

 

Use the rectangular mask tool to select your original image area from the larger background and choose Crop from the Image menu. You image will now be back to its original size with the blur larger than before and where you want it.

 

Try it out!

 

Dave

[TheRoff]

I agree that getting the center of the little blur control exactly where you want is all trial and error. However, there is a way to make that center un-blurred area larger to give you a little more latitude, and maybe add other cool effects. Create a “Layer Mask” on the new layer you created for the blur. To do that click on the rectangular icon with the circle in the center on the bottom of your layers panel. (The lower red circle on the image below.) That adds a mask to that layer. Activate that mask by clicking on it. (The white rectangle in the upper red circle.) Then with your paint brush tool, set the color to black and paint black on the areas you do not want to be blurred. (You will not see the black paint on your image. You are masking the blurred layer to show the original layer below it.) If you paint too much or want to change the area, change the color of your brush to white and simply paint white over an area. That will cause the blur to show through again.

 

 

Ergo:

 

 

Larry

[boeckli]

Tried it out ... here are the results

 

....

[pierces]

Tried it out ... here are the results

 

....

 

Nicely done!

 

Elements is a real bargain when you see what it can do with a little practice!

 

Dave

[boeckli]

Nicely done!

 

Elements is a real bargain when you see what it can do with a little practice!

 

Dave

 

Thanks Dave!

 

I think it can be quite addictive too ... (like CC) ;)

 

Uschi

[Cindy]

I'm just finishing up an Elements 11 on-line class, and I finally got brave enough to attempt this. I struggled a little bit with my results at first, then I realized that I needed a more colorful picture...after that things got much better.

I added radial blur to this photograph using two different techniques. The first was the technique Dave shared in this lesson, and the second was a technique I learned in my class.

Original Photograph:

 

Technique from this lesson -- Radial Blur 85%:

 

 

Technique from my class -- Radial Blur 75%. This was created by selecting the part of the photograph I wanted to be in focus, then selecting the inverse before I applied the Radial Blur.

 

I think it's interesting that there are so many different ways to accomplish something in Elements, and that applying the same effect two different ways can yield such different results!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cindy

Your online classes are really paying off.

Great pictures.

[Cindy]

Cindy

 

Your online classes are really paying off.

 

Great pictures.

 

Thank you! I am really enjoying my learning!:)