Photo Tip from Wilna

With digital photos a lot of the tips and tricks happen "backstage" with programs like Photoshop. I want to show you a very simple way to blur a part of your picture while having a very sharp focus on another part. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements. You can use this link to get a free 30 day trial of PSE.
To get the blur effect, we will be using layers which is GREAT to work with.

1. Open your picture.
2. Go to layer (on the top bar)  and make a duplicate layer by selecting duplicate layer. On the right hand side, you will se 2 little blocks each with your picture in them.
3. Go to filters and select Gaussian blur... you can determine how much you want it to blur by adjusting the slide button.
4. Then using your ERASER (on the left hand tool bar) , you erase the parts you want to sharpen /the parts you want to have in focus.
( It's just like having 2 layers. The bottom one is the normal picture and the top one is the blurred one. Now you take away from the blurred one and the bottom one "shines" through!)
5. Go to layer again and click Flatten image

and VIOLA!!! You have a picture that is blurred with a subject in focus.

I hope this is simple enough. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment here and I will check back often and asnwer them in the comment section

Happy picture taking!
Wilna
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