Blurring Photo Edges in PSP

[jamesmc]

Okay, here's how I do it. Not necessarily the only or best method, but one way of doing it.

First, the key to making a Montage of Photos or any other graphic is using layers.

Look at the first montage. After I resized the photos, I pasted them into my blank canvas by selecting "paste a new layer." This is the most important element in the method how I make a montage.

Now, look at photo montage picture 2. You will notice that the photos are re-arranged, blurred and some appear to be 'cut-outs' of the originals. This was all done with the help of Layers.

For general bluring, using the soften brush, it can help soften some edges. Below are three graphics (two of them montages) which hopefully will give you an idea of how to go about it. I didn't go into a lot of detail on how to do it, but if you have questions let me know. It's a lot of fun to make a montage!

Note: the jpg (london1.jpg) was untouched with PSP tools. The jpg (london2.jpg) was manipulated using layers, contour tool, magic wand, fill tool. The third graphic (londoninstruct.jpg) in the next posting has the instructions.

[jamesmc]

Here is the londoninstruct.jpg with the instructions for how london1.jpg was turned into the modified london2.jpg.

[jamesmc]

Sorry, got called away before I had a chance to finish posting the last picture. This method is for general blurring, it's called gaussian blur.

The key here once again is to user layers, and also using the Lasso Selection tool to highlight the areas you want to be blurred. I exagerrated the blurs in the 'London3.jpg' to show you the effect. Sorry, didn't have time to do it up proper, have to leave soon.

The Gaussian Blur tool can be found under ADJUST>BLUR>GAUSSIAN BLUR. You can adjust the radius of the blur using the slider tool.

The other blur options are in the same area, they are BLUR, BLUR MORE, MOTION BLUR and RADIAL BLUR. Play around with these options to get the effect you want.

Now, if you want the areas around the object to appear lighter or whiter, just use the lighten Tool at a low transparency setting. It may take some experimentation here.

Okay, really got to leave now! Here's the last jpg with blurring slightly exaggerating use the lasso selection tool and the gaussian blur.

[jamesmc]

Okay, here is my last entry. The first on the photos used in the final montage.
Again, Layers are key to manipulation in a montage.

The second pic is the montage I spent a little more time with, not perfect but getting more pleasing to the eye.