SOFT FOCUS AND SELECTIVE DEPTH OF FIELDThis wonderful pictorial device has great power when it comes to directing the viewer’s attention.

By: Bradi Schultz

STEP ONE Open image and

duplicate the background layer by dragging it to the “Create a new layer” icon in the layers palette. Next blur this duplicate layer, using Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur (using a Blur Radius between 30 and 50).

STEP TWO In the Layers

palette, reduce the opacity of his layer to allow some of the detail from the underlying background layer to show through the blur. The lower the opacity the more subtle the soft focus. Use an opacity between 50% and 70%.

STEP THREE Select the Eraser

tool and select a soft brush from the Brush Picker. Reduce the Eraser opacity to 20% in the Options bar. Gently erase the blur over the eyes and the fingernails. The is bring a little focus but not all back into the features.

STEP FOUR Now choose the

Eyedropper tool and click the lightest part of the hair to sample the color. This will add an extra glow to the highlights. Select > Color Range and use a Fuzziness slider setting of 70 (this determines the range of colors selected). Choose Black Matte from the Selection Preview box to see which parts are selected.

STEP FIVE With the selection

active, add a new empty layer ( Ctrl + Shift + N). Fill selected areas with white using Edit > Fill > Use: White. Blur this highlight layer using Gaussian Blur, with a high radius value of 100. Set the blending mode for this layer to Screen and reduce the opacity.

YOUR MASTERPIECE!