Happy for ever original - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/08/2003 01:39:27 AM · #1

Hi to all.
Here is my original shot for my entry in soft focus. All comments are welcome.

,

And this is my entry:

Flash

Nikon D700

12/08/2003 10:30:02 AM · #2

cimarron98...

I read the comments and agree that the submitted photo appears more as an example of out of focus, rather than softly focused. This is a real bugger for many here, as at least 3 threads were devoted to this very discussion. It is clear from your original that it was in focus, so the next question is what process did you use to attempt "sofening"? What levels were your settings at? And other related software questions?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

12/08/2003 04:20:26 PM · #3

I used the gaussian blur, but i think i used it too much.

I agree whit all comments about it look out of focus.

RHoldenSr

Canon EOS-5D

12/08/2003 04:24:43 PM · #4

Maybe a tighter crop of the couple and more blur would have helped?

You may have just enough to make it look out of focus.

Do your blur on an adjustment layer and gradually cut back on the opacity and see if that helps?

Just my 2 cents worth.

Originally posted by cimarron98:

I used the gaussian blur, but i think i used it too much.

I agree whit all comments about it look out of focus.

Refracted

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

12/08/2003 04:26:07 PM · #5

i would have considered this soft focus, unfortunatly it was illegal for this challenge since i used layers..:

ahaze

12/08/2003 04:30:52 PM · #6

lovely though Refracted. Very well done. Care to give us specifics?

Refracted

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

12/08/2003 04:38:10 PM · #7

Adjusted the white balance a bit with the "Automatic white balance" in PSP.

I then cloned the layer.

Applied a guassian blur of about 7-8 pixels to it

Decreased the opacity to 68%

Changed the Blend mode to "Screen".

I then cloned this "blurred layer" again, keeping the opacity, but changing the blend mode to "Multiply"

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/08/2003 04:48:16 PM · #8

looks like her hand is in the cookie jar ;}

jgal76

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/08/2003 04:58:28 PM · #9

Just a quick question. Is layers illegal in the December rules if you are layering over with the same image (not using 2 different images)?

12/08/2003 05:14:05 PM · #10

Originally posted by Refracted:

Cool. Thanks for the advice.

You really improved my shoot.

Regards

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/08/2003 05:15:36 PM · #11

Originally posted by soup:

looks like her hand is in the cookie jar ;}

Yeah. I didnt noted until i read your comment.
:.)

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

12/08/2003 05:21:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by jgal76:

Is layers illegal in the December rules if you are layering over with the same image (not using 2 different images)?

As long as you are working with one photo in your editing program, anything you can do to that image is legal for member challenges in December (except adding text). So Refracted's "soft focus" recipe is perfectly legal for December.

Message edited by author 2003-12-08 17:21:40.

jgal76

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/08/2003 07:47:36 PM · #13

Ahh, thought so. Thanks for the info :)

Originally posted by EddyG:

Originally posted by jgal76:
Is layers illegal in the December rules if you are layering over with the same image (not using 2 different images)?

As long as you are working with one photo in your editing program, anything you can do to that image is legal for member challenges in December (except adding text). So Refracted's "soft focus" recipe is perfectly legal for December.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

12/08/2003 08:47:34 PM · #14

Jorge,
Try this on your image (DPC Lega, all months!):

1.) Correct color and sharpen
2.) Gausian blur, 4px radius
3.) Immediately select edit/fade gaussian blur and fade to 25%
4.) Gaussian blur, 8px radius
5.) Fade to 20%

Done

This technique has been discussed repeatedly over several months and to my knowledge has been deemed legal, since it does not use selection tools or layers.