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10/29/2003 01:48:29 PM · #1 |
Does anyone here have the Tiffen Soft/FX and/or ProMist filters? If so, would you be willing to post some sample photos you have done with each? I'm getting ready to buy some new filters and I may want to include variations of these.
Thanks :)
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10/29/2003 02:49:17 PM · #2 |
i dont but i got really good results with panty hose (same principle: diffraction). check out my dreams/nightmares entry.
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10/29/2003 03:51:56 PM · #3 |
| Hairspray on an old UV lens is also supposed to be a good alternative, but mostly its pretty easy to do this digitally with more control and a sharp original if you change your mind and dislike the blur effects. |
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10/29/2003 05:19:32 PM · #4 |
which software blur approximates this best? i'm pretty sure guassian blur gives a totally different appearance.
spraying the hairpray or using vaseline produces 'diffusion' - which, when used lightly, is simmilar to guassian blur. the problem is as you try to increase the softness, you lose control very quickly. the image becomes mushy and halos of light surround the highlights. for certain types of glamour and special effects photography these effects can be beautiful but for day to day photography, they're probably not that useful.
the third type of soft focus device is based on 'diffraction'. whenever a light bean encounters a small opaque obstacle, the beam doesn't form a sharp shadow but instead diffracts around it. if you create a grid of cross hatched obstacles, each opening in the grid acts as a new light source creating the image. The net effect is like having many much fainter images superimposed on the main image. the finer the mesh, the greater the strength of the secondary images, and the stronger the softening.
it makes it really easy to control because you can try different fine-nesses of mesh cloth to produce different strength effects.
this is basically the way the better softfocus filters work - they have little finely ground dimples in the glass that produce the secondary images that make the effect. . . .
if there's a software filter that simulates the diffraction effect, i'd love to hear about it :)
Originally posted by Gordon:
Hairspray on an old UV lens is also supposed to be a good alternative, but mostly its pretty easy to do this digitally with more control and a sharp original if you change your mind and dislike the blur effects. |
Message edited by author 2003-10-29 17:44:33.
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10/29/2003 05:31:16 PM · #5 |
If you aren't happy with the built in filters, there are also e.g.,
//www.creativepro.com/story/news/16409.html and many others available.
The key with pretty much all photoshop filters is to know how to use them though - they are all universally pretty bad applied directly to an image.
For example the more typical soft focus filters have clearer areas in the center and graduated increasing filter effect - this can be achieved using a radial gradient mask layer before applying any filters to a duplicate of the image
My favourite soft focus action uses 9 layers with variable blur intensity in each layer - its easy to apply and easy to modify once you understand how it works.
You can also get better effects with gaussian blur by changing the blending mode and opacities from the defaults - again the idea that filters used in their default mode look very fake and are typically pretty obvious - layer styles and blending modes make a significant difference in the final result. Other interesting permutations involve applying filters to masks - e.g., use the render cloud option directly to a mask that is on a gaussian blurred layer, blended in 'lighten mode' gives a soft halo just to the highlights.
Message edited by author 2003-10-29 17:41:45. |
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10/29/2003 09:19:15 PM · #6 |
I'm still looking for someone who has these filters :)
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10/29/2003 09:34:12 PM · #7 |
@setz:
Sorry John, I'm another filterless one...
@Mag:
Gaussin blur can be used to good effect for soft focus effects. First create two duplicate layers over the top of your photo, then blur one to 4 px, and the other to 10px. Now adjust the opacity of each until you get what you want. I sometimes use a third layer, and have found that I sometimes get better results with slightly different radii, depending on the image resolution, level of detail, and effect desired.
The above is not DPC-legal, but can be. After completing the procedure to satisfaction, record the radii and opacities used, then reopen the original, blur to radius1, immediately fade to opacity1, blur to radius2...
I usually also use a quick mask to keep the eyes sharp if doing a portrait.
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