Soft focus filters

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I've tried using several different soft focus filters on my D1, D100 and
D2X. I'm finding that the SFs seem to look MUCH "mushier" (sorry for the
"technical terminology" <g>) on digital than they ever did with any of my
film cameras (N90s, SQ-Ai, etc.). Has anyone else noticed this effect?
Anyone found a really good, really LIGHT soft focus filter for DSLRs that
keeps some detail in the eyes/etc but softens the highlights?

Thanx,
Wm

P.S. A really good subtle SF filter for Photoshop would probably work too.
The typical blur filters seem to blur too much, and I'd rather blur only the
highlights.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have tried soft focus filters and don't like them either. I much
prefer adding the effect in software afterwards.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Maybe you can try this. Found it on Adobe.com

http/www.digitalfilmtools.com/55mm/55mmdwnld.php

You can try it free, buy for an arm or firstborn child.

or this is a a la carte plugins site, cheaper to buy the package of
course

http/www.powerretouche.com/buy_plugins-now.htm

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 8/11/05 8:29 PM, in article
TXSKe.129017$vm2.83373@fe10.news.easynews.com, "LAshooter"
<lashooter@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I've tried using several different soft focus filters on my D1, D100 and
> D2X. I'm finding that the SFs seem to look MUCH "mushier" (sorry for the
> "technical terminology" <g>) on digital than they ever did with any of my
> film cameras (N90s, SQ-Ai, etc.). Has anyone else noticed this effect?
> Anyone found a really good, really LIGHT soft focus filter for DSLRs that
> keeps some detail in the eyes/etc but softens the highlights?
>
> Thanx,
> Wm
>
> P.S. A really good subtle SF filter for Photoshop would probably work too.
> The typical blur filters seem to blur too much, and I'd rather blur only the
> highlights.
>
>
>
>
Why use a filter, either on the camera or in Photoshop?
This effect is very easy to achieve in PS as follows:
Make a background copy of your image
Give it some significant Gaussian blur
Reduce the opacity of the blurred layer to reveal the layer underneath until
the desired overall softness is achieved
On the background copy erase away (with a fuzzy eraser tool) some blur
around the eyes to make them sharp
Of course, prior to all of this it may help to do some work with the clone
tool or the healing brush if there are major blemishes that you want to
correct.
Chuck