Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
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Photo Effects > Depth of Field
Depth of Field (DOF) or, the area of sharpness in a photo, is one of the key creative controls
photographers use to change the way their images look. I am sure that you have all seen
landscape images where the detail appears sharp from the foreground right through to the
background ('deep DOF'). And then, in contrast, there are the photos where just one part of
the image is sharp with the rest left blurry ('shallow DOF'). Traditionally, the control over
which parts of your scene are sharp and which are blurry is determined by a combination of
focal length, distance-to-subject and aperture, but with some cameras, or shooting situa-
tions, there is not the opportunity of selecting the necessary combination of these factors to
ensure a shallow depth of field picture. So what are you to do if you want a photo where only
the main subject is sharp but you end up with a picture with sharpness throughout? The
short answer is to use the Depth of Field Guided Edit option in Photoshop Elements to create
the look of shallow DOF on your desktop.
GUIDED
Both DOF approaches
store the changed image
in a separate layer
stacked above the origi-
nal background.
There are two types of DOF control possible with this Elements feature - Simple and Custom.
Essentially the difference between the two is how the blur is applied to the photo. With
the Simple approach the blur is added using a standard Radial Gradient. This produces an
even change from sharpness to blur radiating from a central point. The result is an artistic
interpretation of depth of field and works well with images that you would normally apply a
vignette to. Think moody, wispy and soft. The Custom option uses a more selective approach
Simple DOF
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Start by selecting a photo in the browser
space of the Organizer. Next Click on the
Editor button in the action bar at the bot-
tom of the workspace.
The photo will be opened in the Editor
workspace and the Guided Edit panel will be
displayed on the right. Choose the Depth of
Field option from the Photo Effects section
of the panel.
Now click onto the Simple option in the
Choose a Method section of the panel.
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Click the Add Blur button in the first step of
the Guided Edit instructions to blur the whole
of the photo. Don't worry at this point as
we'll add the sharpness back with the next
step.
Now click onto the Add Focus Area button
(this selects the tool to the Radial gradient
mode). Click and drag the tool from the area
you want to remain sharp to the part of the
photo that you want to be blurred.
In the last step you can adjust the degree of
blur in the image with the Blur slider. Once
you are happy with the effect, click the Done
button. You can also select the Reset button
to start the process again or the Cancel but-
ton to quit the Guided Edit panel.
 
 
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