Blur Effects Created by: Prof  

Blur, more often than not, is used to soften or blur shadowing effects. Of course, the effects is blur images and/or selections (areas). There is nothing fancy about using Blur but there are a couple of techniques that I often use to particularly soften edges of a shape (circle or oval).

The Effects || Blur

Exploration and Illustrations

Basic Set Up

Palette:
– Foreground = White
– Background = Black

Styles:
– Foreground = gradient
– Style = sunburst (3rd down)
– Gradient = #1 - Foreground-Background
– Horz & Vert = 50
– Angle = 0
– Repeats = 0
– Invert = Unchecked

Textures:
– Both = Null

Use: Selection Tool
– Ellipse
– Feather = 0
– Antialias = Unchecked

Create a New Layer
– A. Draw a taller than wider ellipse in center of canvas.
– Flood Fill it with the Gradient.
– B. Use NOISE at 100% and Uniform.

Use: Selections || Save to Alpha

Deselect [Control+D]

ILLUSTRATIONS: -- Experimenting with all blurs

1. In this exercise we will just run through the blurs and exaggerate the options when there are options to see how a particular blur works.

(When using a feature for the first time, always start with the default setting as this gives you a basis to work from. In the Options window on the bottom right is a button next to HELP that looks like two X's with an arrow. Click on that button to set the default.)

(When using an option, click on the DOWN ARROW between the two boxes. This action sets the effect so it will be seen in the right box and in the canvas. When you click on the EYE you will return to the original image. Thus, you are able to compare the effect to the original without having to set the option yet.)

COMMENT ON ORIGINAL IMAGE: Note the edges of the oval are ragged.

A. Average: (Has options)

Then, set the Filter Aperture to maximum (31) and notice how the whole image blurs.

Click on Cancel

B. Blur

Use: Undo [Control+Z]

C. Blur More:

If you use the zoom tool and zoom to about 7:1 on an edge you will see how blur works by setting various pixels on the edge to various shades of grey and color (or transparency).

Return to 1:1 zoom

Use: Undo [Control+Z]

D. Gaussian Blur:

Set Radius = maximum (100). Note that now there is only a grey haze on the canvas.

Reset Radius = 50, then 25, then 12, then 6, then 2.

Gaussian blur uses transparent pixels to cause the shadowing effects seen. Although the Gaussian effect appears similar to the other blurs it in fact uses more transparent pixels to create the effect.

Click on Cancel

E. Motion Blur.

Set Pixels = Maximum (40). Now you see the real action of motion.

Set Angle = 45, Pixels = 20 (The motion angle has now changed).

Click on Cancel

F. Soften acts much like blur

G. Soften More acts much like blur more.

Blur just the Edges

We now have a selection that allows just 1 pixel on the edge using the inverted and modified selection.

Rather than going through each Blur option, lets just use the Gaussian Blur to soften the edges.

– Effects || Blur || Gaussian with value of 10 [Note that not only have we softened the edge we have given the oval a slight shadow]

– Change Value = 2, click on OK and then deselect to view the result.

We have a very nicely soften edge. This technique is the one I often use to soften edges of circles and ovals and other shapes.

– Next, use: Selections || Load from Alpha the Oval selection, (not the Inverted selection). – Then, use 'Motion Blur' and find a nice effect playing with the angle and number of pixels.

– Click on OK but do Not Deselect. Just use another blur at a low value to blur the lines drawn with motion blur.

– Finally, one last experiment now is to use Colorize and see what other colors you can create.

-- Have fun.