Movable mask to create a bokeh effect

[dvip]

Is there a way to use a movable mask to create a bokeh effect?

Yes, it can be done with a blur and PhotoMask but if the main subject
is in a different location when the picture is taken I need to re-create another mask.

Is there something like what Picasa does? That you can select what will be in focus by just placing the mouse on top of it?

[Tom]

Is there something like what Picasa does? That you can select what will be in focus by just placing the mouse on top of it?

Picasa has a Soft Focus effect that almost does it but it isn't that precise.

In PF7 you can select the area which will be in focus, right clic in it and Duplicate, you get a new layer .
Under this layer, select the exact area you want to blur with a gradiant and you call PhotoMasque with your custom mask.
On the "focus" layer you can smooth the edges with the eraser tool, in the Studio release, is a function to apply a progressive contour as a border effect.
Nothing more precise than a selection.

You can also subtract an area of a selection : keep down the Alt key and draw the area to remove .

I think you didn't red the last link i gave you about a very natural bokeh.

[dvip]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the tips.

>I think you didn't red the last link i gave you about a very natural bokeh.

Yes, I did read it. I am just looking for an easier way to do this.
There should be a function to select the area, invert the selection
and set a gradient blur that merges naturally with the radius.
The mask does it fine, but it is a pain to have to create
a mask all the time to match your subject.

I have seen other programs that allow you to set the radius
and things get blur automatically outside of that radius.
Also the outside blur merges nicely with the radius.
I think this is possible with PhotoFiltre but it just
takes too much time

There should be a filter just for that, I think Paint.Net has something (plugin) called
follow-focus and Picasa has something similar, but like using PhotoFiltre better This should be in the wish list.

[Tom]

The mask does it fine, but it is a pain to have to create
a mask all the time to match your subject.

I think we aren't talking about the same subject : generaly you don't need to create each time a new mask.
Example with a radial mask : draw a selection on the precise area you want to proceed, and PhotoMask will do the job
with the same radial mask. The size of the selection allows you to play like with the radius of the focal point.

If this doesn't match, give us a link to an image for example. I'm quite sure it's a simple way to do.
It's not a good way to create a function for each similar task when generic tools can do very quickly and correctly the job.

[dvip]

I did it in 4 or 5 clicks with a plugin for Paint.Net called "Focal Point".

One of these days when I have the time, I will try to figure this out in PhotoFiltre which is my favorite, and the best. I did a search in YouTube for a video-tutorial but could not find one.

Thanks anyway, Tom.

[Tom]

One of these days when I have the time, I will try to figure this out in PhotoFiltre .../...

Try to post 2 images, the original one and the treatment done with any tool which does that you want,
i would be amazed that it couldn't be rather simply done with PhotoFiltre.

[dvip]

One way to do it in PhotoFiltre is to cut and paste the mask where you want it.

[Tom]

I don't understand : if you simply paste a mask, you get a new layer in grey levels, and i don't see how it can match your project.

post an example, like i told in my last post.

[dvip]

Hi Tom,

What I do is, I create a mask (vignette) and move it where I want it so only the part I want in focus can be in focus. It is the only way I have found to do this in PhotoFiltre.
...but I am short of time now... too many task to do a day
I hope you can post an example or a tutorial on how you do it so we all can learn from the PhotoFiltre expert.

[Tom]

I'm sorry, but we don't talk about the same things or with other words, because i don't figure out what you can get
as a pertinent result only by moving a mask.
It would be possible you mix up layer and mask... but i don't understand your process.

I have already explain several ways to do and you don't answer my questions,
so il will wait images to figure out how you proceed.

[dvip]

Found this one, another way to do it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEtBZRpE-34

Photoscape (http://photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php) has a neat filter called Filter->Region (Out of Focus) which makes it easier, but I prefer Photofiltre.

I hope this helps someone