Re: [Leica] Digital Darkroom technique

[Michael Bell <mbell@mail.utexas.edu>]

>Has anyone messed around with the Gaussian blur filter in PhotoShop?

I do a fair bit of retouching old photos in Photoshop and I use the
Gaussian blur all the time for that.  It works great for reducing grain and
other minor problems in old photos with a variety of problems.  Usually I
will do one of the sharpen commands and then the Gaussian blur.  This used
to be a default action in Photoshop 4 called Reduce Grain or something like
that.  It never worked very well if you did it as an action.  You have more
control doing it manually.

When I apply the Gaussian blur I usually crank the slider way to the right
and then move it slowly to the left until I like the way it looks.  Then I
compare it to no blur at all.

I've never been real happy using the Gaussian blur to create a soft effect
on a recent portrait.  I prefer the crinkled celophane under the enlarger
for that.  I've not tried it recently though.  Maybe it works better in
Photoshop 5.





Michael Bell
MBell@mail.utexas.edu