Blurring photo edges?

[LyndaB]

I have a layout with three photos on a background. I want to soften the edges of the photos so they blend into the background (the backgrounds on the photos are all the same as the main background) and don't show the outlines of the individual photos. I tried using the blur tool in PSE but didn't see any changes. I'm very new at this, so probably didn't do it correctly. I also tried several of the edge frames, but they all showed white edges, which didn't blend with the background. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Emma]

this is called a vignette, and there are a lot of ways to do it. I prefer using a layer mask, but for a beginner I've found this way is usually easier

Use the Marquee/Selection Tool to draw an oval or rectangle/whatever on the photo. Or, Ctrl-click on teh photo's thumbnail in the Layers Palette to get a selection shaped just like the photo.

Go to Select>Feather and type in something like 20-100 depending on the size of the photo and the size of the blur you want. Just pick something and repeat if it's not right.

Select>Invert to reverse the selection

Make sure you're on the photo layer you want to feather, and hit Delete.

If the feather or blur isn't correct, then go back a few steps and try a different value for the feather and invert and delete again. Repeat for all the photos. After you do the first one, you'll know which feather value to use for the others

hth! If you like this method, if it's easy, I'll tell you a few better ways, less steps but conceptually more complicated

[Happy2bhere]

Hi
Welcome to the site. You will find lot of help and inspiration here. I have never used your program but I can give you the steps in PSCS2 and maybe from there you can figure it out in your program. I'm sure there are more ways to do this and this may not be the best way but it works for me.

Use your Marquee Tool to place marching ants around the picture you want to blur.
Then Select Inverse
Then Select Feather (I usually start at 25 when it asks for a number)
Then Delete. If you want more of a blur, keep hitting delete till you are happy.
Then a command 'D' (mac) to deselect the marching ants.

I know there is also away to get a montage effect with many photos at once. They have excellent classes here and Emma teaches a beginner PSE and PS class which goes over this very question.

Good luck and welcome!
Wendy:)

[Happy2bhere]

Emma
You beat me. I didn't see anyone's reply and went off to help the kids came back and replied, hit enter and then saw your post.
See lynda - Like I said, everyone is very helpful around here including the teachers themselves.
Wendy

[LyndaB]

Thanks to both of you. I'm at work now, but I'll try your tips when I get home.

[wfclair]

Learn how to use masks. It is much easier.

[Lauren]

And if you want an irregular edge you can simply choose to use a wide feathered eraser brush to erase the edges you want to blend