How do I blur or darken the edges of an image on Photoshop?

Question

Is there a way to do it without using a tool and brushing around the photo? Here is an example..

Darken- http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs19/i/2007/289/6/3/Wedding_Photography_by_sakuraphotography.jpg

http://proofs.onon.com/blog/postpictures/2008/kiln-creek-wedding-photography01.jpg

Blur- http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs19/i/2007/289/6/3/Wedding_Photography_by_sakuraphotography.jpg

Details will be appreciated! Thanks =)

Answer 1

You will have to experiment a little.

Draw your selection around the edges. Under select, chose inverse, then chose feather. Pick a number of pixels. Fill with black. Or fill with white. Play with it.

You can also do the select, feather, and then under filters, select blur or blur more.

See what happens.

Answer 2

Use the rectangle marque tool draw the edge you want to darken or blur.

Feather it (this would be under select)  Then inverse the selection (Shift+Ctrl+I) Then make a copy of the selection (Ctrl+J) now if want to blur the edges this is the time to do it with Gaussian, lens blur. If you want to darken the edges just use multiply blending option.

Answer 3

here's what i would do:

- choose a big brush, with smooth edges (not sharp)  try about 50px or so

- copy the image onto a new layer

- use the blur too to blur the edges, for darken,  use the color black and the brush tool

- use change the opacity of the new layer.  move down to 50-75 or so or whatever looks good to mix the effect in to the background copy of your image

Answer 4

The one of bride and dad could have been done using Picasa's blur tool.  I have tried it and it makes a very nice effect with very little effort.  To make a more pronounced vignette, use the marque tool, feathered to the number of pixels desired, then select inverse.  Darken with levels then add blur or whatever effect you want.  I thought the vignette on the photo you linked to was overdone for the subject matter.   Usually in wedding photography, subtle is better.

Answer 5

well im supposing your referring to vignetting. You can add a vignette to your picture as an action within photoshop. You just have to download it from this website or you can follow the instructions:

http://brianhancockphotography.blogspot....

And if you want to add a blurring edge you can;

1. open desired file in photoshop

2. open your layers panel

3. unlock and duplicate the background picture layer (the only layer when you open the untouched file)

4. select the duplicated layer

5. go to the filters menu in photoshop and scroll down to blur>guassian blur and set the blur to the desired amount of blur you wish to have on the edges of your picture.

6. Now that the duplicated layer is blured, add a layer mask to the duplicated layer

7. select this layer mask and turn it black(set your background color swatch to black then, for mac users, hold down command then press backspace.)

8. once the duplicated layer's mask is black, select the gradient tool then radial gradient on the gradient tool tool bar.(make sure the gradient is set from white>nothing.)

9. set your foreground color swatch to white

10. select the layer mask

11. then click the center of the picture with the gradient tool set on radial gradient and drag outward to preferred distance.(how far you drag the line determines how large the gradients diameter is.)

12. The picture SHOULD be focused in the center and blurred around the edge.

if this doesnt work ask me what the problem is.