When you're editing a photo is there a way to make only certain parts blurry and the rest clear?

Question

I don't have any fancy editing program, I usually use Photobucket (Fotoflexer). But I also have Gimp but have no idea how to use it. Usually my backgrounds don't turn out blurry since I don't know much about photography and don't have an expensive camera. So is there a way using FotoFlexer, PhotoBucket, or Gimp to edit your photo and make certain parts blurry and others not?

Answer 1

If you can make a duplicate layer, which I think Gimp ought to be able to do, just do that.  Use a blur tool or a de-focus filter, whichever is available in Gimp, on the new layer.  Use your eraser to take out the parts that you want to have in sharp focus and your original sharp image will show up from the original layer.  You can seet the eraser to have a soft edge and this is a good way to blend your work without being quite so obvious.

Answer 2

something like this photo i took/edited?

http://flickr.com/photos/27145979@N02/27...

i edited this for free at http://www.picnik.com that's where i do all of my editing for my photos. It's cheap, easy, and a nice alternative to photoshop. You can't do most things from photoshop though.

Just go on this site, the effect is focal zoom.