Photoshop Elements >

Spot Focus

Spot focus is where a portion of the photograph is sharp and the rest is out-of-focus.

Be sure to check off as you go along.

Preparation

1) Preserve your original file.

If you haven't already done so, go to Preserve Your Original File.

2) Create a Background copy layer.

If you haven't already done so, go to Create a Background Copy Layer.

Spot Focus

Here's the original photograph.

1) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

2) Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Select a radius setting.

10 was used here.

3) Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer by clicking the Create adjustment layer icon, the half-dark, half-bright, circle at the top of the layers stack, and select Hue/Saturation.

The Hue/Saturation window will open.

Click OK.

You're not going to use this layer to adjust the color.

You're just going to use it to paint a mask.

You could also use a Levels adjustment layer, or a blank layer.

4) Select the Brush tool.

Use a feathered brush.

If you haven't already done so, go to Feathered Brush.

5) Make sure the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer is active (highlighted).

6) Make sure the foreground color is black.

If you haven't already, go to Foreground & Background Colors.

7) Brush where you want the photograph to be in focus.

The mask appears in the mask thumbnail in the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.

If you haven't already done so, go to Masking.

8) Group the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer with the Background copy layer.

If you haven't already done so, go to How to Group.

By grouping the Background copy layer with the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer:

• The white area of the mask reveals the out-of-focus Background copy layer.

• The black area of the mask conceals the in-focus Background layer.

Here's the original photograph and the spot focus version.

Original

Spot Focus

Saving the Photograph

If you haven't already done so, go to Saving Files.