Photography - GIMP users

[SKA]

Does anyone know which filter was used to make this picture? Or one I can use to create a similar effect??

http://www.facebook.c...539273&type=1&theater

I have a picture I want to focus in the middle and have the side blurred like that!!

[Mosaic]

Not got Gimp up in front of me but working from memory, I'd say in the 'srtistic effects' this is a gaussian blur that has had its settings fiddled with to get the desired effect. I think Gimp also has some pre-set artistic filter options that include effects similar to this one, but again you'd have to play with settings to get what you want.

[ll_billym]

This is definitely not Gaussian blur, which is just a uniform blur as most poeple would think of it. This is some kind of distortion (maybe polar cooordinates?)

Anyway, the point is that the effect is only applied to part of the picture - around the edges. In fact the 'ring' of heavy effect around the in focus bit shows this to be a distort filter with the edges of the effect clearly visible.

Select just the bit of the image you want to apply the effect to (if, like your example you want for instance a circle in the middle unnafected, just select the circle and do a select-inverse to select the bit you want to affect. Then apply your effect.

I don't use GIMP but I would assume you can also refine the edge of the selection to effectively fade the effect in so you don''t get a harsh edge.

[Mosaic]

You're right Billiym - polar effects is the artistic effect I couldn't recall. In Gimp you get theoption to fine-tune this effect (and all others) which will enable Ska to get to the desired result.

[SKA]

Thanks for your answers but it's not any of the effects you guys mentioned!! :-(

[ll_billym]

Cheers Mosaic...

SKA - It is very difficult to guess how somebody did something (unless it is a non-modified very standard filter) as usually the final image has had many filters applied over and over it. And there are very many ways to get to the same outcome.

Your best bet is to try what I say below and: Select the parts of the image you want to affect, refine the selection edge a bit then just start playing about applying as many or as few filters as you want over each other - it's how I learned and I guarantee you will discover some amazing effects.

Also, look into 'layers' and 'layer masks' firstly (if you don't already know how they work) as this is the most fundamental aspect of digital editing and you will need them to make great images...

Good luck!