How to get "Soft Focus"-type effect in Photoshop CS?

slackula

I love the "Soft Focus" effect in iMovie for shots of brides, etc. when I video wedding days.



I recently purchased a Digital Rebel, Photoshop CS, and yes--Scott Kelby's book on Photosop CS for Digital Photographers.



I am a newbie to Photoshop, and can't seem to get the simple "Soft Focus"-type of effect in CS. In all my reading thus far in other wedding photography books, it sounds like a lot of wedding photographers use the Gaussian Blur and Diffuse Glow effects quite a bit so I have been playing around with them for what seems like an eternity. No matter how much I fiddle with the three slider settings in the Diffuse Glow filter, I can't seem to get the "simple" "Soft Focus"-type of effect.



Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might get this effect applied to some of my photos?



Thanks a million!!

chrisg

I will give you the secret. duplicate the layer, Gaussian Blur that about 2-5 (depends on the photo) then set that blurred layer to soft light. Bingo. Heres a Photoshop action that I just found that gives you 3 different variations: http://www.nickgallery.com/web_pages/technical%208.htm

slackula

Thanks, Chris!