Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Electronic resources]

Using the Gaussian Blur and Despeckle Filters

You can also apply the Gaussian Blur filter which blurs an image, or a selection by a controllable amount. While not strictly a restoration tool, the Gaussian Blur filter can be used to add a sense of depth to the image. For example, you could select and blur the background of an image, while leaving the foreground object in focus. The outcome of the filter is to create a hazy, out-of-focus effect to the image. Another filter, the Despeckle filter, detects the edges in an image and blurs the entire image except those edges. Of course, there are no real edges in a Photoshop documentthe Despeckle filter works along areas where there is a significant shift in the brightness of the pixels. Since a shift in brightness usually signifies an edge, the Despeckle filter performs a very accurate blurring of the image, while preserving detail.

Use the Gaussian Blur Filter

Select the portions of the image you want to blur or leave the image unselected to apply the filter to the entire image.

Click the

Filter menu, point to

Blur , and then click

Gaussian Blur .

Select the

Preview check box to view the results.

Drag the

Radius slider or enter a pixel value to increase or decrease the amount of Gaussian blur applied to the image.

Click

OK .

Use the Despeckle Filter

Select the

Layers palette.

Select the layer in which you want to apply the Despeckle filter.

Click the

Filter menu, point to

Noise , and then click

Despeckle .

Photoshop applies the Despeckle filter to the image.

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