Selective Blur - A Ghostly Effect

[cletus]

I can't remember where I read about this, but it's a pretty cool effect for not much work.

Starting image:
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/2444110-S.jpg

Make a copy of the image on a new layer and blur it (I used a Gaussian blur with a radius of 16):
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/2444111-S.jpg

Change the blurred layer blending mode to Overlay:
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/2444112-S.jpg

Add a mask to the blurred layer and mask off any areas where you want detail to show through the effect (I masked off the latch and hinges):
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/2444113-S.jpg

Add a Level adustment layer and group it with the blurred layer then adjust the levels to find the look you want:
http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/2444568-M.jpg

[wxwax]

:thumb Very cool, thanks for the easy-to-follow tutorial. I'm gonna hafta try that.

[DoctorIt]

layer this, layer that... my head is still spinning.

Nice work though! :rofl

[wxwax]

Cool. I shot some stuff last night that needed some kind of finish. Your technique helped this shot, IMHO.

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2457995-M.jpg

[wxwax]

A little more messing around, and this came out. As usual, my levels may be off. The new monitor should arrive this week!

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2458113-M.jpg

[cletus]

A little more messing around, and this came out. As usual, my levels may be off. The new monitor should arrive this week!

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2458113-M.jpg
That's pretty cool! I'd like to see the original image.

[wxwax]

That's pretty cool! I'd like to see the original image.

OK, here it is.

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/2453598-M.jpg