You might find it helpful to apply a masking on your photo to choose which areas you want to change and leave untouched before you apply any of these special effects. You can create a soft fade between the areas with effects added and those without. This is called masking and can be done in a variety of ways. One method is called the 'quick mask mode'. This is quick and easy to do and results are typically acceptable.



Quick masking:

Layer masking: Slightly more complicated, you can add a layer mask. This allows you to apply any effect gradually from any point in your photo. Follow these steps in Photoshop:

1. Select 'Windows > Layers'.

2. Right click on your layer and choose 'Duplicate layer'.

2. Right click on your layer and pick 'Duplicate layer'.

4. Select the 'Gradient tool' on the main tool box.

5. Select a gradient style from the top 'Options' bar (linear, radial etc.).

6. Click on your image on the point you don't want to change, and drag the mouse away to the point where you want the full effect to take place. The effect will be applied gradually more and more along this line you've now created.

7. Finally, go back onto your original background layer and apply any effect you want. This will apply the effect in a soft, gradual way. Use opacity to turn the effect down to less than full strength if you want.

7. Last, go back onto your original background layer and apply any effect you want. This will apply the effect in a soft, gradual way. Use opacity to turn the effect down to less than full strength if you want.

Lens-like effects: You can apply 'Gaussian blur' using the layer masking outlined above which will make the selected areas appear soft-focused, as if you had used a large-aperture lens. With 'Curves' you can make your corners darker than the center, duplicating the lens effect called vignetting. Technically, vignetting is considered a lens dysfunction, but subjectively it can add an extra feeling to your photo, creating a sort of frame that will have a 'sucking' effect, drawing more attention into the center of your photo. You can also just lower the contrast and/or color-saturation around your main subject, helping to separate it from the background clutter. Be creative with the many options offered!

Soft glow effect: Great for creating a 'romantic' look for portraits. Follow these steps:

2. Apply 'Gaussian blur' to the new (top) layer. Make it blurry, but leave a little detail.

2. Apply 'Gaussian blur' to the new (top) layer. Make it blurry, but leave some detail.

'Darken' or 'Multiply' blends darkens image details while softening features and adding a halo. Good for soft, expressive shadows.

'Lighten' or 'Screen' blends lightens the image instead. Nice for adding high key or highlight glows.

'Soft Light' and 'Overlay' adds contrast and saturation. Particularly useful for landscapes and still life photos.

Black-and-white-ish: Creates a metallic black-and-white'ish look, great for for documentary work and subdued portraits, and is achieved by setting the contrast high (curves) and color saturation low.

Colour grading: You know how some movies have a 'special look', golden brown, sick yellow-greenish, cool blue etc.? You can get the same effect in your photos if you want. The simple way is to go to 'Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation', click 'Colourize' and use the slide bars to select your preferred grading. If you are going for a well-defined colour, it's better to use the 'Edit > Fill' function. Simply select the colour you want and set the 'Blending mode' to 'Colour'. Either way, it's good first to duplicate your layer before you start. This will allow you to preserve some of the original colours by turning the colour grading down. Use the 'Opacity' slider in the layer box to do this. If you want a duotone image, simply make 2 duplicate layers and give them different colour gradings. Mix them together, again with the 'Opacity' slider and the different 'Layer blending mode' options in the layer box.

One example: To give your image a cool green-blue color tone, first create two duplicate layers. Use 'Edit > Fill' to make the first one green and the second one blue. Set opacities to 30 and 60% respectively and select the 'Multiply' blending mode for the top (blue) layer. Adjust levels to get it exactly like you want. Also try adding a soft glow, as described above.

One example: To give your image a warm reddish-orange color tone make two duplicate layers first. Use 'Edit > Fill' to make the first one red and the second one orange. Set opacities to 30 and 60% respectively and select the 'Multiply' blending mode for the top (orange) layer. Tweak it in place to get it precisely as you want. Also try adding a soft glow, as explained above.

Using any of the above outline effects can enhance your photos and make them works of art. Knowing when to use them however, and when not to use them is just as important as learning how to use them. When to use special effects in your photos is a matter of personal taste and opinion. Many times less is best, so just make sure not to over-do what you do.