Sharpening is commonly used to enhance a picture, but the opposite effect, blurring is a useful tool to enhance as well - whe used in the right way and for the right purpose.
This simple task shows you how to make an image more effective by using blurring to focus the viewers attention on the central subject of the picture - in this case the man walkng away from the nodding donkey. Follow the steps to see how it works:
Open the nodding donkey image on the left. Remember that it will open up a larger version in a new window. Right click on the larger version and choose 'Save image as' from the drop down menu. Save it in your worknig images folder or on your USB stick.
When you have downloaded the image, start Paintshop Pro and use FILE > OPEN to locate the image and open it.
Now make a rough selection around the figure. Zoom in to make it easier. Before you start the selection you will need to select the Lasoo selection tool (outlined with a red rectangle on the screen shot) and ensure that 'Point to Point is set as the mode in the toolbar, then set the feather (circled in the screen shot) to around 12 pixels to give a soft edge between the blurring and the 'sharp' figure.
We are going to use the selection as a 'mask' so that the figure remains sharp. So to select only the background we need to 'Invert' the selection. Use the command SELECTIONS > INVERT to do this.
Now we can apply blurring. Use the menu command ADJUST > BLUR > GAUSSIAN BLUR. This option, rather than just Blur or Blur More, allows us to set the level of blur according to a 'radius' of pixels.
This is set in the next dialogue box (right). Set around 3 or 4 pixels radius and OK.
Back to the image, you should now use SELECTIONS > SELECT NONE to reveal the finished image.
It is not easy to see on this screen shot but your image should now be blurred - except for the figure which now stands out a little more. Use FILE > SAVE AS to save this version with a new name.
Try an enhanced version of this technique by going back to the original image and changing your selection. Reduce the Feather to 6 or 7 and this time select only the nodding donkey and the sky, leaving the sand foreground and the figure. Does that make a better picture?