How do I do this in photoshop?

[passingby]

I use photoshop CS3 and need some help.

I have taken a photo of an animal in which the background is blurred but, it's not blurred enough and is very distracting. Usually I'd just blur the image and erase the animal back to sharp except how can I do this properly with masks etc.? rubbing out will not work with this animal, i have tried all sorts of ways but the edges are too obvious.

Thanks!

[zona5101]

Use the quick mask mode and paint the selection, then copy the selection to a new layer. From there you can add your blur. The trick is to get the edge better than the selection tool can do. I believe there is a "refine edge" tool that can help to make your edges better.

[John Harris Photography]

Have you tried Focal Point from OnOne. It simulates a shallow DOF & may do what you want. A trial version is available I believe

[teaking]

As the first post described you need to make a selection or modify a pre made mask. Quick maskdoes what it says and with refine edges and shrink and feather tools selections can be made with good results. You can also use curves layers on a black and white copy to create your masks. Or maybe the black and white adjustment layer or a copy of a channel. Then using levels or curves modify the contrast so the mask is black and white.

Hope that may help

[i speak in math]

Or learn how to do what you want using your camera, and take great pictures instead of faking them.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

Or learn how to do what you want using your camera, and take great pictures instead of faking them.

Not trying to stir anything or whoop the hornets nest here, but sometimes, it has nothing to do with the camera or the photographer, but rather the right glass so you can get the desired bokeh. :-\

Gary