Blur Out The Background?????

[confused]

I am a new elements 5 user - no computer experience - I want to blur out a bad background - I have tried all day but it does not work. I need some clear simple instructions if anyone could take pity on me. It is simple on all other programs but I cannot figure it out on elements 5 - the blur tool does not work. This is my second thing I have tried and been unable to do on elements 5 and I am finding it is not user friendly at all and I am finding it way to hard. :mad::( Can anyone tell me the easy way to do this, please????????? I think I should have gotten another easier program.:eek:

[kayser]

There are various ways to do this. Here is an old thread that gives you a couple:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2652

Let us know if you get stuck.

[confused]

Thanks I will go and have a look - probably is simple - I just cannot figure it out - even bought a book on elements and it does not say how to do it in the book. ;)

[kayser]

I think PSE has a steep learning curve, but once you get it, it's a lot of fun! don't hesitate to ask; there are a ton of people here willing to help.

[confused]

I am still in deep trouble here - the methods that are written in the old thread from 05 not working - using the magic eraser to try to get my subject back unblurred again after I placed the blur on the entire thing-- takes forever as my subject is huge and my background is less. I am getting really depressed about this as I have around 40 pictures to get done and on the web right now. :confused:

[kimi_boo]

you need to make your brush size larger. Use your bracket keys and it will make it smaller and larger. [ or ]

[kimi_boo]

and ... if you need to zoom in to see the edges.

You can hit Ctrl + or Ctrl -.

If you want to learn the software. They offer a layers class here:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/training_courses/layers.html

[apasskey]

Maybe you could post one of your pictures here and we could give it a try and then tell you how we did it! Andie

[confused]

Thanks for the help everyone - I have basically given up on photoshop now. It is too complicated for me.

Kimmi -- the magic eraser has no brush size so I could not enlarge the size of the magic eraser to get my subject back clear. I tried all the different ways to blur a background and even tried the magic remover tool to remove the subject and put in a new picture but that did not work either -- I would have to spent hours on one photo and I have 40 photos to fix very quickly.

Appasskey - I would post a picture but they have to go out now as they are unfixed as I have missed my deadline as I spent too much time trying to do searches and find info on how to use photoshop. :rolleyes:

I think photoshop makes its product very difficult to understand on purpose so it can produce videos and books and tutorials at an extra price.

What is the best book to get on photoshop 5 and what other resources are there without having to pay $25.00 for a lesson on a product I just spent $150 to buy.:(:confused::eek:

[kayser]

Now I'm confused- wasn't the original thread talking about the eraser tool? I haven't used the magic eraser tool, but with the regular eraser tool, you can change the size of the brush.

[confused]

Yes the basic eraser tool has a brush size :)and I did enlarge it:) but when I used it :eek:unfortunately it removed all - everything down to white -it removed my subject entirely-- it did not just remove the top layer of blur over my subject that I had hoped it would remove. Something is telling me I am not detail oriented enough to do this program. :D I think it is good for people who want to spend all day on one picture - I need to fix many photos each day quickly.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

If the eraser was erasing down to the white then I suspect that you may have missed out the step of duplicating the layer before you blurred it ... so you were erasing the layer and letting the white background show though.

Whilst Photoshop is complicate to learn I don't think that you will find a program that will do this technique any simpler than this ... and it does get easier as you learn how to do things.

Wendy :)