GNU Image Manipulation Program

• 1). Open the GIMP program. A blank image window opens.
  
  
• 2). Click the "File" menu on the menu bar. A list of commands appears.
  
  
• 3). Click "Open." A list of images appears.
  
  
• 4). Click to select the image. If the image file is saved to a folder, such as on your desktop, click to open the folder and then click the file.
  
  
• 5). Click "Open." The image appears on an image window.
  
  
• 6). Click the "Layer" menu on the menu bar. A list appears.
  
  
• 7). Click "Duplicate." A second image window appears.
  
  
• 8). Click the "Free Select Tool" from the floating Toolbox. This button displays a white lasso.
  
  
• 9). Click to select and draw the outline for the image background on the duplicate layer.. The finishing point should touch the starting point. A dashed outline forms around the background area.
  
  
• 10
  
  Click the "Filters" menu on the menu bar. A list of filters appears.
  
  
• 11
  
  Point over "Blur." A list of blur effects appears.
  
  
• 12
  
  Select "Gaussian Blur." The Gaussian Blur dialog box opens with a Preview, or image thumbnail.
  
  
• 13
  
  Type a value for the blur radius text boxes "Horizontal" and "Vertical." The larger the value, the blurrier the effect. Preview this effect in the Preview box. Edit the values for the effect you need to avoid rings. Clicking the "Chain" button to break it will let you set different values for the Horizontal and Vertical text boxes and alter the radius.
  
  
• 14
  
  Click 'OK." The background blurs. The foreground appears more prominent by contrast.
  
  

Photoshop Elements 9

• 1). Open Adobe Photoshop Elements.
  
  
• 2). Click "Edit." The image window appears.
  
  
• 3). Click the "File" menu. A list of commands appears.
  
  
• 4). Click "Open." A list of image files or file locations appear.
  
  
• 5). Click the image file.
  
  
• 6). Click "Open." The photo appears in the image window.
  
  
• 7). Click the "Lasso Tool" in the Toolbox.
  
  
• 8). Drag the cursor on the background to select the filtered area. The last point or click from the cursor should connect with the first point. A dashed, moving line appears.
  
  
• 9). Click the "Filter" menu. A list of filter options appears.
  
  
• 10
  
  Hover over the "Blur" option. A list of blur filters appears to the right.
  
  
• 11
  
  Click "Gaussian Blur." The Gaussian Blur dialog window opens.
  
  
• 12
  
  Click to select the check box for "Preview."
  
  
• 13
  
  Click the slider button to adjust the radius values to avoid rings around the blurred area. You can also type the values in the text box.
  
  
• 14
  
  Preview the Gaussian blur effect in the preview box, then click "OK." The selected background area blurs.
  
  

Pic Resize

• 1). Go to the Pic Resize website at drpic.com.
  
  
• 2). Click "Load a picture." The Load Toolbox dialog box opens.
  
  
• 3). Click "Browse." A list of files appears.
  
  
• 4). Click the image file.
  
  
• 5). Click "Open."
  
  
• 6). Click "Load Picture." The photo resizes and appears in the image window.
  
  
• 7). Click on the image to insert a frame. Drag the frame in the background.
  
  
• 8). Click the "Gaussian Blur" button in the Modify Picture pane. The Blur Toolbox dialog box opens.
  
  
• 9). Click the radio button for "Only the selected area."
  
  
• 10
  
  Click the slider button for the "Select Blur Radius." Adjust to the left or right for the preferred effect.
  
  
• 11
  
  Click "Apply."