Note: Tutorial is written in Photoshop Elements 3.0.

Sometimes I happen to take a wonderful photo of my kids, but the background is either ugly or distracting, or both. Here's a technique to help minimize busy backgrounds and really make your subjects stand out.

Open your photo in PSE3. Duplicate the photo. You are going to work on the top photo first, so make the bottom photo invisible.

With the top photo layer active, click on the Eraser Tool and choose a round, soft edge brush. You are going to erase the photo background, leaving only your subject. Work your way around your subject, keeping your brush small to minimize feathering. (A few pixels of feathering is not bad with this technique, but don't go overboard!) You may increase your brush size as you move away from your subject or use other methods (Selection Tool) to get rid of the background. Your main concern is to erase carefully around your subject.

Once you feel that you have finished with the erasing on the top photo layer, make the bottom photo layer active. Your photo appears whole again. Click Enhance> Adjust Color> Adjust Hue and Saturation. Desaturate the bottom photo layer a bit and lighten. Use your judgment in adjusting these levels and make sure it looks right with your particular photo.

Now click on Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. Click on the minus button until you can see your whole photo in the window. This will allow you to better judge the amount of blur you need. Adjust the blur radius enough to blur your background and suit your taste.

You may choose to stop at this stage, merge the photo layers and make your layout. However, this last step will give you more design options for your photo.

With the bottom layer active, make a new layer. Fill this layer with a color from the photo or the layout waiting for this photo. (As a bonus, this new solid layer will allow you to see any erasures that are needed!) With the solid layer active, play with the Blend Modes until you are pleased with your photo. Be creative, but careful to match the look of your photo to the mood of your layout. I love the way this one looks, but not for the layout I'm working on. This is better:

Using this technique, you can really put the focus on your subject, where it belongs. Have fun!

Layout by Durin Eberhart
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	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Agency 4 and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grounded One are also available.

Tutorial written by Durin Eberhart