Help with Creating an Action

[Chablis]

Hi D

 

Please can you help me? I am making an action that creates blur around the edges of a newborn picture (it softens the blanket on the beanbag)

I record the following steps:

Duplicate layer - use the marquee tool to select around the edges, feather to 250pixels and invert

Then gaussian blur 250 pixels.

 

I need the action to stop before I choose the marquee tool and for it to tell me to choose the marquee tool so I can make it different as each picture is different and then I would need to hit play again.

I hope that makes sense

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry, I've never found a way.  You would have to make it as two separate actions ... eg F3 duplicates the layer then chooses the Marquee Tool for you.  Then you do your selection.  Then you hit F4 to run the second action to do the feathering and blurring.

[Chablis]

Mmm Can I send you an action to analyze?

[Damien Symonds]

If you made it, or it was a legitimately free one, then yes.  If a paid one, no.

[Chablis]

I bought it, but it flattens stuff and I hate that obviously - so trying to create my own that doesn't flatten

Might try your way

 

[Damien Symonds]

I am completely flabbergasted that you're even considering this.  Blurred vignetting is every bit as bad as selective coloring.  No self-respecting photographer should be considering it.

The notion that an award-winning baby photographer would even use this method once is astonishing.  The notion that you would be considering using it so much that you need an action for it is sickening.

[Chablis]

It works so beautifully on a blanket. Sorry

[Damien Symonds]

The hell it does.

[Damien Symonds]

This is ridiculous.  Even if it did look ok, how many times is exactly 250px going to work appropriately?

[Damien Symonds]

If you are going to defy all logic and press ahead with this action or action pair, don't forget the noise layer clipped to the blur layer.  There's a big risk of banding with such a large blur.

[Chablis]

Thank you D. I use a low opacity mostly and only use it on the blanket shots like this:

[Damien Symonds]

The baby is off-centre. Yet another reason not to make an action.  You wouldn't use a uniform blur around an off-centre baby.

[Chablis]

I don't - I change the marquee tool each time. Which is what i'm trying to do with my action

[Damien Symonds]

By the way, if you'd like to smooth the bumpiness of the blanket in this photo, I urge you to try my cellulite action.

[Chablis]

Oh I remember that one - thank you

[Damien Symonds]

This is a biggish file (sorry) but well worth a look:  Download PSD

[Chablis]

Cool thank you

[Damien Symonds]

How did it go on the full-size file?