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Hello-
I am trying to get that soft look on my portraits, and can't figure it out in photoshop. I have a photoshop effects book, but when I do what the book says, my photo gets a real 'glowy' effect...and the whites are too white. I just want a slightly softened look. Any advice?
I was also trying to change the color of my photo...trying to give it an aged look. I don't want it BW and not full color...somewhere right in between. I suppose it has something to do with the saturation, but I don't have the time right now to sit down and figure it out. Please help.
Thanks
Soft Look, duplicate background layer, on second layer try Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur then change the second layer blending options to overlay and set the opacity to taste.
To do a 50% Saturation, try Image>Adjustments>Hue Saturation.
Hope that helps for now 
Allow me to offer a more sensitive reply.
If it's the colour you wish to leech out towards B/W find IMAGE on the toolbar and select adjustments then HUE/SATURATION. Move the saturation slider to the left and you will see the colours fade.
Softness is a term more often applied to the sharpness of a picture. If you wish to add a slight blur find filter on the tool bar and then BLUR and select GAUSSIAN BLUR. Try 2 or 3% and go from there. Good luck.
Welcome to the site.
Quote: , "are you going to apoliogise to the man"
Shes a woman - are you going to apologise?
I know where Frank is coming from on this - previous questions have been about a dispute with a former photographer employer and copyrught and setting up in business.
Then to ask such a basic question about image finishing...
...does make you wonder.
For a softer look go to Filter-Distort-Defuse Glow.
Then play around with the values.
For an old look, First remove colour, Enhance-Adjust Colour-Remove Colour.
Next-Enhance-Adjust colour-Colour Variations. In this box.
Increase Red-Decrease Blue.
If you are still not happy, play with the Amount slider and do the same as above.
To finnish, Make the photo more grainy, Use Filter-Noise-Add noise.
Hope this helps.
Bill.
"Are you normally this rude or do you have to work at it, "are you going to apologise to the man"
A I don't consider that I have been rude, so B, I see no reason for any apology. I have merely stated a fact, that for me, I'm amazed that someone that describes themself as a working portrait photographer,ie a professional, has such a scant knowledge of photoshop. That's a statement of fact, nothing rude about it. I think Joe, as a fellow professional has summed it up quite well. "Then to ask such a basic question about image finishing...
...does make you wonder."
I think the only rudeness and venom is coming from your direction.
Frank
In response to Frank and JoeFox, yes, I was working for another person. I was a photographer for her, SHE was the one doing any of the editing and photo retouching if needed. And therefore, I normally don't mess with my photos except for the levels if needed.
I really don't see what the fuss is about. From your holier than though impression I would think that you wouldn't need to use photoshop a whole lot to alter your images. That is ultimately my goal, and I was just wanting to experiment. Not all photographers rely on or even use Photoshop, so lay off.
I thought the 'veterans' on this site were suppose to support the newcomers, not insult them.
Thanks to those of you who simply answered the question!
Quote: Not all photographers rely on or even use Photoshop
True, didnt use it much when I was shooting film direct to print.
Retouching is a completely separate skill set for a professional photographer. So you either do it yourself or you hand it over to a professional retoucher to do the work for you.
Most if not all digital images will need retouching, depending on what you are doing with them.
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