achieving a blurred background

What is the best way to achieve a blurred background (with pscs2) once the photo is taken?

that said, what is the best way to achieve this with my g3?

photoshop-wise, here's how i do it:
duplicate the layer; make the one on bottom blurry Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur; click the top layer, and delete the background that you want to make blurry.

Here's an example

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That was done by cutting out the subject, pasting it over the existing image. Blurring the background with a radial zoom blur then lowering the opacity on the pasted layer so as not to make it look so "pasted over the background". The edges of the subject were softened using the blur tool. Viola.

You can use whatever kind of blur you like depending on the effect you're looking for. A gaussian will be a more muted blur, this is more in motion blur, all depends on the look you're going for.
P.S. - That's my girlfriend and I

As cool as that shot is it's causing hell with my eyes

Here is the way I do it and I think it is a little easier. Duplicate the layer, add blur of your choice to background layer, click back on the duplicate layer and go down to the bottom and click on the mask button, use brush at 100% opacity and black color to paint over the mask where you want the blur to show through.
You can use this same technique for sharpening also, such as when you want only the eyes to be sharper.

Desertraptor wrote:
As cool as that shot is it's causing hell with my eyes

I know doesn't it! LOL it's more of a wow neato! Than a stare at shot. But she loved it so I printed it up big and framed it for her.