filter question

Can anybody tell me what type of filter to use to "soften" images. I have seen some beautiful wedding pictures that have a nice "soft" feel to them. Kind of what you see at a "glamour shots at the mall" store.

What is the actually the name of such filter(s). I can't recreate the effect in Photoshop elopements. Any ideas?

Thanks Kindly

Joel
Canada:p

They are just called soft filters.
Some say soft focus some say softnet but they just have "soft" some where in the title.

Diffusion filter.

The poor man's diffusion filter requires a piece of ladies black nylon stocking. Stretch that over the lens. If you get the fabric density and blackness just right, it works just the same as the diffusion filter.

---Bob Gross---

On the subject of filters, is it the 'rule' that lenses should be protected with a filter? I am buying a Tamron 28-75 F2.8 for my 20D. In the past, I have always stuck to the principle that at least a UV filter should be kept on a lens. There's lots pf talk about 'L' lenses and the merits of this lens and that, so I'm keen to get some opinion on this.
IainB

I always keep a skylight on my lenses if that tells you anything.


Joel

On the bad don't do it side, the filter is another piece of glass that your image is passing through and as a result could have a negative impact on your image. The other side of this is if you buy high quality UV filter and keep in clean and in good conditions you don't have a problem.

Another side is that are you in an enviornment that you are worried about something coming up to your lens and hitting/scrping/damagi​ng it. Some people feel that having the lens hood provides enough protection for the lens from the world. Seen some that recomend it if you are in a windy sea salt sand environemnt.

I use them because it is easier for me to place them on and forget about them than have to worry about the times I do really need them.

There are some different types out there that give nice results.

"Softar" filters are very nice and come in 3 degrees of softness ie; Softar 1, Softar II, and Softar III. I own 1 and II and have only used them on my medium format camera, but they are excellent!

There is also Cokin, who makes many types of special effects filters. I used this system 15 years ago, but many still do. They have/had a holder that you screw into the lens as a filter that you slide a square plastic filter into. Pretty neat actually, and not as spendy. I have used the #1 and I liked it.

I have a set of Tiffen Soft FX filters that I intended to use but haven't. Saw samples and got a good deal on them at the time.

So, the last Ihave used is a homemade filter that I used for years... I bought an inexspensive plastic UV filter and put clear nail polish around the edge of the side that faces out, leaving a 2" or so spot clear in the center. I waited for the polish to get tacky and used my finger to gently press and swirl around the circle until all the "painted" area was smeared that way. I still left the center clear.

When it dried, I had a nice vignette that still showed the faces clear but the surrounding area diffused.

This was nice because unlike the old Vaseline coated filters, it dries hard and no lint or dust will adhere to it!! Of course, this didn't diffuse the entire scene evenly, but it's a nice effect.

Another one is the cross-screen filter. It is the one you use to turn a spot of light into a star. Using this without a spot of light will diffuse the scene a bit as well. But, not the best way to do it.

Have fun!

Vaseline!

Another trick from the same book as the stockings one for a different effect. Smear a little around the edges of an UV or skylight filter and leave a clear area in the middle. Oh, what fun!

thanks guys!

An even better way to do this is to use NO filter on the camera. Then, do the filter effects in PS. This way you have the option with each image to keep it plain or use the filter.

I have a salesman's samples set of Tiffen filters. All 77mm so they fit most of my L glass. It also came with step-up rings for my 58, 67, 72, etc. Even a bayonet for my Hassy when had one.

Anyway, this is a LARGE set of filters that I bought 6-8 years ago. Got a screaming deal on them because the local store had been given a set and didn't want them. I got all, including pouches to store them in, for $250.

Guess how much I use them now, having gone digital several years ago. Zip. I need to pull them together and sell them while I can. <sigh> Another project.