Special Effects

A number of special effects can be applied to your photos for creative impact. These effects have been grouped into four broad-based categories. A brief description of each is provided within this topic. However, we encourage you to experiment with these effects in order to appreciate the many ways in which they can be used.

To apply an effect:

Click the Photos button on the Navigation panel.
Click the Touchup & Transform icon located below the buttons.
Select Special Effects from the flyout of options displayed.
Choose whether to apply the effect to the entire photo, or to a selected area within the photo. Specify your choice by clicking the appropriate tool on the Toolbar - Area Selection tools or Select All tool, respectively. To learn how to use the Area Selection tools, see Area Selection tools.
Choose the category of effect from the list box displayed.
Choose the desired effect from the list box of options available within the selected category.
Use the controls provided to adjust the amount of effect to be applied.
Select the Preview control to preview the effect before applying it to the photo, or the selected area of the photo.
Click the Apply button when you are satisfied with the effect being previewed.

Categories

Natural Effects

Fog

Appears as if you are looking at the photo through fog. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the extent of the effect.

Glass

Appears as if you are looking at the photo through glass. Four simulated patterns of glass are provided. You can further control the effect with the Thickness slider. Different simulated thicknesses of glass offer different effects.

Snow

Appears as if snow has fallen on the elements of the photo. Select the Light control to apply the effect to the light areas of the photo; select the Dark control to apply the effect to the dark regions of the photo. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the amount of snow that appears to have fallen.

Wind

Appears as if wind is blowing through the photo. Select the Left control to make it look as if the wind is blowing from the left; select the Right control to make it look as if the wind is blowing from the right. A Speed effect, or the amount of wind blowing through the photo, can also be adjusted.

Smoked Glass

Similar to the glass effect described above except that the glass appears to have a smokey tinge to it. Only one pattern is provided; the pattern corresponds to the Sand pattern offered in the Glass effect.

Artistic effects

Cartoonize

Turns the photo into a color cartoon. Use the controls provided to adjust the degree of effect.

Crystallize

Hexagonal pattern applied to the photo, then randomly distorted. Sliders are provided to control the intensity and size of pattern.

Emboss

Creates a three-dimensional effect by selectively enhancing the edges in the photo. Select the Out control if you wish the photo to appear raised from a sheet of metal; select the In control to make it appear hammered into the metal. You can also control the degree of the effect using the Height slider.

Mirage

Duplicates the primary subject in the center of the photo, and displays a copy of it below the original as if it were a reflection, or mirage. Use the Blend controls to specify the extent to which the reflection blends into the original photo. Use the Height slider to adjust the apparent height of the reflection.

Oil Paint

Simulates the appearance of brush strokes in an oil painting.

Posterize

Reduces the number of colors in the photo. Use the slider provided to specify the number of color levels, or different levels of red, green, and blue. This effect is not available for 16-color and monochrome photos..

Water Color

Similar to the Oil Paint effect, this effect simulates a watercolor painting.

Splatter

Reduces the apparent resolution of the photo by replacing pixel colors with the average pixel color in the immediate area. The size of pattern can be adjusted using the Pattern Size slider. Use the Intensity slider to randomly distort the edges of the squares that comprise the pattern.

Swirl

Stirs the photo into a swirl of colors. Use the Rotation Angle slider to adjust the degree of the effect. Positive values swirl in a clockwise direction; negative values swirl in a counter-clockwise direction.

Ripple

Applies a series of concentric rings, or ripples, to the photo. The photo appears as if it were actually under water. The ripples originate from the center of the photo. Use the Ripple Frequency slider to specify the number of ripples. Note that a ripple amplitude must be specified before ripples are displayed.

Spherize

Stretches the photo over a curved shape like a ball or sphere. Use the slider provided to set the percentage, or height, of the effect. Specify more height, and the photo appears wrapped around the outside of a ball, as if the photo was pushing itself towards you. Specify less height, and the photo appears to line the inside of the ball, as if the photo was pulling away from you.

Geometric effects

Mosaic

Reduces the apparent resolution of the photo by replacing pixel colors with the average pixel color in the immediate area. The size of pattern can be adjusted using the Pattern Size slider.

Randomize

Applies a random pattern to the photo. Choose between a number of predefined patterns. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the degree of the effect.

Tile

Breaks the photo up into a series of square tiles with dark spaces between each. Applied weakly, the tiles appear in a fairly uniform grid pattern, like bathroom tiles on a wall. Applied strongly, the tiles seem more randomly placed, overlapping in some areas, like pieces of a puzzle not yet put together. Use the Pattern Size slider to adjust the size of the square tiles.

Enhancements

Gaussian Blur

Softens and distorts the photo so that it appears blurred, or fuzzy. Choose to have the blur running vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. Set the thickness of each blur streak using the Radius slider.

Smart Blur

Similar to Gaussian Blur except that the program automatically detects where to blur the photo, and where not to. A larger degree of contrast is maintained within the photo. Blur size is adjustable using the slider provided.

Fog	Appears as if you are looking at the photo through fog. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the extent of the effect.
Glass	Appears as if you are looking at the photo through glass. Four simulated patterns of glass are provided. You can further control the effect with the Thickness slider. Different simulated thicknesses of glass offer different effects.
Snow	Appears as if snow has fallen on the elements of the photo. Select the Light control to apply the effect to the light areas of the photo; select the Dark control to apply the effect to the dark regions of the photo. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the amount of snow that appears to have fallen.
Wind	Appears as if wind is blowing through the photo. Select the Left control to make it look as if the wind is blowing from the left; select the Right control to make it look as if the wind is blowing from the right. A Speed effect, or the amount of wind blowing through the photo, can also be adjusted.
Smoked Glass	Similar to the glass effect described above except that the glass appears to have a smokey tinge to it. Only one pattern is provided; the pattern corresponds to the Sand pattern offered in the Glass effect.

Cartoonize	Turns the photo into a color cartoon. Use the controls provided to adjust the degree of effect.
Crystallize	Hexagonal pattern applied to the photo, then randomly distorted. Sliders are provided to control the intensity and size of pattern.
Emboss	Creates a three-dimensional effect by selectively enhancing the edges in the photo. Select the Out control if you wish the photo to appear raised from a sheet of metal; select the In control to make it appear hammered into the metal. You can also control the degree of the effect using the Height slider.
Mirage	Duplicates the primary subject in the center of the photo, and displays a copy of it below the original as if it were a reflection, or mirage. Use the Blend controls to specify the extent to which the reflection blends into the original photo. Use the Height slider to adjust the apparent height of the reflection.
Oil Paint	Simulates the appearance of brush strokes in an oil painting.
Posterize	Reduces the number of colors in the photo. Use the slider provided to specify the number of color levels, or different levels of red, green, and blue. This effect is not available for 16-color and monochrome photos..
Water Color	Similar to the Oil Paint effect, this effect simulates a watercolor painting.
Splatter	Reduces the apparent resolution of the photo by replacing pixel colors with the average pixel color in the immediate area. The size of pattern can be adjusted using the Pattern Size slider. Use the Intensity slider to randomly distort the edges of the squares that comprise the pattern.
Swirl	Stirs the photo into a swirl of colors. Use the Rotation Angle slider to adjust the degree of the effect. Positive values swirl in a clockwise direction; negative values swirl in a counter-clockwise direction.
Ripple	Applies a series of concentric rings, or ripples, to the photo. The photo appears as if it were actually under water. The ripples originate from the center of the photo. Use the Ripple Frequency slider to specify the number of ripples. Note that a ripple amplitude must be specified before ripples are displayed.
Spherize	Stretches the photo over a curved shape like a ball or sphere. Use the slider provided to set the percentage, or height, of the effect. Specify more height, and the photo appears wrapped around the outside of a ball, as if the photo was pushing itself towards you. Specify less height, and the photo appears to line the inside of the ball, as if the photo was pulling away from you.

Mosaic	Reduces the apparent resolution of the photo by replacing pixel colors with the average pixel color in the immediate area. The size of pattern can be adjusted using the Pattern Size slider.
Randomize	Applies a random pattern to the photo. Choose between a number of predefined patterns. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the degree of the effect.
Tile	Breaks the photo up into a series of square tiles with dark spaces between each. Applied weakly, the tiles appear in a fairly uniform grid pattern, like bathroom tiles on a wall. Applied strongly, the tiles seem more randomly placed, overlapping in some areas, like pieces of a puzzle not yet put together. Use the Pattern Size slider to adjust the size of the square tiles.

Gaussian Blur	Softens and distorts the photo so that it appears blurred, or fuzzy. Choose to have the blur running vertically, horizontally, or in both directions. Set the thickness of each blur streak using the Radius slider.
Smart Blur	Similar to Gaussian Blur except that the program automatically detects where to blur the photo, and where not to. A larger degree of contrast is maintained within the photo. Blur size is adjustable using the slider provided.