Can someone pleeease help? I need to soften photos.

Question

I used to just be able to slide the "sharpen" tool to the left to soften images. I upgraded to iphoto '08 and they took that feature away from me. I need to be able to do that. Is there any freeware or inexpensive software that I can download to have a soften filter or something? I have downloaded a bunch of different trials of editing software including aperture and photoshop lightroom, but neither one give me that option! All any of them allow is to sharpen.

Answer 1

ericalotta:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You've stumbled upon a feature that evidently has been removed in the latest version. Could not find any way to blur/soften a photo with iPhoto. Put in a feature request at http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphoto.html or thru the iPhoto->Provide iPhoto Feedback menu option in iPhoto.
In the meantime there's a free image editor, Seashore, that has a Gaussian Blur feature under it's Selection->Effects->Blur menu. You can set the amount of blur my pixel. Just set the editor to be the editor of choice in iPhoto's preferences. Then set the preferences back to your normal editing choice, main window, separate window, etc. Now when you Control-click on a thumbnail you'll get a contextual menu with the option "Edit in external editor". This way you have the best of both worlds, iPhoto and Seashore editing.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.