Soft Focus Filter

[osumisan]

It has been suggested to me to use a soft filter when shooting portraits. I am trying to understand what a soft focus filter does in comparison to what can be done on photoshop. Is a soft focus filter nothing more than using Gaussian blur on photoshop and blending in lighten mode? I purchased a cheap soft focus filter on eBay to try for myself but would like to hear from those who like or dislike using them.

 

[Josh66]

It's basically spherical aberration on demand.

You can get pretty close in PS, but IMO it's not exactly the same.

 

[osumisan]

thanks for your comment...what does spherical aberration mean?

 

[Josh66]

thanks for your comment...what does spherical aberration mean?

Spherical aberration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Someone else might jump in with a good explanation, but that wikipedia article explains it better than I can.

(Basically, anything 'bright' will 'glow'...)

 

[Tee]

Soft focus is kinda 1985-ish isn't it? I bought one, used it once and threw it away.

 

[osumisan]

Soft focus is kinda 1985-ish isn't it? I bought one, used it once and threw it away.

I have read that the soft filter is not as good as photoshop because the changes made to the photo in the camera are not as adjustable as a photoshop layer. Would you agree?