How To Add Photo Effects

With the advent of digital photography, adding photo effects to your images has never been easier. Photo effects can range from simple filters and modifications to advanced algorithms. Photo effects allow you to simulate photo techniques, creatively express yourself, drastically alter your image, or all of the above. Adding great photo effects only requires a source image, a great image processing software program, and your creativity.

You can apply different photo effects to your images to simulate some traditional photo techniques and processes.

To apply the Black and White Film effect:

1. Install PaintShop Pro

To install PaintShop Pro photo editing software on your PC, download and run the installation file above. Continue following on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

2. Select Black and White Film from Photo Effects

Choose Effects > Photo Effects > Black and White Film. The Black and White Film dialog box appears.

3. Adjust the settings

Modify the settings you want and click OK.

You can also:

Adjust the RGB filter color

In the Filter Colorgroup box, click or drag inside the color spectrum to set the RGB filter color.
The Red, Green, and Bluevalues and the After pane are updated.

Simulate shooting the photo without a filter

In the Filter Colorgroup box, place the filter toward the middle of the color spectrum, or click the Reset to Default bu

Use an automatic filter setting

In the Filter Color group box, click Suggest Color.

Adjust overall brightness

In the Adjustments group box, drag the Brightness slider, or type or set a value in the control.

Adjust overall brightness

In the Adjustments group box, drag the Clarify slider, or type or set a value in the control.

To apply the Infrared Film effect:

2. Select Infrared Film from Photo Effects

Choose Effects > Photo Effects > Infrared Film. The Infrared Film dialog box appears.

3. Adjust the Strength

Type or set a value in the Strength control to determine the overall strength of the Infrared effect. Higher settings make greens appear brighter and blues appear darker. Setting the value to 0 creates a grayscale image.

4. Flare control

Type or set a value in the Flare control to apply a halo effect to lighter areas in the photo. Higher settings intensify the halation effect, producing soft edges throughout the photo. Lower settings minimize the halation effect.

4. Grain control

Type or set a value greater than 0 in the Grain control to add a more realistic infrared graininess to the photo. Click OK.

To apply the Sepia Toning effect:

2. Select Sepia Toning from Photo Effects

Choose Effects > Photo Effects > Sepia Toning. The Sepia Toning dialog box appears.

3. Adjust the Strength

Type or set a value in the Amount to age control to determine the strength of the effect. Higher settings increase the effect by increasing the amount of brown in the image.

To apply a miniature effect by using Selective Focus:

2. Select Selective Focus from Photo Effects

Choose Effects > Photo Effects > Selective Focus. The Selective Focus dialog box appears. You can maximize the dialog box to increase the size of the Before and After panes of the preview area.

3. Pick a Selection Tool

In the Area of focus, click one of the following tools:

  • Planar Selection Tool — the default tool for setting a linear area of focus. It is effective at setting an area of focus along a road, bridge, or other linear element that isn’t along the edge of your photo.
  • Half Planar Selection Tool — lets you set a linear area of focus along the edge of a photo
  • Radial Selection Tool — lets you set a circular area of focus.

4. Adjust the position

In the Before pane of the preview area, when your pointer displays the move cursor , drag the area of focus to the position you want. Drag the rotation handle (the box at the end of the short line) to rotate the area of focus. Drag a sizing handle (on the solid lines) to set the edges for the area of focus.

5. Make final adjustments

Fine-tune the results by dragging any of the following sliders:

  • Blur amount — determines the amount of blur outside the area of focus
  • Feather edge — determines the softness of the transition between the area in focus and the blurred areas. You can also adjust feathering interactively by dragging a feathering handle (on the dotted lines) in the Before pane.
  • Saturation — determines the intensity of the colors in the photo. Increasing saturation can help simulate the vivid paint colors used for models and toys.

You can use the Selective Focus effect to apply a quick depth of field effect. Adjust the settings to achieve a natural look.

To apply a Vignette effect:

2. Select Vignette from Photo Effects

Click Effects > Photo Effects > Vignette.

3. Set the edge

In the Area of focus, choose a selection tool and drag in the Before pane to set the edge for the effect.

4. Adjust edge color

Drag the Dark/Light slider to set an edge color.

5. Make final adjustments

Fine-tune the results by dragging any of the following sliders:

  • Blur — determines the amount of blur outside the area of focus
  • Diffuse glow — adds a luminescent brightening effect and softens details in the entire photo
  • Feather edge — determines the softness of the transition between the area in focus and the edge effect.

Download a free trial now and start adding photo effects today

PaintShop Pro's image editing tools allow you to quickly and easily add photo effects to add flare and expression to your image.

PaintShop Pro does more than just add photo effects

Check out some of the other photo editing features in Paintshop Pro, like resize a photo, add photo filters, edit hue & saturation, and more! Create high quality photos in a fun and easy to use photo editor and make your photos stand out more than ever.

Resize An Image Resize An Image
Crop A Picture Crop A Picture
Flip Photos Flip Photos
Add Photo Effects Add Photo Effects

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Want to add photo effects to spice up your images? We promise you'll love the easy-to-use photo effects in PaintShop Pro. Click below to download your free 30-day trial and add photo effects for free before you buy!