How can I create a gradient blur?

No arguments from me, Pierre, I just posted the first thing that popped into my head. Did you guys over at PST ever automate your blur technique?

Thanks for the link Don. Interesting reading to say the least.

Ho, indeed, there are several methods, but as PeterK. said it too, yours, used like you describe, does not give "way better" results than the blurred copy with mask.
Using lens blur on an blurred Alpha channel, or several applications of a low blur radius through a gradual mask that is stepped and increased as described in the PhotoshopTechniques thread does produce very different (more realistic) results.
No confrontations from my part, you know me, just qualitative argumentation ;)

PeterK,

I tried the method you mentioned just to see what the results would look like and, you're right, that came closer to the look I was trying to get.

Ho's method did look better than the original one I mentioned that I had tried, but the lens blur is even better.

Thanks for your suggestion and thank all of you for the help.

>What I don't understand is why the original poster said Ho's method worked great, when the method gives the exact same result as the method he mentioned he didn't want to use?

I'm not sure of the reason, but it didn't produce the same results. Just to clarify, the image I was using had text in it. When I used the method I mentioned in my first post, I saw the blurred image, but right at the point when the opacity was around 50% I could still see the completely unblurred image underneath (completely clear and readable text), creating a sort-of glow look around the text.

When I used the method that Ho suggested, the text simply becomes increasingly blurred as you look across the image.

What I don't understand is why the original poster said Ho's method worked great, when the method gives the exact same result as the method he mentioned he didn't want to use? Really, lens blur is probably what you're after. It will blur every pixel by varying degrees, as opposed to by an alpha mask opacity method, which still shows the unblurred image underneath.

David

Much had been written on the change to new forums coming up soon, including the rating system.

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b7c637/

As always, I never received a copy of the memo on the new rating system.

>fake gradual blur

Any digitally created representation of a blur is fake. Lens Blur may suit some subjects better, and I certainly endorse using whatever method produces the best restult. Like many things, there are at least 4 or 5 ways to do this in Photoshop.