Adding Blur Effects

You can create a blur effect in conjunction with a shape that you add to an image. This is a useful effect, for example, if you want to highlight a particular area of an image without hiding the rest of the image. You can draw a shape around the area of the image that you want to emphasize and then apply the blur effect, determining how much "blurriness" is used. The area inside the shape remains clear, but the rest of the image around the shape becomes blurred. You can even have multiple shapes on an image, each with a blur effect.

You can add a blur effect with a rectangle shape by using the "Blur Effect Mode." Otherwise, you can use a slightly longer process and add a blur effect for any shape.

Example

Example  

Here is an example without the blur effect.

We've drawn a rectangle around the word "madcap." Then we applied an effect to blur the rest of the image around this rectangle.

How to Use the Blur Effect Mode for a Rectangle

  1. Open an image.
  2. Select Object > Effects > Blur.
  3. Click in the image and drag the mouse to draw the rectangle over the area of the image that you want to remain clear. Release the mouse button when you are finished. The rectangle appears on the image and the area around it is blurred.

  4. (Optional) You can modify the amount of blur, as well as the look, size, or position of the rectangle.

    To Modify the Amount of Blur

    1. Double-click the image (not the shape).
    2. In the File Properties dialog, select the Image Effects tab.
    3. Change the number in the Blur Factor field. The higher the number, the more the image is blurred.
    4. Click OK.

    To Modify the Look of the Rectangle

    1. Double-click the shape (not the image).
    2. In the properties dialog for the object, use the various tabs to make changes to the rectangle. To remove the border around the rectangle, select the Appearance tab and set the Line:Width field to 0.
    3. Click OK.

    To Move or Resize the Rectangle

    • To move the entire rectangle, click somewhere in the middle of the rectangle and drag it to the new location.
    • To resize the rectangle, click any of the points (i.e., small circles) around the edge of the rectangle and drag it to adjust the height and/or width.
  5. Click to save your work.

How to Add a Blur Effect for Any Shape

  1. Open an image.

  2. In the Object ribbon's Tools section, or the local toolbar of the Capture Editor, click the appropriate shape or graphics option.

    Select this option to draw a bubble (often used for callouts).

    Select this option to draw an annotation.

    Select this option to draw a loop.

    Select this option to draw a shape containing a cursor.

    Select this option to draw an arrow.

    Select this option to draw a star.

    Selection this option to draw an x-agon.

    Select this option to draw a square or rectangle.

    Select this option to draw a polygon (i.e., a closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments).

    Select this option to draw a circle or oval.

    Select this option to draw a text box (i.e., a square or rectangle with text in it).

  3. Click in the image and draw the shape over the area of the image that you want to remain clear.

    Note If you draw a text box, you'll also need to provide text for the shape and then click outside of it.

  4. Double-click the shape (not the image). The properties dialog for the object opens.
  5. Select the Image Effects tab.
  6. Click the check box next to Enable Blur Effect.
  7. Click OK. The area around the shape is blurred.

  8. (Optional) You can modify the amount of blur, as well as the look, size, or position of the shape.

    To Modify the Amount of Blur

    1. Double-click the image (not the shape).
    2. In the File Properties dialog, select the Image Effects tab.
    3. Change the number in the Blur Factor field. The higher the number, the more the image is blurred.
    4. Click OK.

    To Modify the Look of the Shape

    1. Double-click the shape (not the image).
    2. In the properties dialog for the object, use the various tabs to make changes to the rectangle.
    3. Click OK.

    To Move or Resize the Shape

    • To move the entire shape, click somewhere in the middle of the shape and drag it to the new location.
    • To resize the shape , click any of the points (i.e., small circles) around the edge of the shape and drag it to adjust the height and/or width.
  9. Click to save your work.

Note If you want to blur the area within a shape, instead of around it, you can apply a blur-inside effect. See Adding Blur-Inside Effects.

What's Next?

If necessary, you can continue editing the image (e.g., adding objects, effects, a callout; cropping the image; resizing the image). Otherwise, you can finalize the image by saving it. See Editing Images.