The Orton Effect

[Phil]

A quick search of the internet will show many ways of achieving this result. This is how I do it.

 

Open your image and select: Layer>Duplicate Layer...

 

 

 

 

Select: Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast..

 

 

 

 

Increase the brightness to around +30 and reduce the contrast to -10. Click OK

 

 

 

 

Select: Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur...

 

 

 

 

Increase the radius to 30. Click OK.

 

 

 

 

Change the blend mode (arrowed here)...

 

 

 

 

...from Normal to Multiply:

 

 

 

 

You may need to adjust the Brightness/Contrast again to get a result you're happy with.

 

 

 

 

This effect works well with many types of images, not just flowers. Give it a go and post some results below.

 

[Phil]

Jodie Orton-ed

 

 

 

 

Harvey Orton-ed.

 

 

 

[Guest DaveW]

I get that effect when I get the focus wrong and the lens mists up when brought into the warm Phil.

 

Afraid I can't see much real difference in your shots to using a diffuser over the lens to start with since they are not as extreme as Orton's original effect. Here is the authentic Orton Effect those methods seek to simulate.

 

http://www.michaelortonphotography.com/ortoneffect.html

 

However diffusers seemed to go out of fashion when digital cameras came in because people could get a similar effect in software rather than at the taking stage. Far quicker though to just use a diffuser over the lens at the taking stage for your type of shot I would have thought Phil?

 

http://www.apnphotographyschool.com/genres/portrait/enhancing-portraits-to-use-a-diffusion-filter-or-not/

[Phil]

To use a diffuser would mean that I have lost total control of the shot.

 

The images above have had the effect applied at varying degrees, to a point I was happy with. With both Harvey and Jodie above the effect has been removed slightly from the eyes to enhance detail, and also in Jodie's hair. How would I do that with a filter?

[NannyFerret]

I can see what you've done to soften Jodie's face and under her eyes, Phil

It has definitely disguised the dark rings that you didn't like without taking the light out of her eyes.

Nice effect and now a perfect portrait to keep of your pretty girl.