Author: Bob Lin

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE Data recovery, Windows OS Recovery, Networking, and Computer Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Install and Configure Windows, VMware, Virtualization and Cisco on http://www.HowToNetworking.com

Portrait Photoshop 1: use Blur Filters to soften backgrounds and skin tones

In this example, we will use Gaussian Blur and Surface Blur from Photoshop filters to soften backgrounds and skin tones.

  1. Open the image and duplicate layer.

Note: there are multiple ways to duplicate a layer. 1) Click Layer>Duplicate Layer. 2). Click on the image in the Layer panel and hold it. Move it to bottom +

3) Right click on the image in the layer panel and select Duplicate Layer.

2. Use select tool to select background. Note 1: you can select object and then inverse.

Note 2: you can save the select by going to Select>Save Selection.

3. With the Duplicate Layer active, go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Increase Radius until you happy the result. Don’t overdo it.

Note: you can also make a dark background by going to Image>Adjustment.

4. With the Duplicate Layer still active, go to Select>inverse, which will select object.

5. To soften skin, go to Filter>Blur>Surface Blur. Adjust Radius and Threshold.

6. You may also want to use Sharpen Tool to sharp eyes and other edges.

7. This is the result.

Manipulate Contrast using curves in Photoshop

Curves is a popular tool to adjust contrast in Photoshop. When you open Curves, the graph will default to a straight diagonal line indicating 0 (black) to 255 (white). The horizontal axis of the graph represents the input values, while the vertical axis represents the output or adjusted values. Note: to open Cures, click on Create new file or adjustment layer.

Select Curves.

Now, you should have

Curves control contrast by adjust the curve. For example, to reducing contrast, select and drag the darkest point upwards while select the lightest point along the graph and drag it downwards as shown below.

To increase the contract, you may select three points and make an ‘S’ curve as shown below.

Pixel phone doesn’t ring or ringtone is different from the tone you select

Situation: When the user receive the call, the phone doesn’t ring even the ring volume is high. After he restart the phone, the phone rings but the sound is different from the ringtone.

Troubleshooting: 1. It could be the 3rd party software issue. Try safe mode for a test. Please refer to this post:

2. Make sure the Sound is not disabled. Please refer to this post:

To do that, go to Settings>Apps & notifications>All apps. If you don’t see Sound apps, tap 3 dots>Show system.

3. Clear sound storage cache. To do that, go to Settings>Apps & notifications>All apps. If you don’t see Sound apps, tap 3 dots>Show system. Clear cache or Clear storage.

4. Also disable Bluetooth for a test. The sound may go to Bluetooth device.

Can’t change Pixel 3 Phone ringtone

Situation: The user has Google Pixel 3 phone. He can’t change the phone ringtone. Whenever he tap the Phone ringtone, it turn to the Sound settings page. Also the Phone ringtone shows 813.

Troubleshooting: 1. Make sure the sound is not disabled.

To do that, go to Settings>Apps & notifications>All apps. If you don’t see Sound apps, tap 3 dots>Show system.

2. Clear sound storage cache. To do that, go to Settings>Apps & notifications>All apps. If you don’t see Sound apps, tap 3 dots>Show system. Clear cache or Clear storage.

3. It could be the 3rd party software issue. Try safe mode for a test. Please refer to this post:

How to reboot Google Pixel 3 in Safe Mode

  • Turn the device off.
  • Press and hold the Power button until the Google logo appears on the screen then release.
  • With the Google logo still on screen, press and hold the Volume down button.
  • Continue to hold the Volume down button until ‘Safe mode‘ appears in the lower-left of the unlock screen then release.