For all you cinematography buffs: what is this called...?

Question

In black-and-white films in the forties and fifties, whenever there's a closeup shot of an actress, the edges are blurred ever so slightly, which creates sort of a glowing, almost dreamlike look. I'm guessing they do something different with the lighting as well. What is this technique called? Or does it even have a name?

And I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find any examples right now. If I find some, I'll add them in later.

Superdog · Accepted Answer

It's called 'soft focus'. Although, strictly speaking, soft focus is a technical flaw in the lens itself, it is sometimes deliberately introduced into a lens as a gimmick or special effect. The resulting soft focus lens is used as an effect for "glamour" portrait photography, because the lack of sharp focus eliminates blemishes, and in atmospheric photography to produce a dream-like image. Equally, the effect of a soft focus lens is sometimes approximated by the use of diffusion filters or reproduced by post-processing procedures.

For day to day work, or, if you want to experiment, a tiny smear of Vaseline around the periphery of the camera lens will achieve the same effect.

Kellie M · Answer

It is often called a Haloing Effect, like an angel.  Or they just say we used a softening lens.  You got to love those close ups.

KB · Answer

it's a filter, sometimes it was nylon stretched tight over the lens of the camera, or some other material. FUnny how they always did it for female close ups...

La la la la D · Answer

they acutally used to even use petroleum jelly to blur images.  gels?  maybe?

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For all you cinematography buffs: what is this called...?

4 Answers