does saving in .jpg or .xcf make any difference?

gychang

When you save as xcf, your image will still be in the Gimp format. You will have all your layers. You can go back and make changes when it is still in xcf. If you save to png, all the layers will export into one layer.

Interesting.
I think that not only blur filter can be used with this method. For example, if you want:
Only highlight colors: no filter, just duplicate the layer and set layer mode to Overlay.
Enhance images with a large grain or noise: Duplicate layer, apply Blur or Despeckle filter and set layer mode to Overlay.
Improve blurred images or highlight details: Duplicate layer, apply Sharpen filter and set layer mode to Overlay.
In all cases if the image results dark or overexposed, you can improve from "Colors" - "Levels".

I'm supposing because I really do not understand well how Overlay mode works.

Overlay is simply an S-curve applied to the image. Which means darker parts become darker and lighter parts become lighter. Of course, if you change the opacity, you can control this effect.

Thanks for the explanation, partha

I tried the 3 different ways. Works great. Love it.

I tried it with a couple photos. I think the result looks pretty good.

One more method
This is the way i do it!

1-Open your image
2-Duplicate it (name it Blur)
3-On the duplicate select: filters>blur>gaussian blur
"add enough blur to where you start losing the lines, but can still see the general shapes of the image."
4-Once you have the blur, set the layer mode to Grain Extract.
5-Do Layer - New from visible

Now you have 3 layers. (Original, Blur, Visible).

6-In top layer (Visible) set mode to Grain merge.
7-In layer "Blur" change mode to Overlay, e brinque com a opacidade se desejar.
8-Then merge the layers and save as a .png file

Before


After

for landscapes (or seascapes) you may also try:
-G'mic : freaky details (just ONE click)




(normally not suitable for portrait, unless it is a portrait of an old men!)

Fluffybunny cool, thanks for trying!
Reading the steps the method seems long, but in practice as you saw, is very simple and with great result!