GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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I have a .jpg of a page of an article, so it's white paper with black text. I want to leave the paragraph I am focusing on alone, but for the surrounding areas of the remainder of the page/.jpg , I want to dim it with a grey color, but I still want the text to show through the grey, so the grey bath of color should be somewhat transparent...also, I want there to be a border that fades from the white to the grey, so it appears like the white is at a higher level, makes the white stand out...I don't what to just have the transition from white edge to grey edge to be stark...hope you know what I mean...

What is this technique called? How do I achieve this effect? Can someone point me to a tutorial? Thank you!

Click colors>>>threshold and adjust the slider until the background is good and white.
create a new layer underneath of the paragraph layer, fill it with whatever color you want your background to be. This could also be a gradient or anything.
set the layer mode of the paragraph layer to multiply
create a new layer, set the layer mode to overlay.
using the blend tool, create a round gradient that goes from white to black coming out of the center. That shold give you the dramatic "bright to dark" look you want.

I hope this helps.

You don't dim with gray, you reduce contrast. Basically:

- rectangle select the area of interest
- modify selection at your convenience (here: "Select/Round rectangle" and "Select/Feather"
- Invert selection (so you next action is on the rest of the picture)
- Colors/Brightness-Contrast: reduce contrast

God, I love you guys!! Thank you!!

This is a great effect on images also.