I get that when using my macro setting (the little flower icon on the dial). It focuses on whatever is in the center of my frame and the rest looks blurry. There are probably other ways to do it but it's been so long since I did my photography courses, I can't remember half of it now lol.

Oh and I should say I get close to the center object (flower, face, etc) and that helps make the rest out of focus.

I use photoshop to blur the background. First select the lasso or marquee tool then set feathering to 25-35 something around there. Then select the area you don't want to blurred then invert the selection. go to filter and select blur, then gaussian blur...there will be a setting at on the screen to change the degree that you want to set the blurring to..and it should show a review, so just adjust the slider while watching the review and stop when it looks good. You don't want to blur the background too much or it will look odd.
This should work with paintshop pro too, I'm not sure about paint.net
Terri

Hi Jovanna, If you have a camera with Aperture priority, set your aperture at it's lowest number, ex. 2.8 rather than 5.7 or whatever your particular camera has. By opening the aperture, zooming in close, using your longest zoom ex. 135 or 200 mm zoom, your background will blur. This is done in camera.

If you cannot do it in camera, then Terilew's suggestion is great for blurring in your software.

Maggie, what camera do you have? I'd love to get a digital SLR but that's just out of the question for now. I have a kodak v550 5mp and a Toshiba PDR-M700 3.2mp and I just gave my mother an Hp M537 6mp camera. The Toshiba has manual settings but the shutter speed just seems so slow to get pictures of the dogs and kids. Plus it's only 3 mega pixels (it was great when I got it, lol). I love the kodak because I can put it in my pocket or purse and carry it around...and it does take good pictures for it being a point and shoot...
Terri

it does have manual settings, it's just if I'm in a hurry to get a picture the moment is over by the time I have the camera set up right,and it's really too slow on automatic

Terilew, I have the Canon Powershot G9 and the Canon Powershot SX1 IS, Both have Aperture and Shutter Priority, and longer than normal Zoom lens. If you want more info on them, just Google for reviews and info. Hope this helps.