One of the key elements in any painting is the type of edges employed within the image. A variety of soft and harder edges give a painting life and depth. Soft and lost edges add mystery and let the eye move through. Hard edges stop the eye and say ‘this area is important – pay more attention to this’. Artistic license is frequently taken with where the softer edges are applied. The painter may decide very differently than the camera does, depending what they wish to emphasize. Oil painters have the advantage on this one – with slower drying time, edges are more easily softened.