Many a deviantART wallpaper pack used this technique in ~2008-2012.

A similar effect was used in analogue photography by putting some stockings on top of the lens. IIRC it is called "flu effect", which seems to be, unfortunately, ungoogleable.

It seems to be referenced on the web, just not as "flu effect"

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/home-photograph...

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/diy-photo-filters-with-e...

Such techniques generally are termed "gobos", i.e. "go-betweens".

People used to (kind of) do this on film with landscapes, usually forest scenes, double exposure with one exposure slightly out of focus.

It's pretty incredible how much of Photoshop workflows are really film operations.

That’s because it was developed in the age of analog darkrooms (dodge, burn, etc.).

Even the name of the app was meant to help photographers transition.

It’s really amazing how completely digital photography has replaced film (not really surprising, though).

Film photography demanded a great deal of flexibility and adaptability from its practitioners; which, I suspect, is why they adapted to digital so well.

Some of us are back on the film bandwagon. :)

Matches the time period where bloom was all the rage in video games.

Also

* touch the layer mask to select which/how much select areas are affected

which can produce cool effects such as tilt-shift, fake DoF, speed...

This is quickly hinted at at the article's end.

You can also duplicate the layer into the alpha channel to make it glow-y. Maybe tweak the level. But yeah...