In this video I’m going to show you how to create a blurry background in Photoshop.
What we’re trying to do here is fake the shallow depth of field focus on a flat photograph.
We’re going to apply the blur by using the Lens Blur Filter which allows you to apply the shallow depth field effect so that some objects in the image are in focus while others are blurred.
You can use a simple selection to determine which areas are blurred, but I recommend using alpha channels since it allows you to easily create more complex selections if your image requires it.
The black areas in the alpha channel are treated as though they’re in focus, and the white areas are treated as if they’re out of focus. The different shades of gray are of course different levels of focus.
You can find Cheryl here: ohtobeamuse.com
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Final Image
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Nice!
I want to know how you selected Cheryl so fast?
Two reasons, fast computer, and sped up the video like 1.4x. To save you, the viewer, some time. So it was fast, but not as fast as the video.
That was awesome, thank you!
Amanda,
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the great tutorial, Jesus. I’m going through your beginning PS tutorials, but I managed to do this. Yeah!
Kerry,
I’m so glad that you were able to complete this one! Great job!
Great tutorial – thanks!
Great tutorial,I worked with CAD and have to do lots of renders and this is the one thing I need to master,thanks
James,
I’m glad this helps you out in your CAD work!
Thanks for sharing this,but when I download this tutorial download only the 286 KB image file
Tissa, the download is only the image so that you can follow along.
Bonjour à Vous,
Merci pour le tuto et pour les backgrounds !
Bien cordialement
You’re welcome!
great tutorial
Thank you!
Hey thanks for the videos you make just got back into photoshop and never knew it’s true power till now .
You’re welcome, Ray!
Muchas gracias por este tutorial!
De nada!
Thank you! I never fail to be amazed at what Photoshop can help me do.
You’re welcome, Fran!
Perfect timing for me to see this! I’ve been working on a photo that needed this exact treatment! Thanks a bunch!
You’re welcome, Lynn!
The Real Photoshop Training Channel.I cannot wait for the next video with different techniques that I had never learned before.
Thanks PTC.
Best Regards.
Thank you, Tommy!
Thank you Jesus, this was very useful, like your other tutorials, too!
You’re welcome, Klara!
Awesome Stuff great tutorial
Thank you!
Hi I followed along with this tutorial on Youtube. It’s awesome BUT for some reason I am getting the total opposite of what I want to happen. After I use the quick selection tool–When I press “q” the objects that I want in focus ends up being out of focus. How can I fix this? Im using Photoshop CC 2017
Laurie,
I think that your settings for the Quick Mask might be reversed. You can double-click on the Quick Mask icon (below the foreground/background color picker in the tools bar) to bring up the options and select “Masked Areas”.
I hope this helps!
Excellent tutorial. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Joy!