Create and Apply Bokeh Overlays In Photoshop
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- 0:00 Introduction
- 0:55 Place images
- 1:48 Create Bokeh with the Field Blur filter
- 2:45 Apply overlays using Blending Modes
- 3:15 Use Levels to adjust Blending Modes
- 4:00 Use Layer Masks to hide the Bokeh effect
- 6:10 Distort images to create better Bokeh overlays
- 7:30 Composite overlays onto a photo
- 9:45 Create a sun flare
- 12:08 Use Selective Color to apply a color tone
- 12:50 Sharpen eyes with the Sharpen tool
- 14:20 Apply noise using the Lens Blur filter
Your choices stick across every tutorial on this device.
Bokeh overlays in Photoshop let you turn an ordinary background photo into a soft, glowing blur you can blend onto any portrait.
In this tutorial, you will learn to create and apply Bokeh Overlays. We will use photos that are less than perfect to create the overlays, but those bad images will still give us great results.
The video was recorded in Photoshop 2015.5 (version 17.0). Every tool it uses, including the Field Blur filter, Selective Color, and the Lens Blur filter, still works the same way in the current version of Photoshop.
For a faster take on the same idea, see our 90-Second Tip on the bokeh overlay blend mode.
Key Takeaways
- The Field Blur filter is the fastest way to turn any photo into soft, colorful bokeh circles, no camera skills required.
- The Screen blending mode hides the dark parts of a bokeh layer and keeps only the bright highlights.
- A Levels adjustment layer clipped to the bokeh layer controls how much of the effect shows through, without touching the blend mode.
- You do not need a good photo to make bokeh. A blurry, badly lit street or food photo works just as well as a professional shot.
- Unchecking Transparency Shapes Layer in the Layer Style panel changes how a blend mode like Linear Dodge (Add) reacts to Opacity and Fill. That is what makes a sun flare glow brighter.
- Turning off Pen Pressure in the Brush Settings panel keeps a layer mask edge consistent when you are painting with a tablet.
Table of contents
- What You Will Learn
- Requirements
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Create the Bokeh with the Field Blur Filter
- Apply Bokeh Overlays in Photoshop Using Blending Modes
- Other Photoshop Tips & Tricks To Enhance This Photo
- Sun Flare Effect
- Apply a Color Tone Using a Selective Color Adjustment Layer
- Sharpen Eyes With The Sharpen Tool
- Lens Blur Filter to Apply Noise
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Related Links
What You Will Learn
- How to create bokeh with the Field Blur filter
- How to blend a bokeh overlay onto a photo with the Screen mode
- How to control the effect with a Levels adjustment layer and layer masks
- How to add a sun flare with Linear Dodge (Add)
- How to apply a color tone with a Selective Color adjustment layer
- How to sharpen eyes and add noise with the Lens Blur filter
Requirements
Before you start
- Photoshop 2015.5 (version 17.0) or the current version of Photoshop.
- A photo to use as the bokeh source, plus a portrait to apply it to, or download the practice files below.
Practice Files
Download the images used in this tutorial and follow along with the bokeh overlay effect.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Create Clipping Mask | Ctrl Alt G | Command Option G |
| Group Layers | Ctrl G | Command G |
| Duplicate Layer | Ctrl J | Command J |
| Merge Layers | Ctrl E | Command E |
| Repeat Last Filter | Ctrl F | Command F |
| Free Transform | Ctrl T | Command T |
| Lasso Tool | L | L |
| Move Tool | V | V |
| Stamp Visible (merge all layers to a new layer) | Ctrl Alt Shift E | Command Option Shift E |
| Increase or decrease brush size | ] or [ | ] or [ |
| Scale from center in Free Transform | Shift Alt drag | Shift Option drag |
| Duplicate while dragging | Alt drag | Option drag |
Create the Bokeh with the Field Blur Filter
The easiest way to create bokeh overlays in Photoshop is to use the Field Blur filter (Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur).
This Field Blur contains an Effects tab that allows you to create bokeh out of the bright areas of the images.
As you will see in this video tutorial, the contents of the photo are not important, as long as the images are not too bright.
Here’s an example of what the Effects tab looks like, and the settings that you will need to use to create the bokeh effect.
You will need to adjust the Light Bokeh, Bokeh Color, and Light Range to create the Bokeh effect on most of your photos.
To adjust the size of the bokeh, add or subtract blur using the Blur slider. Adding more blur makes the bokeh circles larger.
Apply Bokeh Overlays in Photoshop Using Blending Modes
After you create your bokeh overlay, you can apply it to any image using the Screen blending mode. Screen hides dark pixels and reveals bright ones.
You can then use any adjustment layer that adjusts the luminosity to control the blend. In this tutorial, the Levels Adjustment Layer will be used to control the intensity of the bokeh overlay.
Tip: Add a layer mask to the bokeh layer and paint with black to hide any part of the effect you do not want. A soft, low-hardness brush blends the edge naturally into the rest of the photo.
Other Photoshop Tips & Tricks To Enhance This Photo
Although this tutorial is all about bokeh overlays, we will also take the time to enhance this project by creating other fun effects.
Sun Flare Effect
We will use a similar technique as to what you saw in my Shallow Depth of Field Effect tutorial.
To build the flare, paint a soft white dot on a new layer. Then press CtrlT (Windows) or CommandT (macOS), and hold ShiftAlt (Windows) or ShiftOption (macOS) while you drag a handle to scale it from the center.
Open the Layer Style panel and change the blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add), then uncheck Transparency Shapes Layer. That setting changes how the flare reacts to Opacity and Fill. It is what gives it a hot, bright glow.
Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, clip it to the flare with CtrlAltG (Windows) or CommandOptionG (macOS), and check Colorize to pick the flare’s color.
Apply a Color Tone Using a Selective Color Adjustment Layer
In this tutorial, I will also show you how you can apply a color tone (or color grade) to an image using the Selective Color Adjustment Layer.
If you would like to learn more about using adjustment layers to apply color to images, watch my Cinematic Color Grading Tutorial.
Sharpen Eyes With The Sharpen Tool
This video also contains a section where I show you how to sharpen eyes using the Sharpen tool and the Luminosity blending mode. It’s a quick and straightforward technique that achieves great results!
Lens Blur Filter to Apply Noise
To finalize the image, I will show you one of my favorite compositing techniques. By applying film grain or noise to a photo, you make it all tie together, by adding that extra level of realism.
I like to use the Lens Blur filter to add noise, since it also lets you add a blur at the same time if needed.
Adobe Stock Image Used:
https://stock.adobe.com/stock-photo/beautiful-woman-face-closeup/106062841
Frequently Asked Questions
Bokeh overlays in Photoshop are blurred, glowing circles of light you create and blend onto a photo with a blending mode. You build them from any bright photo using the Field Blur filter, then apply them with the Screen blending mode.
No. A blurry phone photo of a street or a plate of food works just as well as a professional shot. The Field Blur filter turns bright spots into bokeh circles regardless of the original photo’s quality.
The Field Blur filter, found under Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur, creates the effect. Its Effects tab has Light Bokeh, Bokeh Color and Light Range sliders that shape the circles.
Use the Screen blending mode. It hides the dark pixels in the bokeh layer and keeps only the bright highlights, so the overlay blends into the photo underneath it.
Add a Levels adjustment layer and clip it to the bokeh layer with CtrlAltG (Windows) or CommandOptionG (macOS). Dragging the black point slider controls how much of the overlay shows through.
Paint a soft white dot on a new layer, then set its blending mode to Linear Dodge (Add) and uncheck Transparency Shapes Layer in the Layer Style panel. A clipped Hue/Saturation adjustment layer colors the flare.
Use the Sharpen tool on a new blank layer with Sample All Layers checked, then change that layer’s blending mode to Luminosity. That keeps the sharpening while dropping the extra saturation it adds.
Merge your layers to a new layer with CtrlAltShiftE (Windows) or CommandOptionShiftE (macOS). Then apply the Lens Blur filter with its radius set to zero and the noise amount increased. It adds realistic grain without blurring the image.
Conclusion
Bokeh overlays turn an ordinary photo into a soft, glowing background effect. The whole technique comes down to the Field Blur filter, the Screen blending mode, and a Levels adjustment layer.
The same project also covers a sun flare, a Selective Color tone, sharper eyes, and film grain, so you get five compositing techniques out of one image.
Watch the full video above, and comment on the video if you have a question.
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Next, learn 7 easy Photoshop tips to make your composites more realistic.
Related Links
Final Image
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Today again I learned something new from your side which helped me to improve my ability in Photoshop. Once again thanks for your support towards those who wish to learn.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Great Videos
Thank You!
Wonderful tutorial in so many ways! I have tried it on some portrait images I shot and it adds so much fun! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Teri!
Hi ! Nice tutorial you have shared here. It proved easy and helpful for me I applied bokeh overlays effect on my images and outcome was mindblowing. Will keep a catch of more similar posts. Please keep it up.
Thank you!
Altijd leuk!!
nieuwe leerdoelen en leerzaam in Adobe Photoshop CC 2017
Het is gewoon TOP.
Groetjes Henk S
Thank you, Henk!
Nice, I Love This Tutorial
Thank you, Rabi!
Whaoooo! Thank you so much ! I wanted to buy some light and bokeh overlays, but with your tuto, i will train myself to product mines … Thnayou again !
You’re welcome, Soret!
An excellent, well presented tutorial, delivered in a clear concise manner very easy to follow but as with most tutorials I also take notes for future reference so the pause button was used frequently.
Could you do a video or direct me to one on the internet, on how to create ACTIONS and what is the best use for them.
hi, I only have a “place” option in my photoshop, not a “place embedded”, how do I fix this?
Thanks
Yes l have same problem how l can fix it ?
Wow – so great! I had a photo of my husband that was “ok” and wanted to give it some more dramatic quality – this did the trick!! Clear direction, easy to follow, and I love how you explained the whys. Thank you!
Hi
the video is amazing,
i got stuck after i place the street photo on top of my image, because i can’t go to blur without flatten ….
help please
Ami, not sure what you mean. Do you have a screenshot or more details as you what your problem is?
After i place the street photo or a similar photo ,when i choose blur gallery, my options are hidden
What version of your PS? I am using PS CS6, and the field blur is greyed out, i can;t work it out your tutorial, how can i fix it. thanks.
Make sure that you are on a Pixel Layer. I am on CC
Great tutorial! I am new to creating bokeh images and I was wondering is there any best way to pick the most appropriate images to create the effect. I tried with simple phone camera images, too, but for some reason the flare circles didn’t come out as nice and clear as in your tutorial. Would you give any advice on how to pick the embeded images?
Your tutuorials are so great however I’m a beginner and using 2018 which is SO different. I cannot find field blur/bokeh tool at all or the Selective Color Adjustment Layer.????
great video
it’s very helpful.it proved easy and helpful for me. I will keep a catch of more similar posts. Please keep it up.
Thank you sir!
Hi. I’m trying to follow your steps. but the “field blur” option is not highlighting in my ps. how to overcome this? please help
Were can I find the photos you used?
Hello sir if I am send you a pic, are you change my picture with beautiful effects and new look?
I am using adobe photoshop but i don’t know how change photo with bright color and effects.please give me some useful tips. I am very thankful to you for this kindness.