Photoshop: Background Blur

When we think of blurring we usually think of the Gaussian Blur filter. But the blur photographers get from it tends to look fake. The Lens Blur filter provides a much more realistic blur and, with some setup time, can create some very realistic results.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Gaussian Blur Filter
• Lens Blur Filter
• photoshop filters
• photoshop tutorials
• photoshop cs4
• photoshop tips
• blur

[willieofroanoke]

After I stopped laughing over how needlessly complex this guy made it, I offer a much simpler way.

Use the lasso tool to select your foreground subject, then invert to select background, then Filter, pick blur, Gaussian, adjust slider riight to adjust for desired amouunt of blur. You're Done.

[ArabicaBill]

It took me a couple of attempts, but I got good results - thanks!

[willieofroanoke]

@Hammersmith80 Anger? No, your obvious grandstanding trying to make a big deal out of what a total stranger said a year ago. Wow, doesn't the term "get a life" have any meaning to you? Maybe somebody pissed in your oatmeal? What's your problem, Bubba?

Oh, btw, I chew up and spit out assholes like you every day. Its a hobby. What can I say. Now run along, or flap your gums some more if that's what turns you on, I'll just be laughing at you.

[Hammersmith80]

@willieofroanoke Posts the angry insecure little boy.

Pumping ego is something you do on a regular basis

judging from the absolute fucking shit you write in

these threads. You "offer" nothing. A bag of scum

like you should be removed from the gene pool.

Go thump a wall you ridiculous irrelevant small minded ceptic little cunt.

[willieofroanoke]

@Hammersmith80 Really? I can't stop laughing at some asshole like you that needs to try to pump up his ego by replying to a comment I made a YEAR ago. Damn, you're a special kind of fuckwit I guess. There's dozens of ways to do what amounts to the same thing. Now I suggest you try hard to pull your dumb fat head out of it's current position, shoved up your shit encrusted ass. You rate ***** on the asshole scale.

[Hammersmith80]

@willieofroanoke I couldn't stop laughing at how laughably pathetic and ignorant your comments are. Using the lasso tool is fine for simple selections with high contrast however it doesn't work for the majority of shots and really using the lasso tool just goes to show your level of knowledge. It didn't occurr to you to create an accurate alpha channel using dodge and burn which gives you far more control and accuracy than the lasso tool. Thick know-nothing pricks like you are all over the web.

[pookiewood]

Thanks! A different way of doing it that looks better. I usually use gaussian but I like the look of this better. The only thing is that I have the Halo effect and when I follow your step to get rid of it it ends up deleting the whole layer. It's still selected as if I'm selecting part of the gradiant.

[Celestisun33]

THANK YOU! I knew there had to be a way to do this. I tried looking for a "progressive blur" and just couldn't find what I was looking for until I stumbled across your video. This tool will be invaluable to me.

[ciaramc29]

thank you this really helped me

[cpcregion]

@speye57 Try loading the selection, then inverse the selection. You want the object/person in the middle, not the background selected.

[Lubunya555]

I am happy that this guy is not a teacher otherwise he would create army of nerds .

[danielodors]

@willieofroanoke - After I stopped laughing over how needlessly complex you made it, I offer a much simpler way.

Blur it with the lens on your camera when you take the picture. You're done.

I'm just making the case that you are mixing apples with oranges. Yes, you offered a simple way to blur things, unfortunately, it is not relevant to the kind of results this fellow is offering. Gaussian blur gives super shitty results, photographically speaking. Gaussian blur doesn't even replicate bokeh.