Sometimes the background of a photo is not really something we want to remember or have on our scrapbook pages. Or, maybe sometimes we just want something special in the photo to pop out and grab attention. By blurring the background while keeping the main image clear you can create a photo that does just that.
First open the photo in your photoshop and make a copy of it and then close the original. What we are going to do would ruin the original so a copy is what you should be working on. I am going to focus attention on the image of me as I feed the ducks but for this layout I am not interested in the ducks or the sign to the right of me. |
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Use your lasso tool in the upper left corner of the tool bar to make a selection around the part of the image you want to keep in focus. Make the selection just a little bit larger than needed. |
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While the selection is still active, go to Select>Feather on your menu.
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Type in the number 20 in the box to indicate the Feather Radius of 20 pixels. Later, for future versions, you can play with this number to see how you like different settings. Click OK and you will be returned to your photograph. Click OK |
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The image you selected earlier should still be selected. Without moving anything, copy what has been selected by using the Edit>Copy command. Again, without moving anything, use the Edit>Paste command. The selection lasso should disappear, but other wise your photo will look the same. But, if you look at your layers window, you will see that there is now another layer with the image you pasted in it. |
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Highlight the background layer - THIS IS IMPORTANT If you fail to do this the background will not blur. Turn off the layer that has your copied feathered selection. It should be the layer on top of your background. That way you can see what is happening to the background easier. |
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Now it is time to add some noise to the photograph. Use the command Filter>Noise>Add Noise. |
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Put the settings on Amount 50%, and check the uniform box. This is another setting you can change on future versions to see how much difference it makes in the photo. Click OK |
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When you look at your photo, you will see a difference in the grain of the photo. This graininess will give the blur something to work with in the next few actions. |
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So, lets put some blur on your photo. Use the command Filter>Blur>Radial Blur. |
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This settings window will come up. There are several settings to fix. The amount to blur here is set at 6 - I found that to be a good setting for me. Make sure the Spin button is clicked and I use the Good quality button as well. In the box on the right bottom of the box you will see where you can move the Blur Center around. For my photo I have moved the center over to the right and down since that is where the focus is going to be. Just place your mouse in the box and click and drag to move the markings around until the center of the markings is located where you want the focus to be in your image. Click OK |
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Now the whole photo is blurred. Turn back on the layer you had turned off previously and the orginal portion of the photograph that you selected and pasted into the top layer will show back up. |
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Your photo should now look blurred in the background with the image you wanted highlighted in focus. Play with the settings a little. If you did not want any of the background to be identified, put more blur into the blur tool and perhaps more noise. |
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