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Post by Tpgettys on Apr 3, 2021 15:18:33 GMT
Lillias , your Design Book Cover was quite a success; so many great submissions and reactions. Thank you! This challenge shows you how to selectively blur the background, bringing attention to the subject by simulating a shallow depth of field. It is fast and easy to apply. Below are before and after images to give you an idea of what to expect.
Here is a video tutorial on this effect; I also created some written instructions but modified them slightly to make it faster. I suggest watching the video so you can see what's coming and for clarification of any steps that might be needed. - Bring your image into PSE and make a copy of it (Ctrl-J). Name the new layer Blur.
- Apply the Gaussian Blur filter to your new layer (Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur...). I used a Radius of 10-20 pixels.
- Click the Add layer mask button at the top of the Layers panel (the layer mask will be active and the colors set to the default black on white).
- Select the Gradient tool.
- Choose the Foreground to Background gradient, the Linear gradient type and check the Reverse box.
- Click in the image and draw down to apply the gradient to the layer's mask (try it several times until you are happy with the result).
- Turn off the Blur layer (click the "eye" in the layer panel) and make the background the active layer.
- Select the subject using the Quick Selection Tool (if you use the Lasso Tool as is done in the video you will need to use Refine Edge... to clean up the selection).
- Make the Blur layer visible again and select its layer mask.
- Select the Paint Bucket Tool and click inside the selection to fill it with black, revealing the unblurred subject. Ta-da!
I hope you have fun with this effect and perhaps learn something new about Elements. I look forward to seeing your results.
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Post by tourerjim on Apr 3, 2021 20:34:37 GMT
I stretched this one out a bit.  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Apr 3, 2021 21:26:04 GMT
A funny and excellent use of the effect tourerjim ! Thanks for giving it a go. |
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Post by hmca on Apr 3, 2021 23:01:07 GMT
Gave this a try with one of my images from a few years ago.  Original  |
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Post by fotofrank on Apr 4, 2021 1:54:27 GMT
Swing and a miss  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Apr 4, 2021 3:22:40 GMT
Very nice fotofrank , totally believable! Two subjects to deal with in the foreground, so you get double points. A shot from the sports front page! |
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Post by Sepiana on Apr 4, 2021 6:07:26 GMT
- Applied an Atmospheric texture by Merek Davis (Daydream, Soft Light blending mode, 100% Opacity). - Image from Pixabay.  |
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Post by kdcintx on Apr 5, 2021 2:17:19 GMT
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Post by Lillias on Apr 5, 2021 12:42:13 GMT
Image from Pexels...  |
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Post by Sepiana on Apr 5, 2021 13:44:29 GMT
- Applied a Color Lookup adjustment layer (Vintableach). - Created the frame effect with Filter Forge (Matching Frame). - Photo taken by me in Laguna Beach, CA.  |
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Post by tonyw on Apr 5, 2021 19:59:20 GMT
Didn't have a lot of time to snap this running deer so this was a good way to improve the background Before:  After:  Tony |
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Post by Tpgettys on Apr 5, 2021 23:46:21 GMT
Didn't have a lot of time to snap this running deer so this was a good way to improve the background
Agreed! I think this effect works best when there is clearly a far-field to be blurred and near-field areas that will be in focus, as in your case.
And of course there is no reason you couldn't do some processing before applying the blur effect to improve an image in the usual manner.
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Post by Sepiana on Apr 6, 2021 20:29:31 GMT
- Took the file into ON1 Photo RAW (Honky Tonk). - Applied a texture by Jason P. Odell (Luminescent Painterly, Hard Light blending mode, 75% Opacity). - Image from Pixabay.  |
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Post by Lillias on Apr 9, 2021 18:00:12 GMT
Image from Pixabay...  |
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Post by tonyw on Apr 9, 2021 21:47:23 GMT
Started from a version I had of an earlier challenge - adding a background blur effect and a few other tweaks.  Tony |
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