Fake a Blur

How to Get a Blurry Background

There a time when you’d like the background of your image to be blurry. There a few things you can do on your settings to help get that blurry background or get more blur. Here are just a few:

First, increase the focal length, the longer the focal length the more blur you can achieve.

Second: Aperture – Set it Wide. By opening your aperture, you’re setting your photo up for a blurry background.

Third: Position – position your subject away from the background; distance also help get more blur.

Here’s how you can get blur and/or more blur in Photoshop

Duplicate the background (Ctrl/cmd + J). On the toolbar select Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set it at ~80-90 pixels or to taste. Add a Layer Mask and then select the Gradient tool along the left side make sure black is set as the foreground, check the linear gradient box. With the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the image drag it up toward the subject’s face.

Then with the brush tool, brush over the subject’s face and any remaining areas you do not want affected by the gaussian blur; brush with black and a small brush.

There you have it, a Fake Blur!

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You – I, whom You have redeemed. – Psalm 71:23 NIV

Great is His love toward us. And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  – Psalm 117:2 NIV

Be Blessed and be a blessing!

All Photographs in this post/blog © Cheryl Howard