How to blur the background of a photo. How to blur the background in a photo? Why do you need a blurred background?

Good day, dear readers! I am glad to present to your attention another lesson on the GIMP editor, from which you will learn to create blurred background effect in a photograph.

Of course everyone likes it photos with blurred background. What is the appeal of such shots? But the fact is that with the help of blur we remove all the excess garbage that clogs photo background and only the main subject we are photographing remains sharp. Take a look at these shots.

Or, for example, when photographing some dish

Such photographs reek of “professionalism.”

How to make such a blurry background?

Create silence..., now I will reveal to you the terrible secret of the recipe for such a shot. You will need:

1) Good camera, mainly a “DSLR” with interchangeable lenses, for example the budget version of the Canon 1100d

2) A lens with a large aperture, for example if you have a camera Canon(like me), the cheapest option would be to buy a Canon 50 1.8 lens

3) We put the lens on the camera and set the creative mode AV (or manual - M), which allows you to adjust the aperture value.

4) Set the aperture to 2, or even better to 1.8

5) Filming...

Here's an example recipe for getting a blurred background in an image. But if finances do not allow you, then we can get remotely closer to the blurred background using processing in graphic editors , such as photoshop and gimp. Thanks to the built-in tools in the editor, we can make the background of a regular photo taken on a regular digital compact camera, the so-called “point-and-shoot” camera, appear blurrier.

And how this is done, we will now learn from today's lesson.

Step 1. Open the original photo in the editor

Step 2. The next step is to highlight the main object in the photo, which we want to make sharp. To do this, the simplest, but at the same time universal method is to use the “Free Selection” tool or the so-called “Lasso” (as in Photoshop). After this, carefully outline the object. The more checkpoints you set, the better.

Step 3. While the selection is active, create a copy of the original photo through the “Layer – Make a copy” menu or by clicking on the “Make a copy of layer” icon

Step 4. Now you need to right-click on the top layer and select “Add alpha channel” from the context menu that opens.

After this, press the Del button. See what you should get if you temporarily turn off the visibility of the bottom layer.

Turn on the visibility of the layer below again and remove the selection using “Select - Remove”

Step 5. Now let’s use the standard filter of the blur editor through the menu “Filters – Blur – Gaussian Blur” and set the desired value in the settings.

Help: This value depends on the original photo. How higher resolution(photo size) the larger the entered parameter. For this example I took the size 30px

Step 6. If necessary, you can adjust the opacity of the top layer with the effect; to do this, move the opacity slider to the left until you achieve the desired effect. For example, I set the value to 80.

Just like that, in a few simple steps, we also received a sharp object, on which the main attention of our viewer is now focused.

Soon I plan to tell you friends about the creation of more realistic background blur using additional. If you don’t want to miss the release of this lesson, I recommend it.

That's all for me. Thank you all for your attention and see you in new lessons.

P.S. Special thanks to reader Lare for the lesson idea!

Best regards, Anton Lapshin!

Little BONUS:

Having a blurred background in a photo makes it easier to focus on the main subject. When using the bokeh effect (bokeh - blur or fuzziness) in photo processing, you should always remember a few rules. Objects in the image that are closest should remain fairly sharp and clear. In turn, those objects located further away should be more fuzzy.

In a programme Adobe Photoshop there is a huge list various filters blur, which includes such as “Gaussian Blur”, “Motion Blur” and a number of others. In newer versions, starting with CS6, these filters have even more different effects.

One of the easiest ways to blur a background in Photoshop is to use a tool called the History Brush.

It is used as follows:

Eraser

The principle of operation of this method is almost the same as the previous one, but there are some exceptions:

Adjusting eraser parameters: “Size” and “Hardness”. You can select a ready-made preset from the samples at the bottom of the window:

Result:

A mask is a tool that all Photoshop professionals use. Thanks to its use, you can do more accurate and high-quality work. When it is activated on the work area next to the thumbnail of the main image appears additional small window. She represents black and white image, in which visible areas are indicated in white and invisible areas in black. This allows, in case of errors or inaccuracies, to easily eliminate them by painting the damaged area with the desired color.

To do blurred background using the mask method, you need to:

Radial and ray blur

Among the Photoshop filters, we can highlight such effects as “Radial” and “Radiation”. Depending on the settings, this filter can simulate a circular blur or blur from the center of the image to its edges, which will create a certain movement effect.

Radial

Instructions:

Radial

When creating blur in the form of rays, the scheme of actions is almost the same:

One of the most popular filters for shading the background. To adjust the strength of the effect, move the radius slider to the right or left.

We use the Gaussian filter:

other methods

In addition to the above, you can use a number of other methods that will blur the background in a photo.

Blur Tool

The tool allows you to blur the background; to do this you need to do the following:

Pen Tool

To make your work more accurate, you can additionally use the Pen tool.

Instructions:

Quick Selection feature

Thanks to this method, you can blur the background from behind around the main subject in the photo, while avoiding the so-called ghosting.

Adobe Photoshop is one of the best editors. It is not like other programs because it has many different functions and high quality.

Photoshop was developed almost twenty years ago, and it still occupies a well-deserved first place. This program was created for processing photographs, including blurring the background.

Several interesting and simple ways will help you blur the background beautifully.

The first method is Gaussian blur.

Not many people like this method, but it is very simple. What should be done?

First, open the photo in Photoshop and press Ctrl+J. This creates a second layer similar to the first. Now you can go to the “Layers” window and find the file called “Layer 1”, which you will need to blur.

Go to the “Filter” window, select “Blur” - “Gaussian Blur”. The degree of blur can be adjusted as desired using the slider. It would be optimal to leave 5-7 pixels.

Now you need to create a layer mask. To do this, go to “Layers” again and select “Layer Mask” - “Show All”. It looks like nothing has changed, but in fact a rectangle has appeared on "Layer 1".

The next step is to select the Brush tool. You can set any diameter, whatever is more convenient. Hardness – 20.

In the palette, select black color, click on the white rectangle in “Layer 1” and slowly, slowly, begin to paint in those places that should remain sharp. The challenge is to draw a shape that doesn't need to be blurred.

The photo is almost ready, all that remains is to work on the outline of the object. Change the brush color from black to white and reduce the size. Now we will remove the sharpness, i.e. the black brush enhances the sharpness, and the white brush blurs it.

If a dark halo appears around an object, it can be removed using a stamp. First, connect all the layers. Then again go to the “Layers” tab and click “Perform flattening”. Next, you need to select the “Stamp” tool (6-8%) and remove all unnecessary artifacts. The photo is ready.

The second method is radial or ray blur.

This method is loved by many users, because it is easy to use and even a schoolchild can do it.

First of all, you need to separate the main photo from the background. For this we will use the “Mask” tool. Be sure to check that the colors are set to black/white.

Take the Brush tool and begin to slowly paint over the part that we want to separate from the background. It can be any object. When a certain item is selected, you need to click on the button located to the left of the “Quick Mask” button. This will return your image to normal mode and the object will be highlighted.

We perform the combination Ctrl+J. So, the selected background is copied to a new layer.

When all the settings are in place, click OK and the result is obvious. The photo is ready!

The third method is the archive brush

This method is similar to the first. Load the required photo into Photoshop and apply Gaussian Blur.

If the photo was very blurred and does not seem real, then you can sharpen the edge of the image. But it is impossible to correct a very blurry image.

You need to adjust the sharpness in each individual layer. And before adding sharpening, set the “Brightness Overlay” mode.

When sharpening is added to a photo, the contrast of the image increases. In this case, you need to change the layer blending mode.

Before sharpening, you need to reduce the noise in your photo. If this is not done, then the noise will increase.

It is advisable to adjust the sharpness gradually and in several steps. The degree of sharpness depends on the output device.

Additional tips:

The main thing is that processing the photo does not change the essence of the original image. Use light correction.
You should not use several filters on one photo. This will already be too much.
Create your own interesting treatments. It's better not to imitate the style of other people's works. A foreign style may not always fit perfectly with your photo.
It is better to always delete unsuccessful pictures. Usually in such cases no processing can save the image.

Nowadays, photographs with blurred backgrounds are gaining popularity. After all, from the outside, such images look colorful and interesting. If the user has a program such as Photoshop installed, then no difficulties will arise. The main thing here is to know the basics and be able to apply the simplest blur to a photo.

Each person can choose a more simplified method for himself, which will not seem too difficult to him.

You definitely need to listen to the advice and recommendations of specialists who know everything about the program. After all, if you overdo it with blur, the image will deteriorate and seem unrealistic.

Often the ideal photograph is one that does not distract attention from the main subject. Excellent focus can be achieved by increasing the aperture or using a special lens; however, there are a number of tricks with which you can turn an ordinary photograph into a work of art. All you need is Photoshop.

The article presents the simplest and most effective answers to the question of how to blur the background in Photoshop. CS6 is the English version of the program, in which all the listed photo manipulations are performed.

Why do you need a blurred background?

A clear, rich background can ruin a great photo by distracting viewers from what's going on behind the scenes. A properly blurred background can instantly draw eyes to the main subject in focus. The ability to effectively dim the background is especially important for sports or concert photographs, where the crowd and props often “clog” the composition.

The use of special lenses and the maximum aperture will, of course, ensure best quality image, but sometimes the photographer still has to resort to Photoshop so as not to lose perspective frame, but on the contrary - to “squeeze” everything possible out of it.

How to blur the background in Photoshop?

Photoshop is a very friendly program with a rich selection of tools and actions. Working with the background can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how complex the resulting background needs to be.

With just one layer and one filter, it is possible to create a uniform blur of the background while keeping the desired subject in focus. This one is lightweight and quick way clearly divides the picture into two plans - the first and second, without leaving any transitions.

In the case where a complex background is needed, that is, several backgrounds and elements of focus, the work on the photo will be long and painstaking. But for modern versions of the program, that is, CS6 and higher, there is practically nothing impossible.

Several simple background blur options

A quick and completely uniform background blur can be achieved in just a few steps. There are three very simple ways to make the background blurry in Photoshop, without resorting to many layers and completely bypassing working with masks.

Such blur, although simple and effective, is still far from ideal, since the space of the photo loses some of its realism and depth. The listed methods are more suitable for amateur editing and will do an excellent job of blurring the background.

Iris Blur Filter

The first and easiest way is to use the Iris Blur filter. It simultaneously brings the selected subject into focus and blurs the rest of the photo. The advantage of this method is the speed and quality of the result; among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the shape of the focus, which can only be a circle or an ellipse.

The Iris Blur filter allows you to select just one element or part of the image into elliptical focus, washing out and blurring the remaining background. The focus size and blur radius are very easy to change and control. It is also possible to adjust the smooth transition between clear and blurred areas of the photo.

Step-by-step instruction

The following steps describe in detail how to blur the background in Photoshop CS6 using the Iris Blur filter:

You need to open the file in Photoshop and unlock the layer by double-clicking on its icon and clicking Ok in the pop-up window.
Next, you need to select the required filter in the main (top) menu of the Photoshop program, repeating the following steps: Filter -> Blur -> Iris Blur. The photo opens in a new menu that offers you to select the focus point and blur radius using a moving ellipse.
When setting focus, you need to ensure that the center of the ellipse, indicated by a circle, is in the very center of the main subject of the photo. Once the focus is selected, you can adjust the size and even the shape of the ellipse by flipping or pulling its edges to the sides.
WITH inside The ellipse contains four points that allow you to adjust the transition from focus to blur.
On the side panel, under the Iris Blur label, there is a slider that controls the level of blur - the lower the value, the sharper the background.
Having configured all the parameters, you need to click Ok, and the photo is ready.

Blur tool

The second way is to use the Blur tool and “paint over” the background with it. Using the Blur tool is perhaps the most in a simple way answer to the question of how to blur the background in Photoshop. To work with it you only need one layer, which can be the original photo.

The main advantages of this method are simplicity and speed, but do not underestimate the ability to control not only the radius, but also the blur areas. The disadvantages of the Blur tool are the roughness and some clumsiness of the final result.

Detailed description

By following a few steps below, you can very easily figure out how to blur the background in Photoshop conveniently and quickly, thereby improving the picture:

You need to load the selected photo into Photoshop and unlock the layer.
In the toolbar (on the left) you need to select Blur, it is indicated by a drop icon.
The settings panel, located at the top, under the main menu of the program, allows you to select the brush size and blur intensity (Strength).
Having configured all the parameters of the tool, you need to drag the brush over the part of the background that needs to be blurred.
You can change the brush size and blur intensity as you get closer to the object in focus, and you can also experiment with the Blur tool and blur the background unevenly.

Working with two layers

The third way is to create two layers, one of which will serve as the blurred background, and the other will become the focus object. The advantages of this method are ease of use and the ability to highlight several focal objects in a photograph. The negative aspects of using this method are unprofessionalism and the “cheap” appearance of the final result.

However, for beginners, this is another simple method that will tell you how to blur the background in Photoshop almost as easily as with the Blur tool. To do this you need to open the photo in Photoshop program and duplicate the main layer by right-clicking on it and selecting the Duplicate layer option. This will create two working layers. To make it easier to work with, you can rename the top layer, calling it “background”.

Detailed description

The following instructions explain step by step how to blur the background in Photoshop using just two layers:

Select the top layer in the side panel on the right.
Select a suitable blur filter from the gallery: Filter -> Blur -> filter of your choice. For a quick and effortless effect, it is better to use Gaussian Blur. The result will be a completely blurry photo.
In order to select the object of focus, you need to select the eraser (Eraser) in the toolbar and, by adjusting its size, erase the part of the top layer above the part of the photo that should be clearly focused.
By adjusting the size and transparency of the eraser, you can create a complex and differently blurred background.
At the end, you need to combine both layers into one; to do this, select Layer in the main menu and then click on Flatten image.

These methods are ideal for beginners just starting to get acquainted with Photoshop. They answer FAQ about how to blur the background in Photoshop quickly and beautifully. In addition to the above, there are many more opportunities to turn a simple photo into a deep and complex shot with multiple focal points and complex backgrounds.

There are a number of complex methods that require a lot of time and skill, but at the same time they show how to blur the background in Photoshop without losing quality and adding artistry.

Sometimes it happens that you look so great in your photos, but the background behind you turns out just ugly. And you want to hide all this mess or cut out your figure in the photo. In this article we will tell you how to blur the background of a photo online and for free in just a couple of clicks!

Fabby

You can blur the background in a photo on an iPhone or Android using the application Fabby. It is absolutely free, you can download it from the official AppStore and Google Play.

How to take a photo with a blurred background:

Open the Fabby app.
In the bottom panel, find the “Background Blur” tab.
Don't know how to take a photo with a blurred background? From all the options, you need to choose any one you like and take a photo.
If you need to blur an old image, you can select it from the Gallery by clicking on the small circle above the effect itself.

The application is also good because you can not only blur the background in a photo, but also substitute any background for your silhouette. You can choose from ready-made ones: hearts, stars, paradise island, flowers, bubbles, cats, fireworks, donuts, abstraction and much more.

Tadaa and Tadaa SLR

Two applications will help you blur the background in a photo: Tadaa And Tadaa SLR. The first program is absolutely free, but the second costs 299 rubles. Both of them are equipped with a lot of useful features.

How to blur the background in a photo using the application Tadaa:

Open the Tadaa program.
Find the tab in the bottom panel Blur.
A mask will appear that selects only a clear area, and blurs the rest of the background. It can be moved, narrowed and expanded as desired.
After the completed operations, save the photo to the Gallery.

Snapseed

You can blur the background of a photo online using the application Snapseed. It can be downloaded for free from official stores AppStore and Google Play.

How to take a photo with a blurred background:

Open application Snapseed.
Next select Tools-Blur.
Move the mask until the desired surface is blurred.
Save the photo to the Gallery.

AirBrush

Another program that helps blur the background in a photo is called AirBush. The program is absolutely free. You can find it in the official app stores.

How to blur the background of a photo online using the editor:

Open application AirBrush.
Through Library select the desired image.
Tools - Blur.
Here you need to use your finger to carefully paint over the area of the background that you want to blur.
You can also adjust the blur saturation and size in the bottom tab.
Save the photo to your Camera Roll.

Facetune

Facetune is an editor that helps blur the background in a photo. The program will also work Facetune 2. It has a similar function.

How to blur the background:

Open Facetune.
Upload the desired photo.
On the bottom tab select the item "Blur".
Gently use your fingers to blur out all unnecessary space. You can use an eraser to erase anything unnecessary.
Save the photo to the Gallery.

Blur and mosaic

Which application and photo editor blurs the background in a photo? This program is called Blur and mosaic. It is also available for download in official stores.