lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

I took some pics at a birthday/proposal party the area I shot in was small. Subjects were standing close to the wall with plastic decorations on it. THe pics are ok but the backgroud needs to be blurred. Is there a way to do it if so how?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Yes, it can be done, depending on what effect you are trying to achieve and how much work you are willing to do.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Select the areas you want to blur and then go to filters, blur and use the guassian blur filter.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Have a look at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYdUWn5Kx0

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

I am not familiar with photoshop elements, but in photoshop it can be done and I do it all the time. May take 30 plus minutes per photo.
First mask out the subject, I use a photoshop plugin from topaz to make that quicker and easier, then in a layer of the original photo. Darken and blur that layer, then use content aware fill or cloning to remove the subject or at least the outside edge of the subject. (keeps the edges from looking funny when you remerge layers) You can also remove any objectional objects from the background at the same time. I use gaussian blur. Then merge layers and voila! Or you can completely change the background and substitute a different sky or background once you have done the work of masking.
I took an internet class on masking to learn how to do this.
If you have questions, send a PM and I'll try to help

You can also make a gradient with the blur like in the street vender photo so that the pavement infront of the subject is not so blurred and the background is more blurred. On the blue mosque photo the entire background was replaced with a night photo I shot in New Mexico.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

I am not familiar with photoshop elements, but in photoshop it can be done and I do it all the time. May take 30 plus minutes per photo.
First mask out the subject, I use a photoshop plugin from topaz to make that quicker and easier, then in a layer of the original photo. Darken and blur that layer, then use content aware fill or cloning to remove the subject or at least the outside edge of the subject. (keeps the edges from looking funny when you remerge layers) You can also remove any objectional objects from the background at the same time. I use gaussian blur. Then merge layers and voila! Or you can completely change the background and substitute a different sky or background once you have done the work of masking.
I took an internet class on masking to learn how to do this.
If you have questions, send a PM and I'll try to help

You can also make a gradient with the blur like in the street vender photo so that the pavement infront of the subject is not so blurred and the background is more blurred. On the blue mosque photo the entire background was replaced with a night photo I shot in New Mexico.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

cjeisch

Isolate the subject with the selection tool. (marching ants ) Then go to Select and then go to Inverse Then go to Filter and choose Blur and then Gausian Blur. You can adjust the amount of blur with the slider.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

:thumbup: what he (or she) said! it works!

35B Loc: Australia

Hi LL,
one way is to duplicate the layer, use gaussian blur on that layer-adj to suit, select eraser tool and paint out blur to reveal sharp image below.

regards
35B

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Lyn, whichever of the suggested methods you choose to use (both can be equally effective), be careful with the feathering of the blurred areas into the sharp areas to avoid a "cut and paste" appearance. I believe most programs call this the threshold.

lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

thanks fantom. I tried the guassion blur filter the background looked great the edges of my subjects not so great. I need to do this when I'm not tired, its very tedious trying to correct the edges.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

I would be surprised if you can get good edges just erasing the blurred layer over the subject. I think masking is the only way to get really good edges. Masking is fun and easy once you take the plunge to do it. Topaz remask 5 makes things like hair and trees much easier to do well compared to photoshop.

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

i believe you set camera at F25 it will blurr background

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Methinks you've missed the point - the decimal point. Try 2.5!

Bill_de Loc: US

One way to make it a gradual transition is with the history brush. Blur the entire image more than you want, take a snapshot, go back to the original image.

Check the box next to the snapshot and use the history brush to paint the blur into the image. Use a higher percentage of opacity the further away from the subject.


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