ugaldew's blog
Create Depth of Field in PS
posted by ugaldew, May 19, 2006 2:35 AM — 23 commentsHI SXCers : In today’s tutorial we will learn a very cool trick to create an exceptionally convincing Depth of Field effect . Trick initially posted in the Photoshop users magazine but we will add a little trick of the NAPP an do it in the SXC way !! So lets check this out ! Visual steps / 5 minute edition / Photoshop CS min
Note : The minimum software version is Photoshop CS , I’m using CS2
This is the effect we want to achieve at the end of this practice
Photo Summer Smiles by Chrissi
Download this practice’s PSD File (0.5MB)
I will use for this exercise the Photo Pupil and Books by Radzio
So lets get started !
_____________________________________________________________
>> Step 1
(Add a new channel )
Open your desired image in Photoshop (CS or CS2) , Then go to your layer palette and click channels (in the top)
At the bottom of this channel palette there is an icon named “create new channel” it is a square icon with the shape of a folded sheet , Click it
The Alpha 1 layer will be added and your image will turn into black cause the RRB channel is not selected anymore , So select visualize the RGB
_____________________________________________________________
>> Step 2
(Create a gradient )
Now we have our image under this red layer , the red means the area of the new “ alpha 1 layer “ and it also means the area the will not be affected by the blur lens effect . So next we need to add a gradient to erase part of the alpha channel and to get our blur area
So activate your gradient tool in the tool panel and your make a gradient
The gradient start point has be over 20 % inside your focused desired object , and the end pont is edge of your pic.
it should look like this
_____________________________________________________________
>> Step 3
(Add Lens Blur Filter to the Background Layer )
A)
First you have to turn off he visibility of the “alpha 1 layer “ and select the RGB channel , then go to your layers palette , and select the Background Layer
B)
Next open the Lens Blur Filter panel ( Filter / Blur / Lens Bur )
In this panel selct "alpha 1" in the source box ,this is the name of the layer we have just created , if you named the layer differently it will appear as you named it
Now play with the radius scale to add the desired lens blur to your image .
-If you want to invert the blur click the invert box
Note : if you see a black and white gradient instead of your image , it is because you , didn’t select the background layer or because you didn’t deselect the channel layer we created . In case this happened , click cancel and repeat step 3
we've finished click okay and that was all !!!
Important Tip : If your desired focal point is in the centre of your image. you will have a hard time adding two the gradients (step2) , so in order to have these 2 gradients . 1) Selct new channel’s layer (alpha 1 ) then change it to mode screen blend( in the mode box at the top of Photoshop ) and VUALA !!! you will be able to add a second gradient
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial , This definitively will add a very convincing depth of field effect to your pics !
For any doubt or problem with this tutorial feel free to write to : ugaldew@yahoo.com I will answer asap
Miguel Ugalde (Ugaldew)
Comments | 
RSS
1. posted by Slantsixx, May 19, 2006 6:21 AMI think I know whose getting the iPod!
Dang. Did I say that out loud? :)
2. posted by rrss, May 21, 2006 11:18 PM
Great tutorial.
Don't know how I ever missed the 'Lens Blur' filiter, I always use Gausian.
thanks
3. posted by poetul, May 23, 2006 12:19 PM
I won`t comment alot about this tut... Just a few that know how to do it share it with the rest and you are one of them :) I will rate this as the best, because it just is. Cheers ;)
4. posted by Ballez, May 24, 2006 8:10 PM
Nice! very nice!
5. posted by magstefan, Jun 2, 2006 11:18 PM
Hey! Very useful. You can even work with sphearical fillings to receive a great spot off one sharp point!!
Great!
6. posted by alx_drakko, Jul 21, 2006 10:39 AM
Yep, you're good dude!
7. posted by VijayDave, Aug 24, 2006 5:39 AM
This is really very good. I would like to show my examples, exactly blurred as like a lence with different focusing and appartures blurrs the forground and background. See the example on my site : http://www.PixelToPixel.com at the following link :
http://www.pixeltopixel.com/ToPutSelectiveItemInFo- cus.html
8. posted by silent_2_h, Sep 17, 2006 11:06 AM
very useful :)... thnx..!!!
9. posted by Morigaine, Oct 10, 2006 2:31 PM
Thank you very much for posting this.. I am taking digital photography and have wanted to know how to add it to already taken photos.. This tutorial is really helpful.
10. posted by jwmedia, Oct 16, 2006 7:56 PM
OKAY I am not getting it. After you create an Alpha Channel, your instructions say - "So select visualize the RGB".
Where exactly do you select visualize the RGB? Perhaps my PC version of CS2 doesn't have this option?
11. posted by jwmedia, Oct 16, 2006 8:14 PM
OKAY I get ot now. Thanks for this groovy process. I used to try the same thing but laboriously cutting out the "focused" section, then pasting it on top of the blur. What a hassle and very messy.
12. posted by numa, Oct 24, 2006 9:06 PM
i will use it....voy a usar para mi clase de fotografia y es mas facil hacerlo en la compu que con la reflex...
13. posted by stv5, Dec 20, 2006 7:03 PM
To simulate lense blur you 1st have to know what depth of field is and how it is introduced in a photo.making a mask for using in lense blur filter is not that easy as just drawing a gradient,it takes a lot of work,depending on the picture.
This is definately NOT a convincing Depth of Field effect.Its obviously a randomly blured image and a bad technique.You could just duplicate the layer,blur it and mask it with the same gradient to have the same effect in no time.
14. posted by morleys, Aug 7, 2007 2:51 PM
Where do I find the visualize the RGB? Sorry haven't got past step one yet!!
15. posted by dirtypaper, Jan 31, 2008 12:00 AM
Great turotial, but instead of using the LENS BLUR i would use the GAUSIAN BLUR. Although the lens blur should be more natural the gausian one seems better, but thats a matter of taste i think.
16. posted by pixella5, Aug 1, 2008 7:00 AM
usefull tut.
thank you
17. posted by tengcheer, Oct 15, 2008 11:40 AM
thanx so much! i no longer i hav to worry tat i'm not a good photographer!
18. posted by curchods, Mar 9, 2009 3:49 PM
Duplicate layer, gausian blur, add layer mask, black out the area in focus. Ten seconds to create the same result?
19. posted by sohbet, Jun 20, 2009 3:30 PM
Great turotial, but instead of using the LENS BLUR i would use the GAUSIAN BLUR. Although the lens blur should be more natural the gausian one seems better, but thats a matter of taste i think.
http://www.tcsohbet.net/
http://www.cinselsohbetler.com/
http://www.chatmix.org/
http://www.ceza.gen.tr/
http://www.aysohbet.com/
20. posted by perikueto, Jul 20, 2009 8:18 PM
This tutorial rocks. Thank you so much.
21. posted by perikueto, Jul 20, 2009 8:19 PM
i will use it....voy a usar para mi clase de fotografia y es mas facil hacerlo en la compu que con la reflex...
Jajajajaja. Qué mal. Con la cámara es sencillísimo, sólo practícalo.
22. posted by youem, Sep 30, 2009 4:36 AM
thank u
23. posted by escan, Aug 20, 2010 2:42 PM
Thanks!!!
You have to log in to add comments to this post.
Toolbox
Visit our partners
iStockphoto.com
Affordable inspiration: royalty-free photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash® files from $1.
Affordable inspiration: royalty-free photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash® files from $1.
Recent blog comments
Requesting my photosMay 20, 2012 9:53 PM LislFair wrote
Hi there!
Your photo of the Little girl by window is truly inspiring. I would like to use this picture for a website specializing in publishing quality e-books for parents and children up to 11 years of age.
My website is http://www.brainycon- nections.com/
Thank you,
Lisl
More free pictures
May 19, 2012 4:29 AM jmcweb wrote
good site and good luck
Requesting my photos
May 16, 2012 8:19 AM naruponroj wrote
hello,
I would likte to use your pictures for a promotional brochure and website for my skin and laser clinic.
Many thanks.
Requesting my photos
May 10, 2012 9:07 PM mitchcynth wrote
Hi, I'm setting up a new website for linking up families/carers of people with disabilities and want to use your photo: Family tickling each other on one of the pages (It would be the photo that accompanies the "Families Journeys" page. Would you permit that?
Many thanks!
Cynthia
Torn Paper Effect using GIMP
May 9, 2012 8:02 AM Mosselman wrote
@123scrap and @gypsy6080
Thanks for the kind words guys, still means a lot that a tutorial I did so long ago is still relevant and appreciated.
Top blog / tutorial posts
Restriction Free Stock Exchange Club!
by a51media (349 comments)
CREATING A WATER DROPLET
by barunpatro (283 comments)
The Big SXC Update Post
by admin (185 comments)
Change eye color, 3 easy steps
by omar_franc (180 comments)
Cross Processing in Photoshop
by CMSeter (167 comments)
Airbrush Tutorial I
by mindfreak (157 comments)
How to paint in Photoshop using a mouse
by mtusan (157 comments)
Flawless Skin
by litechniks (128 comments)
Tutorial: Creating Dreamy Photos
by VinnyPrime (121 comments)
How we can colorize a B&W image.
by kolios (98 comments)
by a51media (349 comments)
CREATING A WATER DROPLET
by barunpatro (283 comments)
The Big SXC Update Post
by admin (185 comments)
Change eye color, 3 easy steps
by omar_franc (180 comments)
Cross Processing in Photoshop
by CMSeter (167 comments)
Airbrush Tutorial I
by mindfreak (157 comments)
How to paint in Photoshop using a mouse
by mtusan (157 comments)
Flawless Skin
by litechniks (128 comments)
Tutorial: Creating Dreamy Photos
by VinnyPrime (121 comments)
How we can colorize a B&W image.
by kolios (98 comments)