Creating Focus on the Photo by Using Blur Map

On this tutorial i will share with how to create focus effect on photo with different levels of blur.

Final Image Preview

Creating Focus on the Photo by Using Blur Map

Resources

Grant Cavalry

Step 1

Start by opening photo on Photoshop. Now we are going to create a special blur map to focus attention on the object. To do that start by selecting foreground color as black (#000000).

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Step 2

Use the Pen Tool with Shape Layers selected to draw out the figure of a man. Reduce layer opacity to 50% after starting to select man to see the real shapes of the photo.

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In the end you should have man selected like on image below.

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Update layer opacity to 100% for this layer.

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Step 3

Use the Pen Tool to draw out the second shape (left horse) with foreground color #212121.

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Step 4

Now draw third shape (right horse) on the photo with color of #4c4c4c.

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Step 5

Draw another shape by using color #747474. Keep positioning layers like i have which means that this one should be above the layer with the photo.

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Step 6

Draw another shape by using color #9a9a9a.

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Move this layer with shape under all the layers but above the photo layer.

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Step 7

Draw back horse same way but using color #c0c0c0.

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Step 8

Create a new layer and fill with light grey color (#e7e7e7).

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Step 9

Merge all layers except photo layer. Select photo layer and open Channel panel by going to Window > Channels or by clicking on Channels next to Layers.

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Create a new channel. Adobe Photoshop will automatically name it Alpha 1.

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Go back to layers panel. Select all merged layer content by using Ctrl+click on layer thumbnail.

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Copy selected layer with Ctrl+C, select Alpha 1 channel and paste layer content with Ctrl+V. Move a little bit to left to place it correctly.

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Step 10

Hide merged layer visibility on layers panel and also hide Alpha 1 channel on channels panel.

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Select photo layer and apply Filter > Blur > Lens Blur. Don´t forget to change Source to Alpha 1, select Invert and update Shape to Triangle. Also update Blur Focal Distance and Radius like i have on image below.

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Final Image

And we are done. We learned to create a nice focus effect on photo with different levels of blur. Hope you liked it.