Newbie Background blurring question

On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 22:40:15 +0100, wrote:

I would like to blur background detail in most of my shots but don’t know how to have this blurring gradually increase in intensity as it moves away from the part of the shot nearest the camera towards those areas furthest away.

Is there a way to do this in P.S.7 ?

My attempts at blurring backgrounds produce an even degree of this effect and don’t look realistic as a result.

For the camera it’s called depth of field. Look it up. I would think the art brush would be the tool for recreating depth of field in ps7. ie: Highlight, select and layer the foremost image to NOT be affected by blur then go from there.
Then again there’s an even simpler way and possibly even more dramatic. I did it at a M/C race. Don’t use a fast shutter speed, 60-200 = adequate, aim on whichever object you want to keep in focus and pan with the object and shoot when ready. The object should be [if you’re lucky] in total focus and the entire background looking like it’s moving.
And for night shots, use time delay on a tripod.
Course that will only blur everything moving.
But works good for shooting star effects.

To see what you can do with depth of field use a Ruler as the subject and follow the instructions you find on how to use depth of field. You can blur just about from 6 inches to infinite.
Assuming the camera has this option.
more pix @ http://members.toast.net/cbminfo/index.html

wrote in message

I would like to blur background detail in most of my shots but don’t know how to have this blurring gradually increase in intensity as it moves away from the part of the shot nearest the camera towards those areas furthest away.

Is there a way to do this in P.S.7 ?

Sort of, but PS CS has a filter called Lens Blur specifically to do what you want. If you really have to do this with PS 7, create a selection such that the areas you blurred the most are fully selected, and areas you want blurred a little are partially selected. Then run Gaussian Blur with a small radius, and repeat it lots of times.

Here is an easier four step process.
create duplicate layer.
blur , gausian motion whatever.
add layer mask / hide all.
use white paint brush to draw bullseye from outside
edge in. Start with close to pure white and darken each section until you are flat black in the middle.Flatten image.

this will give you zero blur in the center , or whereever you paint your bullseye to be center ,to full blur on the outside edges. This can also be painted to halo an object
I use this same effect to get halo lights or good shadows.

wrote in message

I would like to blur background detail in most of my shots but don’t know how to have this blurring gradually increase in intensity as it moves away from the part of the shot nearest the camera towards those areas furthest away.

Is there a way to do this in P.S.7 ?

My attempts at blurring backgrounds produce an even degree of this effect and don’t look realistic as a result.

B.N.
—

to reply by e-mail remove "admiral_"

I would cut out the part you require to be sharp and put in on to a second layer, then on the background switch to Quick mask, and set the gradient fill tool to the required pattern sort of vignette is probably what you require then do a gradient fill on the quick mask (applied to the background) them change back to masking mode and apply the gausian blur. easy as that!

"Harkord F." wrote in message

Here is an easier four step process.
create duplicate layer.
blur , gausian motion whatever.
add layer mask / hide all.
use white paint brush to draw bullseye from outside
edge in. Start with close to pure white and darken each section until you are flat black in the middle.Flatten image.

this will give you zero blur in the center , or whereever you paint your bullseye to be center ,to full blur on the outside edges. This can also be painted to halo an object
I use this same effect to get halo lights or good shadows.
wrote in message

I would like to blur background detail in most of my shots but don’t know how to have this blurring gradually increase in intensity as it moves away from the part of the shot nearest the camera towards those areas furthest away.

Is there a way to do this in P.S.7 ?

My attempts at blurring backgrounds produce an even degree of this effect and don’t look realistic as a result.

B.N.
—

to reply by e-mail remove "admiral_"

"Martyn" wrote in message

I would cut out the part you require to be sharp and put in on to a second layer, then on the background switch to Quick mask, and set the gradient fill tool to the required pattern sort of vignette is probably what you require then do a gradient fill on the quick mask (applied to the background) them change back to masking mode and apply the gausian blur. easy as that!

Sorry just thought if you do not want to produce a second layer you could add to the quick mask (in quick mask mode)with a black brush just paint in the area you require to remain sharpe!

"Harkord F." wrote in message

Here is an easier four step process.
create duplicate layer.
blur , gausian motion whatever.
add layer mask / hide all.
use white paint brush to draw bullseye from outside
edge in. Start with close to pure white and darken each section until

you

are flat black in the middle.Flatten image.

this will give you zero blur in the center , or whereever you paint your bullseye to be center ,to full blur on the outside edges. This can also

be

painted to halo an object
I use this same effect to get halo lights or good shadows.
wrote in message

I would like to blur background detail in most of my shots but don’t know how to have this blurring gradually increase in intensity as it moves away from the part of the shot nearest the camera towards those areas furthest away.

Is there a way to do this in P.S.7 ?

My attempts at blurring backgrounds produce an even degree of this effect and don’t look realistic as a result.

B.N.
—

to reply by e-mail remove "admiral_"