Learn How to Create a Bokeh Effect in Photoshop. Here two layers are created for the bokeh effect. Each will be given a different gaussian blur filter. The goal is to get a bokeh effect with different light depths. Also given a Lightness setting, so that the photo background is not too bright. For the Brush Tool, there are settings for the brush panel, namely Shape Dynamic and Color Dynamic. With these settings the brush size and color will change dynamically. So we don't need to change it manually.
Step 1: Open your Photo
After opening the Photoshop application, select the File menu> Open or press the keyboard Ctrl + O. The Open dialog box will appear. Select your photo then click the Open button.
The photo source for this Photoshop tutorial is taken from the Microsoft Office Images site.
Step 2: Unlock Background
So that we can edit photos, we have to unlock the background first. While holding down the Alt key, double click Background. The lock will be unlocked and the Background renamed to Layer 0.
Step 3: Select the Quick Selection Tool
We will select the background of the photo using the Quick Selection Tool (W). Click the Quick Selection Tool (W) icon. If it's not visible, right-click the Magic Wand Tool (W) icon to display it.
Step 4: Create a Background Selection
It will be easier if we select the background of the photo and not the main object in the photo. Because the background is white and the Quick Selection Tool works based on the same color. Make a selection, click and drag if necessary on the photo background. To delete the selection in a specific area, click the selection area you want to delete while holding down the Alt key.
Step 5: Invert Selection Then Create Mask
Select the menu Select>Inverse to invert our selection or use the shortcut Shift+Ctrl+I. Then click the Create Layer Mask icon.
Step 6: Create a Gradient
While holding down the Ctrl key, click the Create a New Layer icon located at the bottom of the panel (circled in blue). Double click layer 1 then rename it to gradient, to make the work easier.
Step 7: Click the Gradient Tool icon
On the Tool panel, click the gradient tool icon (G). If it's not visible, right-click the Paint Bucket Tool (G) icon to display it.
Step 8: Choose a Gradient Spectrum Color
On the options bar, click Linear Gradient. Then select the color spectrum gradient you want.
Step 9: Click Then Drag On Canvas
Click the gradient layer to activate it, then click and drag on the canvas to apply the gradient spectrum colors.
Step 10: Add Hue/Saturation
Click the Adjustment layer icon located at the bottom of the panel (circled in blue). Then select Hue/Saturation. In Hue/Saturation properties, fill Lightness -55. You can adjust it for your photo.
Step 11: Change the Foreground and Background Colors to White/Yellow
Click the foreground box, a color picker dialog box will appear, then select white. Then click the Background box and select the yellow color.
Change the Foreground/Background to white and yellow.
Step 12: Click the Brush Tool icon
Click the Brush Tool icon (B).
Step 13: Adjust the Brush Tool
On the Options Bar, click Toggle the brush panel to display the panel for adjusting brushes. You can change the settings below to suit your photos, of course.
So that the bokeh effect that we will create has different circle sizes automatically, check Shape Dynamics then fill in the settings as shown below:
So that the bokeh effect that we will create has different colors automatically, check Color Dynamic then fill in the settings as shown below:
Step 14: Create a Layer For Bokeh
Click the Create a new layer icon at the bottom of the panel. Rename it to bokeh. Then place it below layer 0. Start clicking the mouse on the canvas to create a bokeh effect. When you're done apply a Gaussian Blur filter with a radius of 10 pixels. The trick, select the menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. Finally, change the opacity to 50%.
Step 15: Create the Second Bokeh Layer
Click the Create a new layer icon at the bottom of the panel. Rename it to bokeh2. Then place it below layer 0. Start clicking the mouse on the canvas to create a bokeh effect. When you're done apply a Gaussian Blur filter with a radius of 5 pixels. The trick, select the menu Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. Finally, change the opacity to 50%.
Step 16: Add Outer Glow Style On Both Bokeh Layers
Double click the bokeh layer thumbnail to call up the Layer Style window. Click and tick Outer Glow. Then fill in the size of 1 pixels. Click OK. Also make an outer glow for bokeh2.
Step 17: Duplicate the Gradient
Click the gradient layer, then press Ctrl+J to duplicate it. Change its opacity to 10%. Move the position to the very top.
Step 18: Save Your Project
Finally, save the project by selecting File>Save menu. Give the file a name then click the Save button. The bokeh effect is finished using Photoshop.
There you hve it! How to Create a Bokeh Effect in Photoshop.
Great tutorial as always. Would you please create another article on the usage of photoshop warp tool? That will be awesome!
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