Blurring the edges of an image is one of the artistic techniques that makes the viewer focus on the center of the picture or on an object that seems important to the author. In addition, it can give the image a slightly mysterious look and romantic mood. There are several ways to achieve this in Photoshop. We will tell you about the most flexible and versatile.
It is necessary
We need any version of AdobePhotoshop from the last ten years. The instruction is written for the most difficult situation, when the original Photoshop menus are English, and are not localized for a Russian user. Even under these circumstances, you can cope with the task with dignity
Instructions
Step 1
The universal and favorite tool of a computer designer, the AdobePhotoshop program, has been improving and becoming more complex for the third decade, in fact, being the standard and reference point for any kind of graphic programs created in the world these years. Mastering it means reaching a professional level. Many hundreds of techniques and effects of image processing are available in Photoshop, but as often happens, the more sophisticated and solid the technique, the more difficult it is to make it serve you by pressing one "magic button". But nothing is impossible for the pros.
Load the original image. First of all, we need to decide what will remain intact in our picture, and what will be touched by the "foggy haze". To do this, we will use the selection tool:
- if we just need to blur the very edges of a rectangular image, use the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Draw a rectangle, offsetting some distance from the edge of the image.
- if we need to select an object of complex shape, then we can use the Lasso tool. Carefully outline the object, which will remain unaffected by the effect.
One way or another, we got a mask that defines the area of the effect: we see how ants are marching along the desired contour, the selection indicators flicker.
Step 2
And now we press a few magic keys. Ctrl + Shift + I (that is, while holding down Ctrl and Shift on the keyboard, press the Latin I). Now the ants began to run around the area from the edge of the image to the inviolable object. By doing this, we have inverted the selection. You can also do this by groping Select> Inverse in the menu, but, you see, it's a little longer than pressing Ctrl + Shift + I
Step 3
And now one more combination. Ctrl + J. Thus, we have created a new layer, which now contains what will be blurred - our mysterious frame.
(If someone is interested, this layer is visible in the list of layers; you can admire it separately by turning off the main image - by clicking the "eye" icon in the line with the layer of the original image.) If you do not like hotkeys, you can do the same operation through Layer menu> New> Layer via Copy
Thus, on top of the original image, we have an independent layer, over which we can perform any actions - blur it in any way to any extent.
Step 4
Blur effects are in a separate submenu (Filter> Blur>). The choice here is for true gourmets. For example:
- Gaussian Blur - the most natural and pleasing to the human eye. Classic "dregs".
- Motion Blur (motion blur) makes the picture dynamic.
- Radial Blur (Radial blur) can create the impression of an object rapidly moving away or vice versa flying towards the viewer.
By varying the parameters, very different and delicious results can be achieved.
Step 5
Another convenient addition: since the frame subject to change is on a separate layer, you can enhance or weaken the effect by changing the parameters of this layer - for example, its transparency (Opacity parameter) at the top in the layer panel, or by changing its blending mode to the original image. So, by switching the parameter to Multiply or Lighten, you can achieve the effect of "vignette" - darkened or, on the contrary, "overexposed" blurred edges of the picture. Experiment well.
Step 6
After finishing the layered work, you can merge all the layers into a single image. This is done in the Layer> Flatten Image menu.
So, if we don't need special experiments, just load the image, make a rectangular selection, press Ctrl + Shift + I and Ctrl + J, then in the menu Filter> Blur find Gaussian Blur, move the slider to achieve the desired result, OK. And we return the technical unity to the picture, using the Flatten Image command.
