Adobe ‘s Photoshop is a fantastic tool to use when creating, editing or designing images. However, with its incredibly versatile range of functions – finding the simplest tasks can seem daunting. Because Photoshop is so complex, we’re going to go through a few different methods to get the results you want to answer the question of how to blur the background in Photoshop ?

 

How to blur background in photoshop?

You might have thought that this button was supposed to enable rain, but really, the teardrop on the toolbar is for a relatively small and imprecise type of job. Select the image you want to edit. Click the dropper button on the toolbar. Go ahead and select the brush size and point at the top of the screen.

In the drop-down menu, you have the option to choose on which surface the image will be focused. This allows you to lighten, darken, sharpen, etc. Now you will choose your blur strength. You can go very subtle (which would allow more control) or you can do it with a heavy blur. The lower the number, the more subtle the tool.

So now you’re obfuscating! Hover your mouse over the parts of the background you want to change. Move the brush in a circular motion (similar to a spray can on Paint ). That’s it, you’ve created your very blurry background image. Don’t forget to save it.

 

Lasso tool

These tools are useful for a number of reasons, but today we’re just going to focus on how they’ll help you blur the background of an image. There are several versions of this tool according to your needs. There are regular lasso, polygonal lasso (best if your background has straight edges), magnetic lasso (let Photoshop determine the foreground and background for you – if you want to give up the reigns). There is another non-lasso related option, the quick mask tool, which is completely free and best for super precise selections. If you are impatient, this may not be the best choice.

Select the image you want to edit. Click the lasso tool towards the top of the toolbar. (Hold the mouse and this will show you the option to use any of the three tools mentioned.) Or, just enter L as a shortcut.

Draw around the part of the background you want to blur. If you choose to use the quick mask tool, you can find it hidden in the toolbar at the bottom. Looks like someone put a circle in a square.

So now that this border is moving around your selection you probably want it to make a blur. Go to the top of the screen and select ” Filter -> blur ”

 

Types of fogging

There are 9 different blur styles in Photoshop . Let’s go over them so you can choose the perfect style for you.

Average

This blur tool allows you to take the average color within a selected area and blur it. Creates smooth transitions.

 

Blur or Blur More

This option does more or less what the name suggests. Blurring. It takes the components from the inside and carefully darkens them. It is especially good for use where different colors meet. If you’re looking for a more dramatic effect, select “fog more” which will increase the fog by about three times.

Box Blur

This type of blur reads the average color value of your selection and then the pixels next to the selection. It blends them together to make it nice and smooth without any lines. Tip: A brush with a larger radius will create a larger blur.

 

Gaussian Blur

This is easy. Use this tool to adjust the amount you want your image to blur. There will be a little popup box with a slider for that.

 

Motion Blur

Trying to make it look like the train is moving even though it’s been in service for years? Yes, motion scrolling is your type. This will allow you to adjust the direction and intensity of the background image. It’s like taking photos from a moving car.

 

Radial Blur

This is the equivalent of zooming in and out on a camera. You can adjust the radial blur from 1 to 100 using the radial spin or radial zoom options.

 

Smart Blur

This option allows you to be incredibly precise. You can change the blur radius for a specific area that blurs pixels at a certain distance; or change the threshold that indicates what type of pixels you want to see blur.

 

Surface Blur

Surface replacement leaves the center of the image blurred to your specification, but the edges remain sharp. Play with the Threshold and Radius to get different cool effects.

 

Lance Blur

You may want certain aspects of the background to remain in focus and others to be blurred. This tool will allow you to achieve the depth of field you are looking for. There are three choices for lens blur, faster (for faster previews), focal length blur (adjusting pixel depth) and invert (which inverts the alpha channels of your depth map source).

 

You can find out how to start working in Photoshop and how to make basic selections in this powerful tool here.