How to Create a Bokeh Effect in Photoshop.

Certainly! The bokeh effect is a popular photography technique that creates a visually pleasing blur in the out-of-focus areas of an image, typically achieved using a wide aperture lens. However, if you want to achieve the bokeh effect in post-processing or enhance the existing bokeh in your images, you can do so using Adobe Photoshop. In this guide, we will explore the step-by-step process to create a bokeh effect in Photoshop. By following these instructions, you can add a touch of artistry and depth to your photos, bringing attention to the subject and creating a beautiful and ethereal atmosphere. Let’s dive in and learn how to create a stunning bokeh effect in Photoshop!

How to Create a Bokeh Effect in Photoshop_

Creating a bokeh effect in Photoshop can add a beautiful and dreamy touch to your photographs. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a bokeh effect in Photoshop:

Step 1: Open your image

Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to apply the bokeh effect to. Go to “File” > “Open” and select your image from the file browser.

Step 2: Duplicate the Background layer

In the Layers panel, right-click on the Background layer and choose “Duplicate Layer.” This creates a copy of the original image layer, which we’ll work on to apply the bokeh effect.

Step 3: Create a new layer

In the Layers panel, click on the “New Layer” icon at the bottom to create a new blank layer. This layer will be used to create the bokeh effect.

Step 4: Choose the Brush tool

Select the Brush tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen. You can also press the “B” key as a shortcut.

Step 5: Adjust the brush settings

At the top of the screen, adjust the brush settings to achieve the desired bokeh effect. Set the brush size to a medium or large value, depending on the size of the bokeh circles you want. Select a soft round brush with a hardness of 0% to create a smooth transition.

Step 6: Select a foreground color

Choose a bright color that you want the bokeh circles to be. Click on the Foreground color swatch in the toolbar and pick a color from the color picker.

Step 7: Paint the bokeh circles

On the new layer you created, use the Brush tool to paint circles in different areas of the image where you want the bokeh effect to appear. Vary the size and density of the circles for a more realistic effect. You can paint larger circles in the foreground and smaller ones in the background to create depth.

Step 8: Apply a Gaussian Blur

With the bokeh circles layer selected in the Layers panel, go to “Filter” > “Blur” > “Gaussian Blur.” Adjust the Radius value in the dialog box that appears to control the amount of blur applied to the circles. The higher the radius, the more pronounced the bokeh effect will be.

Step 9: Adjust the opacity (optional)

If the bokeh effect appears too strong, you can reduce its intensity by adjusting the opacity of the bokeh layer. Lower the opacity in the Layers panel until you achieve the desired look.

Step 10: Final touches and saving

Once you’re satisfied with the bokeh effect, you can make additional adjustments to the image, such as contrast, brightness, or color grading, to enhance the overall appearance. When you’re done, go to “File” > “Save” or “Save As” to save your edited image.

That’s it! You’ve successfully created a bokeh effect in Photoshop. Remember to experiment with different brush sizes, colors, and blur settings to achieve the desired result.

Step 1: Open your image

To open your image in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Launch Adobe Photoshop on your computer.

2. Go to the “File” menu at the top-left corner of the Photoshop window.

3. Click on “Open” from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+O” (Windows) or “Command+O” (Mac) as a quicker way to open the file.

4. A file browser window will appear. Navigate to the location where your image is stored.

5. Select the image file you want to work with and click on the “Open” button.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your image will open in Photoshop, ready for further editing and applying the bokeh effect.

Step 2: Duplicate the Background layer

To duplicate the Background layer in Photoshop, you can follow these instructions:

1. With your image open in Photoshop, look for the Layers panel. If you don’t see it, go to the top menu and click on “Window” > “Layers” to display the Layers panel.

2. In the Layers panel, you’ll find a layer named “Background” which represents your original image.

3. Right-click on the “Background” layer in the Layers panel.

4. A context menu will appear. Select “Duplicate Layer” from the options.

5. A dialog box will appear where you can specify the destination for the duplicated layer. You can leave the default settings as they are.

6. Click on the “OK” button.

By following these steps, you have now duplicated the Background layer, and you’ll see a new layer in the Layers panel with the same image content. This duplicated layer is where you will work to apply the bokeh effect, while keeping the original layer intact.

Step 3: Create a new layer

To create a new layer in Photoshop, you can follow these steps:

1. With your image open in Photoshop, make sure the Layers panel is visible. If it’s not, go to the top menu and click on “Window” > “Layers” to display it.

2. In the Layers panel, locate the “Create a new layer” button at the bottom. It looks like a square with a folded corner.

3. Click on the “Create a new layer” button. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Shift+Ctrl+N” (Windows) or “Shift+Command+N” (Mac) for creating a new layer.

4. A new layer will be added above the previously selected layer in the Layers panel. By default, it will be named “Layer 1,” but you can rename it if you prefer.

5. If necessary, you can change the stacking order of the layers by dragging and dropping them in the Layers panel. Place the new layer below the duplicated layer you created in Step 2.

Now you have a new blank layer that you can use to apply the bokeh effect. Any modifications or effects applied to this layer will be separate from the original image and the duplicated layer, allowing for non-destructive editing.

Step 4: Choose the Brush tool

To choose the Brush tool in Photoshop, please follow these steps:

1. With your image open in Photoshop, locate the toolbar on the left side of the screen.

2. In the toolbar, you’ll find various tools grouped together. Look for the Brush tool, which is represented by an icon that looks like a paintbrush.

3. Click on the Brush tool icon. Alternatively, you can press the “B” key on your keyboard as a shortcut to select the Brush tool.

Once you’ve selected the Brush tool, you’re ready to proceed with applying the bokeh effect using the brush strokes on the new layer you created.

Step 5: Adjust the brush settings

To adjust the brush settings in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. With the Brush tool selected, look to the top toolbar or options bar at the top of the Photoshop window.

2. In the options bar, you’ll find various settings related to the Brush tool.

3. Adjust the brush size by clicking on the brush size dropdown or using the “[” and “]” keys on your keyboard to decrease or increase the brush size, respectively. Choose a medium or large brush size depending on the size of the bokeh circles you want to create.

4. To create a soft, smooth transition in the bokeh effect, make sure the brush hardness is set to 0%. If it’s not, click on the brush hardness dropdown and set it to 0%.

5. Explore other brush settings like shape dynamics, scattering, and opacity to customize the appearance of the bokeh effect. These settings can be found in the options bar and can be adjusted according to your preference.

By adjusting the brush settings, you can control the size, softness, and other characteristics of the brush strokes, allowing you to create the desired bokeh effect on the new layer in Photoshop.

Step 6: Select a foreground color

To select a foreground color in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. With your image open in Photoshop, look for the toolbar on the left side of the screen.

2. In the toolbar, you’ll find the Foreground and Background color swatches.

3. The Foreground color swatch is the uppermost color swatch in the toolbar. It’s represented by a square and indicates the color that will be used for painting or applying the brush strokes.

4. Click on the Foreground color swatch to open the Color Picker dialog box.

5. In the Color Picker, you can manually enter color values or choose a color from the color spectrum, color sliders, or swatches.

6. Select a bright color that you want the bokeh circles to be by adjusting the color sliders or clicking on the desired color in the spectrum.

7. Once you’ve chosen your desired color, click on the “OK” button to confirm and close the Color Picker.

After selecting the foreground color, the Brush tool will use that color for painting the bokeh circles on the new layer. You can always change the foreground color later if needed.

Step 7: Paint the bokeh circles

To paint the bokeh circles on the new layer using the selected foreground color and the Brush tool in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the new layer you created (Step 3) is selected in the Layers panel. You should see it highlighted or have a border around it.

2. Choose a suitable brush size and softness (Step 5) for creating the bokeh circles.

3. Position the brush cursor over the area of the image where you want to start painting the bokeh circles.

4. Click and drag the brush cursor to create a circle or tap once to create a single spot. Repeat this step in different areas of the image to create multiple bokeh circles.

5. Vary the size and density of the circles to achieve a natural and visually appealing bokeh effect. You can create larger circles in the foreground and smaller ones in the background to simulate depth and distance.

6. Continue painting the bokeh circles until you are satisfied with the distribution and placement.

7. If you make a mistake or want to remove any bokeh circles, you can use the Eraser tool or switch the foreground color to the background color (if it matches the image background) and paint over the unwanted circles.

8. Take your time and experiment with different brush strokes and placement to achieve the desired bokeh effect.

By painting the bokeh circles on the new layer, you are creating the primary elements of the bokeh effect. These circles will later be manipulated and enhanced to achieve a more realistic and visually appealing result.

Step 8: Apply a Gaussian Blur

To apply a Gaussian Blur to the bokeh circles layer and enhance the bokeh effect in Photoshop, follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the bokeh circles layer is selected in the Layers panel. You should see it highlighted or have a border around it.

2. Go to the top menu and click on “Filter” > “Blur” > “Gaussian Blur.” This will open the Gaussian Blur dialog box.

3. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, you’ll see a Radius slider that controls the amount of blur applied to the bokeh circles.

4. Adjust the Radius slider to increase or decrease the blur effect. Move the slider to the right for a stronger blur or to the left for a more subtle blur. The specific value you choose will depend on the size and intensity of the bokeh circles you painted.

5. As you adjust the Radius slider, you’ll see a real-time preview of the blur effect on your image. Take this opportunity to find the right balance that enhances the bokeh effect without losing too much detail.

6. Once you’re satisfied with the amount of blur, click on the “OK” button to apply the Gaussian Blur.

Applying the Gaussian Blur will give the bokeh circles a softer and more diffused appearance, simulating the out-of-focus effect that is characteristic of bokeh. The blurring helps to create a more realistic and visually pleasing bokeh effect in your image.

Step 9: Adjust the opacity (optional)

Adjusting the opacity of the bokeh circles layer in Photoshop can be done to fine-tune the intensity of the bokeh effect. Here’s how you can adjust the opacity:

1. Make sure the bokeh circles layer is selected in the Layers panel.

2. In the Layers panel, locate the Opacity slider at the top. It is represented by a percentage value.

3. Drag the Opacity slider to the left to decrease the opacity or to the right to increase it. Alternatively, you can directly input a specific opacity value in the text box next to the slider.

4. Observe the changes in real-time on your image as you adjust the opacity.

5. Find the desired balance for the bokeh effect by adjusting the opacity to your preference. Lower opacity values will make the bokeh circles more transparent and subtle, while higher values will make them more pronounced and visible.

6. Once you’re satisfied with the opacity adjustment, you can leave it as it is or proceed to the next steps.

Adjusting the opacity allows you to control the strength of the bokeh effect and blend it with the underlying image. This step is optional and can be skipped if you’re happy with the default opacity of the bokeh circles layer.

Step 10: Final touches and saving

After applying the bokeh effect and making any desired adjustments, you can proceed with final touches and save your edited image in Photoshop. Here’s how to do it:

1. Perform any additional adjustments or edits to the image to enhance its overall appearance. This can include adjustments to brightness, contrast, saturation, or any other adjustments you feel are necessary.

2. Use various Photoshop tools and features to refine the image, such as cropping, straightening, or applying filters or effects, if desired.

3. When you are satisfied with the final result, it’s a good practice to flatten the image to merge all the layers. To flatten the image, go to the top menu and click on “Layer” > “Flatten Image.” Keep in mind that flattening the image will merge all the layers into one and cannot be undone, so make sure you have a backup of the layered file if needed.

4. Before saving, ensure that the image dimensions, resolution, and file format are appropriate for your intended use. You can go to the top menu and click on “Image” > “Image Size” to adjust these settings if necessary.

5. To save the edited image, go to the top menu and click on “File” > “Save” or “Save As.”

6. In the Save dialog box, choose the file format you prefer (such as JPEG, PNG, or TIFF) and specify the destination folder where you want to save the file.

7. Enter a filename for the image and click on the “Save” button. If you choose “Save As,” you might be prompted to select the file format and adjust additional settings before saving.

8. Photoshop might display additional options depending on the chosen file format, such as quality settings for JPEG files. Adjust these options according to your preferences.

9. Click on the “Save” button to finalize the saving process.

Congratulations! You have now applied the bokeh effect, made any final touches, and saved your edited image in Photoshop.

In conclusion, creating a bokeh effect in Photoshop can elevate your photographs by adding a dreamy and artistic touch. By following the step-by-step guide provided, you can easily apply the bokeh effect to your images. Remember to open your image, duplicate the background layer, create a new layer, choose the Brush tool, adjust the brush settings, select a foreground color, paint the bokeh circles, apply a Gaussian Blur, adjust the opacity (optional), and finally, make any necessary final touches and save your edited image. With experimentation and practice, you can achieve beautiful bokeh effects that enhance the visual appeal of your photographs.

The Best Adobe Photoshop Text Effects Experts Offers_

Clipping Pix.com is a photo editing service provider that operates online! Clipping Path Service, Photo Masking Service, Drop Shadow Service, Photo Retouching Service, and all other Adobe Photoshop services are among our most popular. We basically outsource your image post-production to an experienced production team, and we have over 7 years of experience doing this with 75+ Adobe Photoshop professionals. Over 1200 customers have expressed satisfaction with our dedicated photo editing team.

We do e-commerce photo editing, studio photo editing, sports photo editing, and a variety of other services. The majority of our clients are photographers and online sellers. Our high-quality production and on-time delivery make our clients eager to continue working with us. We can deliver your edited image within 24-48 hours, even if you have thousands of images!