Simulating Depth of Field using Photoshop Lens Blur Filter

[bart_hickman]

In this tutorial you will learn how to create the illusion of shallow depth of field using the Photoshop lens blur filter. You will also learn about the unique behavior of this filter. It is specific to Adobe Photoshop, however there are plugins available (they might even be free) that allow you to achieve similar results to the lens blur filter.
[details]

[Photo678]

not too shabby, thanks!

[patriciakay]

Thanks for the tutorial...

Its well written and easy to understand....for a relative beginer like me...still consider myself that as i havent had Photoshop a year yet!!!

Patricia...

[Flora]

Great Tutorial Bart!!

If this is an entry for our new Tutorial Contest, I would suggest you post a link to it in the Contest Page

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

Tangent:
It occurs to me that is someone were to volunteer to reply here posting the URLs of tutorials submitted within the contest period and edit it occasionally to update the list, that would be a very good thing

[bart_hickman]

I almost did this tutorial last weekend--glad I procrastinated.

Thanks for the complements everybody!

Bart

[neeceeblack]

Today I just found a website by chance of a photog named Karim Sahai and there he had several photos with this crazy depth of field trick going on that made the images look like miniature sets. I wasn't sure what the trick was exactly till I also chanced upon this tutorial today. VERY COOL! I'm gonna try it now! If anyone wants to see some very nice examples of this technique check out: www.karimsahai.com look under: index>places images #30, 33, 34. I really enjoyed his work. Thanks again for the great tutorial!

[skydog]

I don't think a trick or photoshop was used to create this effect. I'd say a "lensbaby" was used.

http://www.lensbabies.se/pages/gallery.php?strong

[neeceeblack]

I dunno skydog.... I've known about lensbabies for awhile and Karim's photos don't show the same uncontrolled aberations that they produce. I think it's more similar to the image in Doug's tutorial. Did you look at it. It looks exactly the same to me. I suppose a test is in order.

[skydog]

I saw this discussion on another site in the past. The effect can be achieved with photoshop and/or equipment like lensbaby (I think). I wrote him a note asking him if this effect was photoshop or equipment. If I receive a response I'll post the response. Here is another example I found. Photographers say the photo is an "illustration" if photoshop is used and a photo if the effect is achieved with equipment alone.

http://www.photo.si/photo_show.php?i...1009ss_123.jpg

[bart_hickman]

Thanks guys. That particular example gives a miniature effect because the DOF is shorter than is even possible with normal photographic equipment so your brain tells you it must be a miniature.

Here are some other samples I've done in the past (there's more than just the DOF tweak)

Before:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69840021
After:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69840019

Before:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69723296
After:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69723297

Before:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69584275
After:
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari/image/69584274

Bart

[skydog]

Sooooo....what is the "more"?

[bart_hickman]

Originally Posted by skydog

Sooooo....what is the "more"?

I mean they also have tonal adjustments--not just DOF.

Bart

[chillin]

Excellent work, Bart.
Personally, I like to use Richard Rosenman’s Depth of Field Generator PRO plugin.
Less work, easy to use & gives very good results.

[bart_hickman]

Thanks. I tried that filter some time ago. Yes, it greatly simplifies some situations by reducing the whole problem to one of making a depth map. You still must extract and separate objects (which is most of the work), but you can just put all that information into the depth map which is easier to think about than doing extractions on different layers.

I was actually hoping Adobe would slightly modify the lens blur filter to allow it to handle depth map edges correctly.

Bart

[chillin]

Yes, you're right.
It took me forever to do this map... lol