Shallow Focus Depth of Field Effect Step by Step
Image Download: https://pixabay.com/photos/fashion-model-portrait-woman-style-6251535/
PSD Working File: shallow depth of field 2024.zip
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/kt3k3wAJdvY
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This step-by-step guide is not meant to replace the video project but is instead a reminder of the steps from the video.
The Shallow Depth of Field effect in photography is created using a wide open aperature which lets in a lot of light, so usually taken in lower light conditions such as sunrise or sunset. Adding a fill light to the shadow side of the subject helps a lot. The reason this happens is that the center of a lens has the best focus and as you go out towards the edges of the lens the focus gets worse. So for really good focus you want a small aperature, but for this effect you want a large aperature.
Open your original photo. This technique works best with images where the subject is in the foreground and there is obvious perspective in the background (features going from foreground into the background.
Duplicate Layers - Make 2 duplicate Layers from the background layer, name the lower one Blur and the upper one Subject.
Remove Background - On the Subject layer remove the background. If you hae a newer version of PSE then use Subject select in the Select menu. If you an older version then use whatever method you like to select the subject. Then hit the Layer Mask button to convert the selection into a layer mask that hides the background.
Blur Layer - Move to the Blur Layer. To go the Filter menu, Blur and choose Guassian Blur. Move the slider to the right until you get a good amount of blur at the top of the picture and click OK.
Gradient Layer Mask - Add a Layer Mask to the Blur layer. Now select the Gradient Tool, in the Options pane at the bottom click on the gradient sample swatch. This brings up the Gradient Editor. Click on the 3rd from left gradient, Black to White. Now starting from the bottom of the picture and holding down the Shift key pull the gradient up to about 2/3 from the bottom. This puts a gradient on the layer mask that hides the Blur layer at the bottom and shows the Blur layer at the top, giving you that shallow depth of field look.
Image Adjustments - At this point you may want to make some image adustments. I suggest at least doing a Levels adjustment on the whole picture to increase the contrast a bit, almost all pictures can use this.
Photoshop Elements Beginner Basics Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzXNorwfd5viofVT634cqEkU1nOMAb9If