How to blur a background

[kids9]

Hi everyone,
I just took pictures of my new granddaughter and I would like to blur out some of the background. Can someone help with this? Thanks, Pam

[MikeH]

Hi Pam,

The quick way is to duplicate the layer, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and add the required amount of blur (3 to 5 pixels). Then use the eraser tool to remove the blur in the areas you want to remain in focus.

Mike

[kids9]

Mike,
Thanks for your help! Pam

[Wendy]

Hi Pam ...

Do let us see the image when it is done :)

Wendy

[Gilda_Rhodes@cox.net]

Hi all!!

Just tried to blur a background as described. For some reason when I tried to erase the part of the photo that I didn't want blurred, it just came out as white scribbles! I followed the following steps:

1. duplicated background layer
2. select filter, blur, gaussian blur
3. select eraser and erase part of image that is not to be blurred.

Could someone tell me what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks so much!!!

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

I'm not sure what is happening there ... :(

Try again and before you start to erase go to your layers palette and make sure that you do indeed have two layers and that the top layer (the blurred one) is the active one ..

Just check that its little "eyeball" is switched on

It should work now ... but do let us know how you go on :)


Wendy

[Gilda_Rhodes@cox.net]

Thank Wendy...I tried it again and it worked fine. Don't know what I was doing! So great to have a place to go when you are stumped!

[fgrule]

An easy technique and you can vary the amount of blur (up to 250 pix,I think) and preview the effect.

[Pauline]

When I do a blur I like to use a layer mask rather than the eraser. It gives you more control. If you make a mistake, just change to white and paint back the mistake. You can use a layer mask from the PET extras or use levels and clip the layer to create your mask.

[Wendy]

Hi Pauline ...

I usually use a mask too ... its really does help when you remove a little too much :)


Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi Gilda ...


Glad that you managed to get it to work this time :)

Sometimes when I have problems with Elements I find that if I start all over again it often sorts itself out :)


Wendy