How You Can Use Photoshop Elements to Blur a Background for a Fast Shallow Depth of Field Effect

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Photoshop Elements Blur Background. I show you how you can blur the background of an image in Photoshop Elements giving you a shallow depth of field blur effect. Quickly Blur Background in Photoshop Elements.
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[@HTGGeorge]

➡ Check out my New Tool that makes learning Photoshop Elements Super Easy! Here is my video about it on my HTG Photo channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5StY3Ssnr-Bf5o

[@HTGGeorge]

🔴 If you enjoy this video show your support by clicking on the Thanks Button

[@7Bydand9]

Spot on George, I really enjoyed that session, I have signed up for the Online training course years ago just haven't had the courage to try it ,/

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks! And thanks for purchasing the course, that is how I pay for the time it takes me to run this KZbin channel.

[@jadedenthusiasms]

Thank you so much for the link to this video!! This one made seem even easier!! I'll be trying soon. You show and explain things so well that even this old lady can... well... I think I can do it😬 it'll be fun playing around with it :) Thanks again for all your help!!

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome!

[@Harald111th]

This is definitely the best site with the best explanations to learn Photoshop elements, thank you so much!

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Harald, George

[@raisingholmes9747]

This was really helpful, thank you so much!

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome!

[@lindas9114]

Just like magic!!

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks Linda! George

[@chrissutton4256]

Excellent technique, as always well explained. Thanks George

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Chris George

[@anikorose88]

Thank you for this tutorial! It was very helpful.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're very welcome!

[@eileenlittle3052]

A great video and also it is fast. Thank you George

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Eileen! George

[@bobmakrides]

Very nice tutorial thank you George

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Bob George

[@paulinerumsey75]

An excellent tutorial, I learn so much from your videos. I like that they are not too long but full of the necessary information. Thank you George.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Pauline. George

[@AlexAutoFun]

Thank you for this super easy to follow tutorial!

[@HTGGeorge]

You are so welcome!

[@DrinkingStar]

Excellent tutorial using a technique(gradient mask with main subject) that I was unaware of. Thanks for demonstrating this technique for something that can be very useful and is very simple to do.

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks! The interesting thing about layer masks is that gray tones will give varying degrees of transparency. Black hides, White shows, but also grays are levels of transparency. So gradients work wonderfully. George

[@JohnChubbSr]

This turns out particularly well. Plus the adjustments allow for flexibility and personal tastes. Magnificent method, George!

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks John! George

[@the7thdecade]

Awesome. Thank you so much.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome!

[@drryzek]

Thank you for the great tutorial.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're very welcome!

[@castlesmadeofsand941]

Holy moly, thank you.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome!

[@MrMoonpie001]

Very important use of PSE, I do this all the time when doing composites, part of the challenge there is to make the picture look like it was shot from just one camera. This method gives the illusion that it has been. Thanks for all you do! Rich

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Rich. You are right, when doing a composite it really helps to do an overall effect or color adjustment to pull everything together. George

[@SoNowWhat]

Another great tutorial. This is very handy with photos taken with most cell phones, which lack an aperture control, generally resulting in pictures that are sharp throughout (unless you have a newer phone which simulates bokeh with software).

[@HTGGeorge]

Those new phones are amazing, have you seen how many lenses some of them have? I still stick with a big black SLR. It is amazing though what you can do with software. George

[@moonbee03]

Thank you!

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome! George

[@vincentgattorno9751]

I wish I can learning more from you. Thanks for your videos.

[@HTGGeorge]

You're welcome Vincent, check out my KZbin video list, over 600 videos. And of course my complete Photoshop Elements training courses, the best way to learn Photoshop Elements. George

[@MrMoonpie001]

Vincent well worth the money too, lots of things not on the site that you can learn, I like the "online" version. George is only a click away when you got his classes. Rich

[@vincentgattorno9751]

Thank so much really I like the way you show the videos. Very easy follow.

[@JohnChereson]

Excellent!!

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks John! George

[@JohnChereson]

@@HTGGeorge And thank you George for such great tutorials. You are the man!!

[@HTGGeorge]

: )

[@soothicitymassage]

Very easy to follow seeing as Im a complete novice

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks! If that's the case my video is a success

[@HTGGeorge]

Check out my other Photoshop Elements Photo Retouching videos kzbin.info/aero/PLfp-NJt_DpgFpPzIawTUcPL0JS-d82Z9C

[@JosephMaranzano]

I am interested in your course. I find these KZbin tutorials very valuable because they take a real life problem and show how to work on it. From these examples I learn how to use the tools effectively. Is your course similarly structured or is it an explanation of various tools and menus.

[@HTGGeorge]

@@JosephMaranzano Hi, my KZbin channel is project based and my training course is program based where i walk you through the whole program and explain how everything works. The best way to learn Photoshop Elements is to use my training course then use the KZbin videos as practice.

[@JosephMaranzano]

@@HTGGeorge I have ordered your course. I find both your course and these KZbin videos outstanding in their explanation of PS Elements. I have used Elements for years but not as well as I can now with both of these resources. Thanks.

[@NickTvids-ls2cp]

Would you do a video on how to combine multiple exposure photos? I thought there was an "easy button" for this action.

[@HTGGeorge]

Hi Nick, Photoshop Elements has a Guided Edit for that which walks you through the whole process, so no need for a video. Click on the Guided tab, then click on Photomerge, then Photomerge Exposure. I also show how to do this in my PSE course. George

[@elizabethhicks322]

When I apply the Gaussian Blur to the background layer, the preview shows blurred but the photo does not. What do I need to do differently? I am using Photoshop Elements 2021 on a Thinkpad T580 with Windows 10.

[@HTGGeorge]

Click the Preview checkbox in the Gaussian Blur dialog box

[@elizabethhicks322]

@@HTGGeorge When I am using the refine edge brush, I cannot get it to work in between leaves on a boquet. Is there a way to do that. I have tried to drag the brush into the spaces, but I can't get it to work

[@wizmcee8121]

👍🏽

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks! Had to view this comment in Internet Explorer, the Emojis weren't showing in Chrome. George

[@wizmcee8121]

How To Gurus oh ok Your videos are great learning tips

[@HTGGeorge]

Thanks Cee George

[@garyfleming4811]

HI George. I got a couple of questions. I recently got a new desktop that uses Windows 10. My problem is that my Photoshop elements 12, which I have perpetual license, is not compatible with Windows 10. Microsoft is willing to reprogram to a lower version to solve the problem, but eventually the new updates might make my window not operable. Any suggestions? That brings in the second question. I can always upgrade to 2019, (Adobe says 15 and 18 are no longer available) but reviewing your video on the new features of 2019 brings up this negative factor. In the video you state that unless you do your bypass system for organizer and editor to the desktop page, their homepage stays with you. You cannot just hit the icons on their homepage for organizer or editor, and it will take you there without home page? If I go to expert, will that get rid of it, as I always use expert anyway. You mentioned you can close out the homepage, will the icons for org. and editor be left on for a quick pic? I use Photoshop to design my own work, not into quickie cutesie cuetsie photo additions, so the 2019 looks rather silly to me. You mentioned your favorite version of elements is 10. How do you stll run it, and still use windows 10? I'm going to confer with Microsoft again, but I'm getting different answers, so I am stuck with this decision, and don't want to move without knowing whats on the other side of the fence....Thanks! Gary

[@HTGGeorge]

Hi Gary, if you are using Windows 10 then you should upgrade to pse 2019. The new version is not really a good upgrade from versions 15 or 2018 because not that much has changed (except for the new Text tracking tool, which is worth it if you do lots of text). But from version 12 it is a great upgrade, and is completely compatible with Windows 10. The old version 10 was much more like Adobe Photoshop and had a much better Organizer, but it is not compatible with Windows 10 so not an option even if you could find a copy. What happened was that Adobe redesigned the program starting in version 11 to make it less like their flagship Photoshop, they basically dumbed down the program. On getting past the startup screen, you can go into your Programs folder and make a shortcut to the exe file for the Editor and that solves the issue. I will put up a video showing that in a couple of days. George

[@garyfleming4811]

HI George! Thank you for the always quick responses. I got a free trial and worked out the problem. Thanks!@@HTGGeorge

[@HTGGeorge]

: )

[@puddy007]

George, Why doesn't the Gaussian blur filter reset itself to 0.1 after each use. I noticed at the 1:30 mark of your video the Gaussian blur filter opened up at 10.0. I'm asking this because I have been editing two different images in Photoshop Elements 2022. The first image I am blurring a section of the background to 36.0. When I first selected Filter, Blur, Gaussian Blur, it opened at 0.1. I set my blur to 36.0. Next, I went to a second image and when I selected Filter, Blur, Gaussian Blur, it opened at 36.0. That's not a big deal because I can simply change it back to 0.1 and adjust the blur to where I would like it; for example 15.0. Now, let's say I wanted to modify the blur in the first image again. If I go back to Filter, Blur, Gaussian Blur, the setting is set to 15.0 when I originally set it to 36.0. I can set the slider back to 0.1, but it doesn't completely reset it back to original sharpness.There still is 19.0 blur on the image (36-15=19). Therefore, I can't go back to the first image and modify the blur from the beginning. Is there something I'm missing or doing incorrectly or is this a destructive edit that I can't get back. Roger

[@puddy007]

George, Sorry for my math mistake; should have been 21.

[@HTGGeorge]

Hi, the Gaussian Blur applies a permanent blur to the image, it isn't reversable. The blur also shows the last blur that you used., not the blur setting for the picture. So, you can't go back to the blur tool and remove or re-adjust the blur. The best option is to always make a duplicate of the background layer so that you can go back to that and start over again if you want to.

[@puddy007]

@@HTGGeorge Thanks, George! I wasn't aware the Gaussian Blur was permanent. Roger

[@kozmoba]

This doesn't work on all images, depending on how sharp a line is needed between the subject and the background. When you blur the entire image, some of the subject bleeds into the background and vice versa. Then when you mask out the subject, the fringe that bled into the background is still there. I have had to select the subject and save as a layer, clone stamp a little of the background into the edge of the subject in the original image, then blur that layer, and place the subject layer over it. Looking for a better way.

[@HTGGeorge]

Hi, no technique works on all images and this is a fast trick that frequently works well. It also works best with minimal blurring, the more you blur the more obvious it will become. For a trickier picture you need to use the technique you described and that I have shown in several videos in the past, here are two examples kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGPNZ6JpjLadfKc and kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2XFi2d9qNGIkJo

[@TomReichner]

I tried to do this exactly as he instructed, and found it to be EXTREMELY tedious and time consuming. Is there any way to get the same result that is MUCH, MUCH EASIER and faster?

[@HTGGeorge]

If you don't care about accuracy you can make a fast selection around the person using the lasso tool, blur the layer mask a bit, then blur the background. I could do that in under a minute, but it wouldn't be as good

[@TomReichner]

@@HTGGeorge I really, really care about accuracy. The image that I want to blur the background on is something that I want to print on metal at 48" by 32", and submit to the upcoming exhibit at my local/regional art gallery. Really needs to be "just right".

[@HTGGeorge]

Then it is worth taking the time to do it right. Never cut corners on important work.

[@TomReichner]

@@HTGGeorge I don't want to cut corners, I want to do it absolutely perfect. But I want to do it perfect in far less time and with far less mental energy expended. Trying to follow along, step-by-step, was actually painful ..... it absolutely fried my brain. I had to watch 4 or 5 seconds, try to do what he did, then start it again, realize that he totally lost me, rewind those 4 or 5 seconds, try to do that step over again, get totally lost again, etc. I've spent over an hour and a half trying to follow along with this 9 minute video, and never got any part of the edit done right. Had to totally scrap my attempts and start over from the very beginning two different times already. This is enormously frustrating.

[@HTGGeorge]

@@TomReichner Which part are you specifically having trouble with? Is the the blurring or making the selection with a layer mask?

[@jn3750]

4k or 1080p please.

[@HTGGeorge]

This video is in 1080p, check your KZbin and internet settings. KZbin will send you a lower resolution if it things your system or connection is not fast enough for the higher resolution.