How to Add Motion Blur to Backgrounds in Photoshop

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How to Add Motion Blur to Backgrounds in Photoshop
Add depth and movement to photos by adding motion blur to backgrounds. This simple technique will make action and sports photos more dynamic.
Remove the Subject From the Background
When adding motion blur to a photo, it is important to blur only the background. The subject should stay un-blurred to make them stand out from the background.
In order to blur the background and not the subject, the two elements must be separated first. The easiest way to separate the subject and background is to remove the subject from the background.
Create a duplicate of the background layer and use the Spot Healing Brush Tool to remove the subject. Be sure that “Sample All Layers” and “Content Aware” are checked on the top of the screen.
Paint over the subject and the tool will fill them in with information from the background. This doesn’t have to be perfect, after all, you will be applying a blur to the background. The main goal is to make sure the subject is not blurred with the background.
Add Motion Blur to the Background
After removing the subject from the background, turn the duplicate layer into a smart object by right-clicking on the layer and going to “Convert to Smart Object”.
With a Smart Object you can use Smart Filters, and when adding a blur of any kind, it is best to be done as a smart filter. Smart Filters can be changed at any time, making them more versatile and less destructive.
It is time to add the blur to the smart object. The type of blur will change depending on the motion of the photo. In this case, we use a simple “Left-to-Right” Motion Blur because the subject is moving horizontally across the image.
If the subject in your photo is moving towards or away from the camera, choose a Path Blur and create paths in the direction of the movement.
Reveal the Subject
After applying a Motion Blur or Path Blur to the background, it is time to reveal the original subject. Lower the opacity of the layer to about 80% and add a layer mask to the blurred Smart Object. Paint black on the layer mask over the original subject to reveal them through the Smart Object Layer.
Take your time to create an accurate selection around the subject. After completing the layer mask, change the Smart Object layer opacity to 100% and you are done!
To change the amount of blur on the background, double click on the Blur Smart Filter, and adjust the blur amount. The layer mask will stay intact, revealing the subject and provide an instant preview of the background blur with a still subject.
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[@WeekendWarriors87]

pro tip, if youre taking the photo using a tripod just take one after the subject passes and use that as the blurred background

[@ginayajesmer2616]

SMART!

[@Brenzle]

But dont you still need to manually remove the subject from the first photo, or is there an easier way to do it when you have the background as a separate photo?

[@johngrisbach9417]

I love when you recap at the end of a tutorial. I write the time down on my notes and if I need refreshing, I know exactly where to go. Thank you.

[@EviesAnnee]

You're my fave shop guy. Your videos are always easy to listen to, understand, and effective. Thank you!!!

[@JasonSmith-dd2ms]

First tut I've found out of many that actually taught me how to do this. Thank you.

[@PhilKorn1221]

Really useful PH tutorial, Aaron! Great stuff as always! Keep it up!

[@tombnguyen]

Thanks for providing this tutorial! I didn't realize the spot healing brush did that much! I'll incorporate into my Photoshop arsenal.

[@irhgsy]

You make it seem sooooooo simple! Excellent and amusing instructional videos. Many thanks.

[@poodieac]

Love you guys. Bought PS 101-301 changed my work forever.

[@jeffvogan2181]

Aaron, another easy and awesome video. I have gone from zero PS knowledge to being able to do some very cool things that's to your videos. Thank you.

[@tonyarenee531]

Perfect I love your Tutorials for Photoshop I needed this ONE badly for a Project....... and usually come to your channel to see if you have what I need FIRST Love your Tuts because you explain them so well and go slow where you can't miss steps unlike many others that just do it fast and you learn nothing.... TIA ♥♥♥

[@edgaralonso232]

i love it. thank you for another tutorial, .. I love all your videos.

[@angelawest2187]

What am awesome tutorial. Thanks PHLearn!

[@pixel_overkill]

Thank you for teaching me proper use of Layer mask + motion blur. I couldn't get it right! I nailed it now :D

[@bogdangloba8083]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@TheMarcosdeo]

Awesome video. Thank you. I did it step by step. Super clear.

[@paulbroderick8438]

Very well presented and thank you.

[@terrybuchanan1]

fabulous teaching. appreciated the written details in the description as well. :)

[@Howhowhow1]

Thank you for this video. It really made a huge difference in my editing for motion blur.

[@Ronin760]

Great tutorial. Thanks!

[@nabilchih8084]

magnifique !! really useful tip. thanks a lot

[@akashadearg-due1435]

Wonderful Aaron

[@YenahVictoriaJoe]

thanks for the video!

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

I've found your channel the most helpful on the whole of KZbin for your PHOTOSHOP tutorials. It's helped me get my PHOTOSHOP mojo back after some years of neglect. I f**king salute you, man.

[@gatebilmagazine7124]

Very good tutorial as always

[@mikewall827]

Thanks great video!

[@johnlangfordphoto210]

see your post dated 12 May 2014 This is a much better approach to what you did before ... keep up the good work

[@ChristD69]

Today wonder woman effect! Great work my friend

[@SimpleVlogs12]

your awesome thank you

[@rizqhp]

very helpful thx!

[@AsapAnimation]

Awesome!

[@killapoze3005]

Sweet. Path Blur.

[@anewfacestudio]

Great job sir 👌👌👌

[@Tsagkaraki82]

Loveit!

[@mightycain4725]

Hi Arron Great video, could you do one for creating Bubbles in PS please, Thanks

[@hardikgaming3101]

hey! can you please make the video on " How to add bleed" in photoshop

[@ForteSpyTV]

please can you do a tutorial on the mixer brush tool as it concerns Retouching and another tutorial on color grading in Retouching... thanks

[@bogaugon]

Hi Aaron, I've enjoyed many (actually a lot) of your videos. I've learnt a lot of editing skills too and unrusted some others. I've seen in 500px and flickr, many b&w portraits, where they enhance the freckles, that in some portraits, make them very interesting. If you have the chance or wish, could you give us some tips on this technique? Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and mostly in such an enjoyable way. Greetings.

[@nathandeleon7896]

Hey Phlearn first of all great videos! Just had a quick question on, basically what you use to edit things like the black tablet looking thing, what is that?

[@Ruthlessbone]

Aaron, you son of a bitch! Where you been? I love it when you randomly pop up in my youtube feed with another sick tutorial!

[@djmikedoelo]

What camera are you shooting this video with? The clarity is so clean.

[@rener8162]

Hi Aaron, just a short question. How do you set the brush tool that you always see two circles always if you painting? I cannot find it in my settings.. Or is it a Apple feature?

[@ewelinakorecka4663]

thanks :)

[@SERPO_]

gonna try it out thnx. btw what do you think of my new logo i made in photoshop

[@MuzikkZone]

Aaron is the greatest. Put some respek on his name when you post in this comment section.

[@NomSauce]

When you have a smart object, does it allow you to tune any changes? Like if I use blur gallery for example, it would let me come back and change that too right?

[@reu13]

Hey, I like how in your video you appear to have Two-Circles for a brush curser. Does that show feather or is that a product of your screen recording software? I can't find a setting like that in Preferences. I'm about to go make a feature request of Adobe if it's your screen recording software.

[@reu13]

Adobe claims no such native feature, so I put in a feature request here if anyone wants to jump in. feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/advanced-cursor-options-feature-request?rfm=1&topic_submit=true

[@AARR33]

When i do my thumbnails with motion blur i just use the lasso tool with a 10 px feather

[@OuttatheNormPhotography]

Can you use this to make the front/sides of a picture of a street blur to make it look like you are moving

[@alexbritch02]

So after I got the subject back in, it's still a little see through, even if I change the opacity back to 100, Help?!

[@ginayajesmer2616]

Why spot remove the person instead of just selecting them with the quick selection tool and hitting inverse? Is there an added benefit to doing it this way?

[@mohamedshakil1017]

omg which camera you used for shoot this video? its look very natural

[@nanasims9899]

Hello. I have a question. How can I solve the problem of banding in photoshop?

[@darkheart8119]

Very nice effects ..but can you show more effects like these ?

[@WWPTV]

Subbed. Nice video used a similar technique in an image for a year-end calendar with a background. Why do you think your daily sub count just dropped off a few weeks ago? It couldn't have been system-wide as my subscriber, has been consistent through that same period.

[@rikard.h]

I would just cut the subject out and making it a separate layer instead of using layer mask. Much quicker. Is that not just as good?

[@arbull7264]

This procedure was done in 2016, can you use the same method in 2019?

[@theokcamera]

There is a way to import a RGB color code to curves?

[@ZackWilkinsoncoach]

PS keeps asking me to rasterize the image when i go sharpen towards the end of the video. Then I notice some areas missed. I go to correct the areas with the brush tool and paint black to make visible but it just makes it black How can i not rasterize it? Yours doesn't change when you go through this.

[@jensvielmann7662]

Here is a fun idea: How about posting the first minute (where you explain the goal of the tut) a few days before and allow ppl to comment on how its done. Sure prices would be nice... but could get a bit expensive.

For some years ago you made a shutter speed video and you said that you were going to make one where you showed the settings and how you did it indoors with poor light.

[@maustincpt]

When I try this, it's not removing at all, just smudging but leaving the subject????

[@emrahy.849]

yeahh

[@tbroad72]

Why is this method not working for me. It just smudges my subject and the background?

[@goldziitfotografieswitzerl3967]

How did you zoom in my friend?

[@john3Lee]

How did you get your brush cursor to show extent of the feather ?

[@MelvinJoseFilms]

Would like to know as well

[@chrischan5168]

preferences} cursors} then tick "Full Size Brush Tip" box.

[@ChannelBP]

Hello, I changed my setting to full size tip and it shows the full brush, but is there a way to show the inner circle as well like in this video?

[@chrischan5168]

I'm not at my Mac right now but maybe you have your brush at 0% hardness.

[@Myntekt]

That only shows full size, not both of them.

[@OoOnomad]

didnt you upload other background blur video?

[@SprinGiddinessify]

Can this be applied on radial blur as well ?

[@beyondinsanitybr]

For sure man!

[@splendidcj3318]

Are you able to do this in CS5?

[@kristicifci5389]

SplendidCJ yes

[@andre1k28]

For a natural look the legs and the arms must be blurred too!

[@harounben342]

maybe, actually, the pic has that wavy blurry effect as her arms moves, she is having this kind of little jumps as she's running but I'm confused if he is supposed to blur or leave the front part and she is moving toward that direction!?

[@hussamhassan4018]

phlearn is awesome but try to do something new in Photoshop like manipulation of design

[@myrhopalocera]

2:41 for the tutorial

[@myrhopalocera]

4:05 smart layer

[@myrhopalocera]

5:31

[@FreakWithGun]

heel strike

[@reu13]

Great tutorial, but shouldn't you have gone a step further and added some blur to the subject? Even in the best tracked photos, a subject like a runner isn't going to be tack sharp on all three axis.

[@tryhard6130]

yay now i can make trevorhenderson images

[@mmcnama4]

I'm not following why you couldn't duplicate the layer, apply the motion blur to the lower layer and mask out the background on the top layer (pretty much the opposite of what you said you couldn't do in reverse). Maybe just more to mask which might get annoying?

[@erickroav]

like

[@ahmedyasser4350]

you realize that you just added a step for no reason right? well if you motion blur and THEN remove the subject with the layer mask its the same EXACT process just without the spot healing brush

[@ChetanSinghYash]

nah, that was kinda necessary, or our subjects' blur will smudges too and masking that smudge will give still b/g and leaving it will ruin the motion blur feel of panning shots

[@ChetanSinghYash]

Try doing it the way you think then... -_-

[@AndrazAntonic]

Aaron didn't show this clearly enough at the end of the video with his example, but if you blur the background + your subject, the blur will blur them "together". In the second step when masking the subject back into the blurred image, there will be a visible blur around the subject, as we blurred together the background and our subject. Copying out the subject and filling back in the missing area with content that mimics or resembles the background pixels removes that problem. Note that just cutting the subject out will not do the job, because if you use blur on an image with some empty pixels, the resulting blur will again look unnatural, because PS will use visible plus empty pixels to create the blurred result :)

[@CreativoErratico]

The first thing he did was showing what happens when you do it that way.

[@matthias4748]

Steve and Dave etoro

[@paramedialab]

You can't separate the subject and the background, but you can remove the subject from the background? hahahaha...someone's mind is definately separated from his body.

[@madeinfilms1]

first

[@user-em1fk7ll6t]

68 view - 4 likes LoL

[@user-em1fk7ll6t]

I wasn't talking about that. I've just never been that early on a video! :D

[@evanbollag737]

what kind of wack tip is this to remove your subject? What if the background isn't perfect...