How to composite in Photoshop CS6 with the Field Blur Filter

Here we’ll show you how to compsite in Photoshop CS6 with a little help from the new Field Blur filter and the Average Blur filter. The Field Blur filter works by setting different strengths of blur across an image, so you can simulate depth of field by applying stronger blur to parts of the background scene that are further away from the camera. But while CS6’s Field Blur filter makes depth effects easy, colour matching can be tricky. Especially if the elements that make up your composite have been captured under different lighting conditions. This is where the little-used Average Blur filter comes into play.

Here’s how to use the Field Blur and Average Blur filters in Photoshop CS6 to create depth and match tones in your composites:

Step 1: Use the Quick Selection Tool to paint a selection over your person/object. Go to Select> Refine Edge and check Smart Radius. Set Radius to about 3px then choose Output to: New Layer with Layer Mask.

Step 2: Right-click the new layer in the Layers Panel and choose Duplicate Layer. Set Destination to your background scene image. Next go to the background scene image and duplicate the bottom layer.

Step 3: Go to Filter>Blur>Field Blur. Click in the image to set blur points and adjust the strength to mimic depth of field.

Step 4: Duplicate the background layer again. Drag this duplicate above the cut-out layer, then go to Filter>Blur>Average.

Step 5: Change the Blend Mode of the Average Blur layer to Color. Alt-click on the line between the top layer and the cut-out to create a Clipping Mask, then drop the blurred layer’s opacity back to about 30%.

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 31st, 2012 at 3:33 pm and is filed under Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.