{"id":52013,"date":"2022-03-29T12:54:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T19:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/?p=52013"},"modified":"2023-04-05T19:52:30","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T02:52:30","slug":"how-to-change-the-focus-of-a-photo-in-photoshop-use-depth-maps-for-depth-of-field-blur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/how-to-change-the-focus-of-a-photo-in-photoshop-use-depth-maps-for-depth-of-field-blur\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change the focus of a photo in Photoshop, use Depth Maps for depth of field blur"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Change the focus of a photo in Photoshop<\/em><\/h1>\n

We will Use Depth Blur to add a shallow depth of field, bokeh effect. Output as a depth map and then touch up the depth map. Apply lens blur for a very realistic depth blur effect.<\/em><\/p>\n

Download and Open the image of the train. (This is a free photo from Adobe Stock)<\/a> The photo is sharp everywhere. We are going to change it, to add a shallow depth of field effect.<\/p>\n

This is a more advanced tutorial that will provide the highest quality results. For a quicker, more simple way to blur the background on a simple photo without using depth maps, see this tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Choose Filter>Neural Filters<\/p>\n

Choose Depth Blur, you will see the background becomes blurry.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click on the background in the thumbnail on the right<\/p>\n

Notice the train becomes blurry and the background sharp.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click on the front of the train in the thumbnail.<\/p>\n

It looks pretty realistic. Except the areas between the poles on the right got missed.<\/p>\n

The challenge with AI based, blurring, is sometimes little parts get missed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take control of the blur.<\/p>\n

At the bottom, click Output as Depth map only. The preview image will turn into a grayscale Depth Map.<\/p>\n

Click ok.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We now have a grayscale depth map that we can use to focus the blur.<\/p>\n

The darker areas tell the software, they are closer to the camera and should be sharp. The lighter areas should be more blurred.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hide the top layer and click on the bottom layer<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Choose the quick Selection tool.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Use the quick selection to select the areas in between the poles.<\/p>\n

Tip: Hold down the alt\/option key and use Quick selection to subtract from the selection.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With the selection active, turn the top layer back on and make sure it\u2019s the active layer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Grab a paint brush.<\/p>\n

Hold alt\/Option and click to sample colors.<\/p>\n

Sample the light tone and paint it into the selection.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Notice, I painted 3 tones into the selection, so that it matches the rest of the image in the depth map. Press Cmd\/Ctrl+D to deselect<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We are going to make a channel from the depth map, so we can use it.<\/p>\n

Open the Channels panel. Window>Channels<\/p>\n

Drag the red channel into the Plus icon to duplicate it.<\/p>\n

Its called Red Copy and it\u2019s an alpha channel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you want, change the name of the channel by double clicking on the name and typing. I renamed it DM, for Depth map. The names have no purpose, other than making it easy for you to identify the alpha channels.<\/p>\n

Click on the name RGB to reselect the RGB channels, the DM channel should be hidden.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hide the depth map layer.<\/p>\n

Duplicate the background if you want, just as a best practice, to preserve the original layer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Choose Filter>Blur Lens Blur<\/p>\n

You will see a Depth Map option. Change source to DM, if it isn\u2019t already selected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We can now use this depth map channel to blur the image.<\/p>\n

Choose the cross hairs. (Set focal point)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click on the area of the photo that you want to be sharp. Adjust the amount of blur to blur the background.<\/p>\n

Here is our very realistic result.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

I hope you found this tutorial useful, check out the other hundreds of tutorials here at PhotoshopCAFE.<\/p>\n

ciao<\/p>\n

Colin<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve \u00a0got a whole bag of goodies \u00a0you can have for free at the Vault.\u00a0Grab free goodies here<\/a>, including Photoshop brushes, actions, presets, sky images, ebooks and a whole bunch more.<\/p>\n

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