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Recreating Depth of Field in Photoshop

on Oct 22nd 2009 with 11 comments
This entry is part 7 of 9 in the Depth-of-Field & Bokeh Session
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In this video tutorial we look at lens focal length and using selective focus to add visual impact to your images. Various examples of different lenses and settings are given for comparison.

The video then goes on to show you how to create a similar effect within Photoshop, recreating depth of field after using a narrow aperture when shooting.

The Final Result

DoF Photo Example

Watch the Video

Key Points for Wide Angle Lenses

  • It isn’t easy to drop backgrounds out of focus, even at the widest F stop.
  • This is not a flattering lens for most portraits, as it can cause unwanted distortion.

Key Points for Longer Focal Length Lenses

  • Lenses with a focal length of 70-200mm are ideal for selective focus.
  • They also compress elements in the frame and can give a more flattering portrait.
  • Be careful of focusing at wide apertures, as the margin for error is small.

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Simon Plant is an award winning Uk Photographer with over 20 years experience shooting automotive-life-location images for advertising. He also produces Behind The Scenes Digital Photography Tutorials for his training site .  

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  • Zak

    Element!
    good tut

  • Clyde Sanchez

    The lens blur definitely provides more control over the blurring effect. I think the end result is pretty good. Thanks!

  • http://www.stevendavisphoto.com Steven Davis

    I can’t watch the video at work, but I’m assuming you just duplicate the layer, blur it, then mask it out.

  • http://www.twitter.com/xxxbngxxx Bryan Grajales

    Video?

    I wouldn’t care if it was AETUTS but here?…

    Sorry but I don’t feel like watching it. it’s better when you follow the steps of a normal tutorial.

    Videos make you go nuts.

    BTW I like the final result. :)

  • http://craigps.info/ Craigsnedeker

    Looks cool :D

    i’d like to see a tut for taking good pictures in a concert where they are no flashes allowed and your six rows back (i.e. your not front row). I was at one last night and got some good pics, but most are blury and grainy.

    • 7

      That sort of situation almost invariably calls for extremely clean hi-ISO performance and excellent quality fast glass. Something along the lines of a nikon D700 or canon 5D MkII, with a 70-200mm /f.2.8. Prepare to spend on the order of $4500 – $5000 (estimated from memory of approximate prices) for the body and lens combined.

    • tdog

      well, you’re lucky if you get a good picture from that. if you could get good pictures from there, that’s where the paid pros would be!

  • labucque

    Sorry guys… video is soooooooo boring to me !
    Written steps are quite better to work with.
    Anyway, I love this site !

  • http://www.colorexpertsbd.com Ruhul Kuddus Sagor

    Which are the common areas where Photoshop masking is applied?

    Such image masking techniques are used widely in product catalogues. Any image can be imported from stock photo or any other image source and cut out from its background in perfect manner with the help of photoshop masking techniques. The most common tools used to isolate complex image from its back ground are lasso tool, magic eraser tool & pen tool.

    Thanks.
    Regards,
    In-charge of e-Marketing,
    Color Experts International (CEI)

  • NoOneSpecial

    I agree thanks to him for creating it. But it was long and boring.

  • Mostafizur

    Excellent Photoshop.Thanks for sharing.