How to BLUR backgrounds in Photoshop

Learn how to blur the background in a photograph using Adobe Photoshop. This tutorial shows how to create selections, and masks, use content-aware fill, and add a blur effect to a family portrait image.

📖 CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Duplicate the layer
00:40 Select and mask the subject
01:02 Fill the background layer
02:46 Blur the background
04:20 Remove blur from the bottom
05:14 Make some masking adjustments

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CREDITS:
➡︎ Tutorial by Nicole S. Young

[danrussell]

Best tutorial of it's kind I have found so far! With very complex foreground I still managed to blur the background using this method.

[Flash_AU]

thank you for the tutorial. extreamly short sharp and informative!

[bbdenham]

Thanks Nicole! This method is so much easier than a number of other videos I have come across which require many more steps. Excellent tutorial.

[Tloopfan]

Thanks Nicole for this step by step tutorial. Way better than trying to use the blur tool (arrgghh)!!!

[marcstaples]

Great tutorials with easy and clear explanations. It. makes it much easier to follow when you show the short keys and the directions how to perform to the actual changes with a short explanation of what it does - makes using PS much easier. Thanks for sharing.

[seodigitaltotal]

thank you so much the best tutorial so far on how to blur, may GOD be with you always!

[is]

Best and easiest tutorial I have found on this subject using the latest Ps update.

[DeborahPapineau-yegv]

Thank you, thank you, thank it and it works beautifully. Simply

[RELATE-TABLES]

Thanks so much for this.🙏🏻
It was so simple and easy to follow.

[BiratsUncutVlogs]

Thank you so much .I was really amazed to see the result and was searching for the vodeo .This is the one I loved your work .

[thomasriggs]

Brilliant Nicole with such a simple technique! Using the gradient tool is really easy and flexible. If the subject was further back so that the foreground required some blur also then the "Tilt-Shift" tool might be needed. In most of my images the subject is closer to the camera so your technique should be easier and just as effective. Great tip - Thanks!

[LisaRSArt]

Very good tutorial. Thank you so much.

[VermaInfotainment]

Great tutorial..I liked as you tell the reason also..why we are doing this.

[JoeHudspeth]

Perfect tutorial. I like to seperate and blur for wildlike and this looks as though it will work wonderfully. Need to watch a few more times, unless you have a written tutorial? Kudos Nicole!

[debracoleman]

Hello Nicole. Everything works well thus far. Got stuck on the video at 5:10. Regarding the Gradient tool - nothing happens when I released the mouse. I just have these big round gradient circles on the screen. Can't to figure out how to get rid on the circles off screen and fill in the parts I need. Suggestions?

[ednsb]

great tutorial Nicole... and i have been meaning to say for sometime that you look a lot happier these days!

[afkeyes]

Is there a way to edit the subject selection? There are a few spots that aren’t quite right and then the area goes really wonky when I do the content-aware fill. I don’t get the brush tool fix… all it seems to do is darken the wonky areas. Maybe my brush settings aren’t right.

[MuhammadAmeerHamzaKhan]

thanks madam i m from karachi pakistan

[bioclot]

It wont let me fill the background.. I am utterly confused lol

[designbookInc]

like! like! like! like! like! like! like! like! like! like! like!