This tutorial will tell you how to create focus on a photo by using blur map.
You’ll need:
- Adobe Photoshop
Step 1
Open your picture in Photoshop or you can use this stock photo. Now, select black (#000000) as the foreground color.
Step 2
Choose the Pen Tool, make sure Shape Layers is selected and draw the man’s figure. Keep the layer opacity at 50% to see the shape of the man.
After selecting, increase the opacity of the layer to 100%.
Step 3
Using the Pen Tool, draw the shape of the left horse with the foreground color set as #212121.
Step 4
Now, with the color #4c4c4c, draw the right horse’s shape.
Step 5
Draw another shape with the color #747474 and position the layers as shown below.
Step 6
Draw another shape with the color #9a9a9a.
Move this new layer below all the other layers except the photo layer.
Step 7
Draw the horse in the back in the same way but with the color #c0c0c0.
Step 8
Now, create a new layer and fill it with the color #e7e7e7.
Step 9
Merge all of the layers except for the photo layer. Now, select the photo layer and open the Channels panel by clicking on Window > Channels.
Create a new channel.
On the layers palette, ctrl-click on the merged layer thumbnail to select it.
Press Ctrl+C to copy the selected layer, select the Alpha 1 channel and press Ctrl+V to paste it. Move the layer content a bit to the left in order to position it correctly.
Step 10
Hide the merged layer and Alpha 1 channel by clicking on the visibility icon (the eye).
Now, select the photo layer, go to Filter > Blur > Lens Blur and apply a blur with the settings shown below.
And we’re done!