In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a fun zoom effect with blur streaks coming out from the center of the eyes. Here is what we will be creating:
Step 1
Open your picture. I will be using this stock picture.
I will first create the effect on the eye at the left of the image and then we will repeat the steps on the other eye. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool to create a selection around the iris. Right now, we will ignore the fact that the top of our selection is extending beyond the iris.
To remove the selection that extends up into the eyelid, we will first select the Intersect With Selection option.
Now, we will draw a second selection just around the part of our initial selection that we want to keep as shown below.
This is how our selection will look after we release the mouse button.
Step 2
Now, let’s copy our selection onto a new layer. Hold Option (for Mac) / Alt (for Windows) and go to Layer > New > Layer via Copy. Name the new layer “Left Eye” (or “Right Eye”, depending on which eye you chose).
Step 3
Make sure that the Elliptical Marquee Tool is still selected. Then, click in the center of the pupil and drag outwards to make a circle. As soon as you start dragging, hold Shift+Option (for Mac) / Shift+Alt (for Windows) and then continue dragging. Draw the selection until it is just a little bit bigger the iris. When you are done, release your mouse button and then release the keys you were holding.
Now, go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and use the settings shown below.
Step 4
Now, we will add the Radial Blur filter. Go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur and use the settings shown below.
Step 5
Let’s remove the blur streaks that are extending into the white part of the eye. Make sure that your selection is still active and add a layer mask by clicking on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Select the Brush Tool, press D and then press X to set black as the Foreground color. With a small, soft-edge brush, paint on the white part of the eye where the blur streaks are extending to.
We will also remove the blur streaks inside the pupil so with a small, soft-edge brush, paint inside the pupil.
Step 6
We have created the zoom effect and we will now saturate the iris and brighten it up. Hold down Option (for Mac) / Alt (for Windows) and click on the New Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Select Hue/Saturation and on the dialog box that appears, make sure that the “Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask” option is checked and set the mode to Screen.
We will now increase the saturation of the iris. In the Adjustments Panel (for Photoshop CS4+) or the Hue/Saturation dialog box (for Photoshop CS3 and earlier versions), drag the saturation slider towards the right.
You can also change the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer’s blending mode from Screen to Color Dodge or Linear Dodge to give a more intense result. I liked Linear Dodge, so I will be using it.
We’ve completed the effect on the left eye! Now, repeat the above steps with the other eye and you’re done.
