I. Before You Start
1. Choose Your Image: Select a portrait photo where you want to emphasize the subject by blurring the background. The subject should be reasonably distinct from the background.
2. Duplicate the Layer: This is good practice for non-destructive editing.
* In the Layers panel (Window > Layers), right-click on your background layer.
* Choose "Duplicate Layer..." Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Portrait Layer").
* Work on the duplicated layer.
II. Making the Selection with the Magnetic Lasso Tool
1. Select the Magnetic Lasso Tool: In the Tools panel, find the Lasso Tool icon. Click and hold on it to reveal a flyout menu. Select the "Magnetic Lasso Tool."
2. Adjust Settings (Important!): In the options bar at the top, adjust these settings before you begin:
* Width: This determines how far the lasso searches for an edge. Start with a value of 5-10 pixels. Increase it if the edge is softer or more difficult to detect; decrease it if the edges are very sharp.
* Contrast: How much contrast difference is required to snap the lasso to the edge. A higher value (e.g., 20-30%) is good for high-contrast edges. Lower it (e.g., 5-10%) for low-contrast edges.
* Frequency: Determines how often Photoshop places anchor points (the little dots) along the selection edge. Higher values (e.g., 50-60) place more anchor points for a more accurate, but possibly jagged, selection. Lower values (e.g., 20-30) result in fewer points, which might create a smoother, but less precise, selection.
* Tablet Pressure for Size: Uncheck this unless you're using a graphics tablet with pressure sensitivity and want pressure to affect the lasso's width.
3. Start Tracing:
* Click once near the edge of your subject in the image. This sets the initial anchor point.
* Slowly move the cursor along the edge of the subject. The Magnetic Lasso should automatically "snap" to the edge.
* If the lasso jumps to the wrong edge, don't panic! Simply click to manually place an anchor point to guide it in the right direction.
* Use the "+" key to zoom in for detail work and the "Spacebar" to temporarily activate the Hand tool to pan around the image.
4. Correcting Errors:
* Deleting Anchor Points: If the lasso places an anchor point in the wrong spot, press the Delete or Backspace key to remove the last anchor point. Continue until the selection is corrected.
* Clicking to Override: If the edge is very faint or confusing, click manually to place anchor points and guide the lasso.
5. Closing the Selection:
* When you reach the starting point, a small circle will appear next to the cursor. Click on the starting point to close the selection. The selection will now be active (indicated by the "marching ants" outline).
III. Refining the Selection
The Magnetic Lasso is rarely perfect on its own. Refine the selection before blurring:
1. Select and Mask Workspace: Go to `Select > Select and Mask...` This opens a dedicated workspace for refining selections.
2. View Mode: In the Select and Mask workspace, experiment with different View Modes (e.g., Overlay, On Black, On White) to help you see the edges of your selection clearly.
3. Global Refinements:
* Opacity: Adjust the Opacity slider in the View Options to better see the original image behind the mask.
* Edge Detection Radius: Increase the Radius slider slightly to help Photoshop find edges that the initial selection might have missed. Don't overdo it, or you'll create unwanted blurring or halos.
* Smooth: Slightly increase the Smooth slider to smooth out jagged edges.
* Feather: Add a small amount of Feather (0.5 - 1.5 pixels) to soften the edge of the selection and prevent harsh transitions.
* Contrast: Increase the Contrast slider to sharpen the edges of the selection.
* Shift Edge: Use the Shift Edge slider to expand or contract the selection. A negative value contracts the selection inward, while a positive value expands it outward.
4. Refine Edge Brush Tool: (The Brush icon on the left toolbar). This is a powerful tool for cleaning up tricky areas like hair or fur.
* Mode: Make sure "Mode" is set to "Refine Edge".
* Brush Size: Adjust the brush size using the "[" and "]" keys.
* Paint Along Edges: Paint along the edge of the subject (particularly around hair) to refine the selection. This tells Photoshop to analyze the edge and improve the selection. Be patient and work in small strokes.
5. Output Settings:
* Output To: Choose "New Layer with Layer Mask" from the "Output To" dropdown. This is a non-destructive option.
* Click "OK" to exit the Select and Mask workspace.
IV. Blurring the Background
1. Select the Inverse:
* Go to `Select > Inverse` or press `Ctrl+Shift+I` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+I` (Mac). This inverts the selection, so now the *background* is selected.
* Make sure the *layer* with the portrait is selected.
2. Apply a Blur: There are several blur options, but Gaussian Blur is commonly used:
* Go to `Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur...`
* Adjust the "Radius" slider to control the amount of blur. A higher radius creates a stronger blur. Start with a small value (e.g., 2-5 pixels) and increase it gradually until you achieve the desired effect.
* Click "OK".
V. Post-Blur Refinement (If Necessary)
* Mask Adjustments: If the blurring creates unwanted artifacts around the subject, you can refine the layer mask. Click on the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
* Use the Brush Tool (black paint hides, white paint reveals).
* Zoom in and carefully paint on the mask to adjust the selection.
* Levels/Curves: You can also adjust the levels or curves of the blurred background to further separate it from the subject. Add a Levels or Curves adjustment layer *clipped* to the portrait layer (Alt/Option+click between the layers in the layers panel to clip).
Important Tips and Considerations:
* Zoom In! For accurate selections, zoom in close to the edge of the subject, especially around hair, fur, or intricate details.
* Patience is Key: Making a good selection takes time and practice. Don't rush it.
* Use Multiple Tools: Don't rely solely on the Magnetic Lasso. Combine it with other tools like the Quick Selection Tool, the Pen Tool, or even just the regular Lasso Tool for different areas. Use the Pen Tool, especially, for very precise selections of straight edges or complex curves. Save your selection as a path, then convert it to a selection.
* Feathering: A small amount of feathering on the selection can help blend the subject and background more seamlessly.
* Experiment with Blur Types: Try other blur filters like Field Blur or Iris Blur for more realistic depth-of-field effects. These offer more control over the shape and intensity of the blur.
* Non-Destructive Workflow: Work with duplicated layers and layer masks so you can easily undo changes or make adjustments later.
* Background Complexity: The more complex the background, the more difficult it will be to make a clean selection. Simplify the background if possible (e.g., clone out distracting elements).
* Hair is Hard!: Hair is notoriously difficult to select. The "Select and Mask" workspace and the Refine Edge Brush Tool are essential for handling hair realistically.
By following these steps and practicing, you'll be able to create stunning portraits with beautifully blurred backgrounds in Photoshop! Good luck!