Photoshop Tilt-Shift Filter Effect for Macro Background Blur

Photoshop CC has several blur filters – including a tilt-shift filter that is more intended for landscape / architectural usage.  However, like the focus blur filter, this can be used in some instances for macro photography, to blur some of the image that is not required to be in focus.

I recently used it on a photograph of a Common Lizard, to blur some of both the foreground and the background of a shot.

Here is a short tutorial how the filter can be used.

Here is the start image.

This image of the lizard has some details of the boardwalk in the foreground that I would like to blur out, and in addition the leaf in the background is slightly distracting.

To blur these area out, I used Photoshop CC’s Tilt-shift blur filter.

2) I created a new layer ( copy of the background image ) on which to apply the filter.

3) Then from Photoshops filter menu I selected – Blur Gallery -> Tilt-Shift

4) Selecting this, gives you some default positioned guide lines, in a preview image of the filters effect.

5) These guide lines need moving by selecting, and shifting  to the desired areas of blur, over and below, a middle section in which the filter blur is not applied. The next image shows the final positions I selected.

6) After adjusting the guides, the filters strength is adjusted by sliders in the filters options panel.

7) By adjusting the options and the guides, you can then get the blurred image to look as you want it too in the preview. Before finally confirming the effect.  Here is the final image that was produced by the tilt-shift blur filter.