Using Photoshop to Create the Illusion of Depth of Field with your Sports Photos
In this post Edward Mercer of Digital Photography Darkroom shares a process for adding depth of field to sports images.
You know how the Sport Photos look when taken by the Pros with those really expensive LONG lenses? The soft background and the sharp player? Well you can get the same effect with your current lens using the following steps in Photoshop!
The first picture you see is the Original Image – taken with our 75-300 zoom lens – almost all of the photo is “sharp” and in focus.
1. With your layer pallet OPEN – see Background – make a duplicate of this layer by using the shortcut – on a PC hold the Control key down and hit “J” – on the Mac – hold down the Command key and hit “J” – you will now see the duplicate layer above the background layer.
2. Using the Quick Select too from the tool box – select just the player – then hit Command or Control J to make a duplicate layer of just the player.
3. Layers- With the “Background Copy” (or Layer 1) in the layer pallet highlighted – go to Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur – select the amount of softness you want in the background – keeping it realistic looking.
Once you have clicked OK – your photo should look like the photo below.
4. Now – with your “Background Layer” highlighted in the layer pallet, click on your “Eraser” in your Tool Box to the Left – set the opacity to around 30% and the Flow on 100% – size your brush to be about the size in the following photo – keep a soft edge and a bigger brush in the “Open” areas and make your brush smaller and sharper the close you get to the player. You can also change your opacity if you need to.
5. Start erasing – little by little – keeping the degree of softness in the background that you like. (Some people like it more out of focus than others.) Keep in mind the area directly near the player should be a little in focus also – when you are done your photo should look like the one below – finishedlookBe sure to “Flatten” all your layers before sending this off to your lab!
So there you go, I’ve just saved you from purchasing that Expensive – $3000 lens! You can do it all in Photoshop!
41 Responses to “Using Photoshop to Create the Illusion of Depth of Field with your Sports Photos” - Add Yours
June 28th, 2009 at 8:24 am
or you could zoom in, move closer, and use a larger aperture. 300mm is plenty long to have shallow DOF. why waste your time with this junk.
June 28th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Not bad, but in this technique you do not “create depth of field.” You are actually removing, shrinking foreshortening, lessening etc, but you are not _creating_ depth of field. You are, however creating a simulated bokeh.
Still, not a bad way to put the focus on the subject.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Agreed, this isn’t DOF at all. Additionally, rather than using gaussian blur, recommend using lens blur as there are more controls there to simulate a natural looking bokeh…if such a thing is possible.
June 28th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I agree with the above comments, it’s not DOF even a little – but it is a handy technique for getting the focus off of distracting backgrounds and onto your subject. People who use this should be *very* careful to not overdo it though or it will end up looking obviously faked.
June 28th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I think it’s much easier to unlock the background, make it a smart object, apply blur filter and then use the brush tool on the mask to erase the filter over the player. You have much better control this way.
June 28th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
For super examples of fake depth of field, check out this page for Alien Skin Software’s “Bokeh” plug-in for Photoshop for examples of good fake depth of field. The only problem I see is the high price of the software!
June 28th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Oh, I’m not tied to these Alien Skin people in any way. I forgot to post the link: http://www.alienskin.com/bokeh/examples-depth.aspx
June 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Masking out a blurred copy does a poor job at simulating various degrees of blurriness because you do not reduce the amount of blur, just the opacity. That looks fake very quickly. Much more believable results are received with lens blur plugin using a gradient alpha channel that can even incorporate the outline of the object in focus. The other good tool for doing this is Bokeh plugin from Alien Software, though a bit pricey.
June 28th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
As long as there is only one subject in the photo, this technique might be ok for you but as soon as more people or objects are in the shot and have a different distance to the camera, this gets really hard because every object would need a different amount of blur applied to them depending on their distance. If you can get a realistic looking result from such a photo, you may call yourself a photoshop guru.
Just a little tip, only amateurs use the eraser tool. Masking is the way to go cause you don’t actually lose any pixels. The mask can be edited at any time so that you’re far more flexible. This is a general tip, not just for this kind of editing. Don’t erase, mask instead.
June 28th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
The ideal definitely is to get good DOF in-shot, with your lens and without post-processing, because even with expensive bokeh-creating software, fake DOF is a process that consumes large amounts of time to make look good. It’s always best to get as close as possible to your final product in-camera; post-processing like that shown in this article should be a last resort, but at least it’s an option.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Dear Mr/Ms. Gerbs. This is not “junk,” and your pejorative is uncalled for. It is a tool; an option. You are not required to use it. Let’s all take the high road, shall we?
June 29th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Unfortunately, this is a poor example of faking shallow DOF. It looks fake.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Jeeze you guys are being a bit critical here – This is just one way to salvage a picture that was not taken with the “ideal” DOF. Obviously it would be best to get it “in-camera”, but not everyone is a pro.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:49 am
GOOD. Thank you very much
June 29th, 2009 at 3:21 am
I think we would be less critical if someone weren’t trying to teach something without even using the correct terminology, (let alone the less than wonderful end result) but that may be just me.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Great tutorial. To really enhance the simulated DOF, I think some of the field around the player should be left sharp since it would be in the plane of focus.
Keep up the good work!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I don’t like the DOF produced using photoshop.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
[gerbs Says:
June 28th, 2009 at 8:24 am
or you could zoom in, move closer, and use a larger aperture. 300mm is plenty long to have shallow DOF. why waste your time with this junk.]
gerb, you are on the wrong web page. You must be looking for the Already know everything about photography web site. Please go find it and reserve this site for constructive criticism.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The negativity of the commenters in this forum reeks. I don’t see any of you geniuses offering up your obviously far superior wisdom.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:05 am
a better method is to also add a gradient to the bottom of the image, as the grass would also be in focus at the feet if the feet are in focus.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:06 am
that assumes a mask of course, which was not used.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Not something I’d use but at least somewhat useful to those without telephotos or lenses with fast apertures.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:25 am
Great concept but the technique is not the best.
When I do this I use a gradient filter instead of the brush for a much more realistic and gradual change in the blur.
You also need to isolate the subject first on a separate layer. This can be done with very good results.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I would second the thoughts of using a gradient & a mask as well, it will make it a lot more realistic.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Lens Blur is the more appropriate filter. A layer mask would also be the obvious choice,
July 1st, 2009 at 11:36 pm
This is pretty bad. The duplicate layer in the background should have the subject removed and replaced with a portion of the background of the subject super-imposed on the area where the subject once was. That way, when the blur is added, the blue of the subject isn’t blurred and doesn’t create a “halo” effect around the subject in the final image. Also, gradients should be added to the mask on the blurry layer. The closer to the feet of the subject, the crisper the background should be. The grass by the feet should be completely in focus. The grass infront of the player and behind should be blurry. Use a gradient mask going from the feet of the subject to the street in the background.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:37 am
I use this technique very often. The only difference is I would add a layer mask to the blurred copy and have the original on the bottom. The layer mask allows you to “un” erase things.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:52 am
So guys how about a tutorial on gradients and masks?
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:27 am
You lot like to criticise !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
I agree with comments suggesting using a gradient mask on the blurred layer so that the grass near the feet stay sharp. And do need to watch out for the halo effect.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:15 am
What is the purpose or erasing the blur image in background copy layer? We just change the opacity of the layer rather than erase it.
I suggest you have to smooth the edge of the player whether thru ‘blur tool’ or play with select/modify/smooth or feather, or right click and play with ‘refine edge.’ etc.
Thanks!
July 10th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Look bad, honestly :(
August 14th, 2009 at 1:39 am
My gosh people! Look at the TITLE of this article: Using Photoshop to Create the ILLUSION of Depth of Field. You nay-sayers seem to believe that there is only ONE way to do something. Well guess what: all roads lead to Rome. Lots of ways to accomplish the same or similar effect. This is one way. You may prefer another. And obviously, getting DOF the way you want it in-camera is the best way, but we don’t always have the luxury of time to “get it right” especially with sports photography. Get the shot! Period! Then work it in post-production. Not enough DOF? Then use this technique, or your own. But stop criticizing someone who’s trying to help! As for the “fakeness” of the example – I don’t think this image was worked to win a contest or for print publication – I think it was done fairly quickly just to show how it’s done. Who cares if it’s not perfect. Sheesh! Flamers, go home. Appreciate that someone is trying to help.
August 14th, 2009 at 5:27 am
Actually the title has been edited from the original and is still incorrect as one is not creating the illusion of Depth of Field either, but rather the illusion of Shallow DoF or, if we REALLY want to stretch things bokeh.
August 14th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Ok Jim, you win the game of “I Insist On Being Technically Correct Or I’m Going to Have a Hissy Fit”. But you lose at GETTING it. If you’re such a pro, why are you even bothering to read these tutorials that are meant for a different target audience than the one you seem to believe you belong in (are you going to correct my grammar now, too)? Where are all the nice people out there who understand the INTENTION of people trying to help others? (Don’t answer; you wouldn’t know.)
August 14th, 2009 at 6:32 am
The “nice” people are doing more harm than good by spreading bad technique to those who don’t know any better.
August 14th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Let us focus in this discussion on the presented technique. If you like it, tell us why. If you do not like it, tell us what and why you do not like and eventually how would you improve on it. The latter may not be so pleasant, but sure can help. I believe that trying to stop people from having their opinions is pointless.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:01 am
gradient instead of painting
August 30th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
okay….. Always amusing to see people go for each other online…very easy to do “online”…
Regarding the technique, it is not perfect…… but it is almost there.
Forget layers, just use masks with large amounts of feather…. different distances away from the subject need to have different levels of blur/feather, or it looks fake. (ie, the hedge in background, should be softer than the grass…and the grass near to the player should be as sharp as the player…
perhaps 3 or 4 levels for this shot……with practice it might take 10 mins in photoshop…
obviously it is best to shoot it right first….but sport is particularly hard if you dont have a fast lens. (eg, 300mm 2.8f, i am guessing the lens used was about 5.6f at 300mm)
November 16th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Interesting manipulation. However, faking photos becomes a character issue. After a while, no one values your photos because they are not sure of the authenticity. Sorry. Find something more useful to waster your time on.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Sometime I use this technique (with masks) just to *enhance* the already present bokeh in the photo… Just an gently improvement. If you don’t have someting from the starting point you will need to apply such a *strong* modification it will look as a poor manipulation and the photo will lose all of its potential value… You will obtain at the end an evident and borried fake!
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