How to Blur a Background in Photoshop

This article covers four ways to achieve a blurring effect and explains how to select the background so you can begin.

NOTE:The methods used in this article apply to Adobe Photoshop 2020. These instructions also work with older versions, although the exact steps might vary slightly.

Select the Background

Before you blur the background, you must select it. There are a few ways to do this.

Use the Magic Wand

The Magic Wand is fourth from the top in the Tools menu. The Magic Wand tool gives you the quickest and easiest way to select the background. This method works best on a photo with a clear background that contrasts with the foreground.

Select the Magic Wand and click the background. Press and hold Shift to select additional elements. If the tool doesn't select much of the background, increase the Tolerance at the top of the screen.

Use the Lasso

If the background is too complicated for the Magic Wand, try the Lasso tool, which gives you more control.

The standard Lasso lets you free-draw your selection. The Polygonal Lasso lets you draw in straight lines. The Magnetic Lasso tries to stick to the edges or borders of objects in the image.

Click or tap and hold the Lasso tool (third from the top in the Tools menu) to choose one of the three Lasso tools.

Make sure to draw completely around whatever you want to select. You can close the selection early by pressing Ctrl (on Windows) or Command (on a Mac), then click or tap anywhere on the image.

Use Quick Mask

Using Quick Mask is a more hands-on method of selecting the background.

Select the Quick Mask tool. It's the second tool from the bottom of the Tools bar and looks like a grayscale EU flag.
Select the Brush tool from the Tools menu, and then use careful brush strokes to paint over the subject. It will turn red. Use the Size menu at the top of the screen to increase and decrease the brush size as necessary.
When finished, select the Quick Mask icon again to see your selection.

How to Blur the Selected Background

Now that you selected the background, you can choose from several different blurring options to achieve various effects.

Gaussian Blur

Gaussian Blur is the most basic and most effective blur tool. It merges and overlaps all pixels to create a generalized blur effect.

Select Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Use the slider to decide how blurred you want the background to be.
When you're happy with the result, select OK.
Photoshop applies the blur effect to the selected area only. Press Command+D (or Ctrl+D on Windows) to deselect and see the final result.

Motion Blur

This effect gives the impression of movement, as if the background is moving at high speed or the photographer is quickly moving past it.

Select Filter > Blur > Motion Blur.
Use the Distance modifier to change the strength of the blur effect.
If desired, change the angle of the motion by entering a number in the corresponding box, or click and drag the small reticule.
Select OK to accept the changes.
Photoshop applies the blur effect to the selected area only. Press Command+D (or Ctrl+D in Windows) to deselect and see the final result.

Lens Blur

For a more subtle blurring that's akin to a shallow depth of field in photography, use Lens Blur. It has several options to play with, including:

Radius: Affects the strength of the blur.
Shape and Blade Curvature: Adjusts the virtual lens that shapes the blur.
Specular highlights: Increases the brightness of some portions of the image to imitate a longer exposure than when the image was initially taken.

Play around with the settings until you find the effect you like, then select OK.

Radial Blur

For a unique look, apply a Radial Blur. It's not a natural look, but it makes the foreground subject appear as though it emerged through some sort of portal.

NOTE: Radial Blur doesn't include a preview, so you may have to try several options until you get the effect you want.

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