How to Add Motion to a Digital Photo Using Photoshop Elements & Radial Blur filter

Here's a fun way to emphasize a spot on your photo, while giving some motion to the rest of the photo using the radial blur filter.

We'll use a cute image of my son on the merry-go-round at the park:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• digital photo
• Photoshop Elements or similar image-editing program
• (optional) photo printer or service to print your final masterpiece

1. 
    
   Original Photo

   Open the photo you'd like to work on, "Save As" to a new file name and close your original photo.

2. 
    
   Tools

   Now you'll need to use your elliptical marquee selector to select the area you'd like to keep in focus. (I chose his cute little face and shoulders.) Set the feathering to about 80.

3. 
    
   Selection

   Now you want to select the inverse (CTRL+SHIFT+I) and your screen should now look similar to this one to the left.

4. 
    

   Choose the Radial Blur filter by selecting filter->blur->radial blur, with the blur amount set to spin and somewhere between 5 and 10 depending on your photo and how you want the end result to look. (I chose 5). Hit OK.

5. 
    
   Blur Dialog Box

   Hit CTRL+D to deselect and admire your handiwork! Don't forget to save your new artwork. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid to use the slider to adjust the amount of blur or perhaps to use the "zoom" option instead of the "spin" for a different effect.
• Have fun!

Resources

• My Website