How to Create Zoom Effect in Photoshop

A cool Photoshop effect that could add drama to your photos. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use the Radial Blur to create interesting zoom effect in Photoshop. The Radial Blur tool can be used for the Motion Blur tool. They both create zoom and a sense of motion. Zoom, zoom, zoom! Now we begin.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Media computer with high resolution screen
• Good graphics card
• Large RAM capacity to open and work with multiple files
• Digital photos
• Adobe Photoshop 5.5 ~ CS4
• Patience
• Time to practice

1. 
   Untouched photo

   Start with a photo of your choice. Next, choose the Elliptical Marquee tool or the Rectangular Marquee tool from the tool box.
   
   Make a selection on the photo; choose an area with the tool on the image. If you want the whole image to be zoomed, don't use any tools mentioned; leave the image as it is.

2. Decide which area you want the zoom effect to take place; either outside or inside the selected area you made with the Marquee tool on your image.
   
   If you want to apply the zoom effect to the unselected area: Right click mouse on the photo > Select Inverse. If you want to switch back, repeat process. Toggle between the two options, and see what you like.
   
   Note: PC keyboard - - Ctrl + Shift + I. On Mac: Cmd + Shift + I.

3. 
   Feather resolution box screenshot

   Remember, it is very important to feather the "selection". If you skip this step, the effect will be too harsh and unnatural; showing obvious touch-up to the finished photo. The feather creates a soft edge and a smooth transition on the boundaries between the blurred areas and the sharp/untouched areas.
   
   Here is how we do it - -
   
   All versions before CS3 & CS4, from the tool bar options: Select > Modify > Feather. Or right click mouse on the image > Feather.
   
   CS3 & CS4, from the tool bar options: Select > Feather. Or right click mouse on the image > Feather.
   
   You make the size of the "feather" depending on the original image resolution. I used 22 for the flower image in this lesson.

4. 
   Radial Blur screenshot

   This is where the real effect happens.
   
   Select Filter > Blur > Radial Blur, and choose Zoom.
   
   Select Good or Best for quality. (Note: "Best" may take you some time to edit to see the actual improvement in quality.)
   
   Choose your zoom amount. For a heavier blur or action use 100. You might have to test and undo/revert a few times to get exactly what looks best on your work.
   
   I actually blurred the image here 13 times, that is 12 times with a 100, and the last time with a 52. Max number for each entry is 100 , so if you are like me, repeat the procedure to enter a new digit.

5. 
   Edited image

   Now we have the final result. Changing the blur amount and the feather will change the effect. Do experiment with different selections. There are cases one may need to apply the blur more than once.
   
   
   
   For Advanced users: create a smart object, run a smart filter and mask the filter to keep the file size small. That way you can also use a raw file.

6. 
   High speed illusion

   You can apply this method to various photos to create special effects.
   
   For example, the image in this step. Note the night light scenery within the car front windshield - - it appears to be like a fast driver. If you are trying this kind of photo, don't forget to zoom the objects inside the rear view and side mirrors, too. Make the cockpit dark and the street bright for a more contrasting look.

Tips & Warnings

• For tracing irregular shapes that you want to be radial blurred, use the Polygonal Lasso tool or the Lasso tool. You'll have more control on the lines.