How to Blur a Background in Photoshop Elements
Photoshop Elements is similar to Photoshop, although it does not include some of the technical features that make mass photo production easier. One of the features of Photoshop Elements that is also included in Photoshop is the ability to blur the background of a picture by using one of the filters located in the Photoshop Elements filter library. Having a basic knowledge of Photoshop Elements might make this process easier, but a beginner can do it with a little effort as well.
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Instructions
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Open Photoshop Elements by clicking on the "Photoshop Elements" icon on your desktop. If you do not have a desktop shortcut, you can select the "Start" menu and then choose "All Programs," "Adobe" and "Photoshop Elements."
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Open the image that you want for the background to be blurred in by clicking on the "File" menu when Photoshop Elements finishes loading. After clicking "File," select "Open" and navigate to the image you want to edit. Click on it.
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Click on the polygonal Lasso tool in the toolbox on the left side of the page. The tool is close to the top of the horizontal toolbox. Move your cursor to the image and begin to outline the background of the image. As you outline the background, click on your mouse every few inches or as often as needed to outline effectively.
Remember to completely select the background area of the image by starting and stopping your outline at the same point. -
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Move your cursor to the Select menu at the top of the screen and click on it. A drop-down menu will appear that has a "select inverse" option. Click on it. Notice that as you click on it, the background you selected is now not selected, but the rest of the image is. This feature can be used to make alterations to both parts of an image. Navigate again to the "Select inverse" option to move back to the background.
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Move your cursor to the filter menu and click on it. You will find a drop-down menu that lists "Filters" as one of the options. Click on "Filters" and then on "Blur." There now will be a drop-down menu that includes a number of types of blurs, including Gaussian blur and motion blur.
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Press "Ctrl" and "S" to save the image.
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Tips & Warnings
You may also use the Gradient tool to blur a background.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
