Kris Myers
06-17-2010, 02:55 PM
Howdy folks,
So the rest of this month we are going to get the opportunity to play with bokeh. This is the effect that gives you a bubbled look to your photos. Its a great way to add texture, and remove backgrounds and bring your subject into focus with a different flare. I hope you enjoy this one.
First you will need a bokeh texture. I found a really great one here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishkamina/3129654060/sizes/l/in/set-72157609219972535/). Just simply download and use as your texture. This is a free for personal use only, you could also support the artist who made it for you by posting your image on flickr for them to see. :)
Ok on to the tutorial.
This applies to photoshop and Photoshop elements. I'm going to use the simplified version, though their are many ways to do this.
1.) First lets start with your image. Open the image you want to alter. or place on a new document.
2.) Alter your image anyway you want, then place your downloaded bokeh image on top of your photo. Change the layer mode of your bokeh image to soft light.
3.) erase any part of the bokeh image that you like with a soft edged brush. Hard edge brushes will show up on your image. For the picture i am using today, I erased the bubbles off my subjects face, though its all of matter of preference, in some circumstances you may want them their. But the idea is to allow the bokeh to blur out your background, and bring your subject into focus (on the picture I have chosen).
4.) Now you have more options. You can duplicate your bokeh image and mess around with your layer styles for more options. If I were to leave my bokeh image as one layer, i would have a really soft looking bokeh. I wanted more. So I duplicated the layer and made the second layer in screen mode, so that I can make it pop more. Its really all up to you and your image. Play around with it. Find some creativity with your image.
Thats it. Save your image and scrapbook it in any fashion you like. You have now learned the art of bokeh!
I am looking forward to seeing what you are doing. Please post your photos to the Photo Challenge Gallery (http://scrappity-doo-dah.com/forum/../gallery/showgallery.php?cat=541)and Link back here for this challenge.
The next session we will be going back to taking pictures.
Here are some examples of bokeh images.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_prZ7B6oGLQY/SaNMhDFcKFI/AAAAAAAADyw/JrKGjZ-EgsU/s400/wes2+copy.jpg
from iheartfaces
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4292242487_a27a8875f1.jpg
source: flickr - batikart
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4085085535_53a42994cf.jpg
flickr: alvin lamucho
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3316011546_dafd0a6e38.jpg
flickr: RachelMc
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3878979502_c79ae9b60f.jpg
flickr: Saikiishiki
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3079873300_9fac145746.jpg
flickr: natural smile photography
Here is my example:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/nwfotobug/Friends%20Family/Cheywithbubbles.jpg
So the rest of this month we are going to get the opportunity to play with bokeh. This is the effect that gives you a bubbled look to your photos. Its a great way to add texture, and remove backgrounds and bring your subject into focus with a different flare. I hope you enjoy this one.
First you will need a bokeh texture. I found a really great one here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishkamina/3129654060/sizes/l/in/set-72157609219972535/). Just simply download and use as your texture. This is a free for personal use only, you could also support the artist who made it for you by posting your image on flickr for them to see. :)
Ok on to the tutorial.
This applies to photoshop and Photoshop elements. I'm going to use the simplified version, though their are many ways to do this.
1.) First lets start with your image. Open the image you want to alter. or place on a new document.
2.) Alter your image anyway you want, then place your downloaded bokeh image on top of your photo. Change the layer mode of your bokeh image to soft light.
3.) erase any part of the bokeh image that you like with a soft edged brush. Hard edge brushes will show up on your image. For the picture i am using today, I erased the bubbles off my subjects face, though its all of matter of preference, in some circumstances you may want them their. But the idea is to allow the bokeh to blur out your background, and bring your subject into focus (on the picture I have chosen).
4.) Now you have more options. You can duplicate your bokeh image and mess around with your layer styles for more options. If I were to leave my bokeh image as one layer, i would have a really soft looking bokeh. I wanted more. So I duplicated the layer and made the second layer in screen mode, so that I can make it pop more. Its really all up to you and your image. Play around with it. Find some creativity with your image.
Thats it. Save your image and scrapbook it in any fashion you like. You have now learned the art of bokeh!
I am looking forward to seeing what you are doing. Please post your photos to the Photo Challenge Gallery (http://scrappity-doo-dah.com/forum/../gallery/showgallery.php?cat=541)and Link back here for this challenge.
The next session we will be going back to taking pictures.
Here are some examples of bokeh images.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_prZ7B6oGLQY/SaNMhDFcKFI/AAAAAAAADyw/JrKGjZ-EgsU/s400/wes2+copy.jpg
from iheartfaces
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4292242487_a27a8875f1.jpg
source: flickr - batikart
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/4085085535_53a42994cf.jpg
flickr: alvin lamucho
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3316011546_dafd0a6e38.jpg
flickr: RachelMc
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3878979502_c79ae9b60f.jpg
flickr: Saikiishiki
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3079873300_9fac145746.jpg
flickr: natural smile photography
Here is my example:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/nwfotobug/Friends%20Family/Cheywithbubbles.jpg