How to Use Motion Blur in Photoshop

Summary

This tutorial walks through creating a trendy blurry effect in Photoshop. It starts with converting an image to a smart object and applying motion blur. The angle is adjusted, and the blur intensity is fine-tuned. The effect is selectively painted back onto desired areas, and the blur is further customized using liquify. A gradient map is added for color adjustments, and the final touch is adding noise for texture. The video is a step-by-step guide to achieving a dynamic motion blur effect in Photoshop.

Takeaways

• 🖼️ Start by selecting your image and converting it to a smart object.
• 🔧 Apply motion blur using the 'Filter' > 'Blur' > 'Motion Blur' option.
• ⚙️ Adjust the angle of the motion blur to your preference, and set the distance to around 700.
• 🖌️ Use the brush tool to selectively paint back the blur in specific areas of the image.
• 🖍️ Optionally, increase the blur effect by adjusting the distance to 870.
• 🎨 Refine the blur effect using the 'Filter' > 'Liquify' tool to make it look more natural.
• 🌈 Add a gradient map adjustment layer for color grading.
• 🟣 Add multiple color stops to the gradient map for a more complex color effect.
• 🔄 Convert both the gradient map and original image into smart objects for non-destructive editing.
• 📊 Add noise to the image using 'Filter' > 'Noise' to give it a gritty texture.
• 🎉 Finalize the motion blur effect in Photoshop with these steps.

Q & A

What is the first step to create the trendy blurry effect in Photoshop?

The first step is to select your image and right-click to convert it into a smart object.

Which filter is used to create the motion blur effect in the tutorial?

The tutorial uses the 'Motion Blur' filter to create the effect.

How can you adjust the angle of the motion blur in Photoshop?

You can adjust the angle of the motion blur by tilting the angle slider within the filter settings.

What is the suggested motion blur radius used in the script?

The suggested motion blur radius is around 700.

How do you remove the blur effect from the entire image in the smart object?

You can remove the blur effect by clicking on the smart filter and pressing Ctrl+Backspace to delete the black color layer.

What tool is used to selectively paint back the blur on specific areas of the image?

The brush tool is used to selectively paint back the blur on specific areas of the image.

How can you increase the blur effect further after initial application?

You can increase the blur effect by double-clicking on the motion blur filter and adjusting the radius to a higher value, such as 870.

What is the purpose of using the Liquify filter in the process?

The Liquify filter is used to make the blur more elongated in specific areas and to add a messy effect to the blur.

What adjustments are made using the gradient map to enhance the image?

The gradient map is adjusted by adding a purple and yellow line, and then modifying one of the colors to cyan to enhance the image.

How do you apply noise to the image in the final steps of the tutorial?

Noise is applied to the image by going to the filter menu, selecting 'Noise', ensuring the monochrome option is unchecked, and adjusting the noise level to around 40.

What is the final step to complete the motion blur effect in Photoshop as described in the script?

The final step is to convert both the gradient map and noise adjustment layers into a smart object.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Creating a Trendy Blurry Effect in Photoshop

The tutorial begins with the creator's motivation to experiment with a popular blurry effect in Photoshop. The process starts by selecting an image and converting it into a smart object. The next step is to apply a motion blur filter, adjusting the angle to zero and increasing the blur radius to approximately 700. After applying the blur, the creator instructs to delete the effect from the entire image by painting with black on the smart filter mask. To selectively restore blur in certain areas, white is painted on the mask. The blur intensity is further enhanced to 870 in specific regions. The tutorial then proceeds to adjust the blur's appearance by using the liquify tool to elongate and distort the blur effect. A gradient map adjustment is applied for color grading, with the addition of purple, yellow, and cyan tones. Finally, noise is added to the image by converting the layers into a smart object and applying the noise filter with a setting of around 40. The video concludes with a demonstration of the final motion blur effect and a thank you note to viewers.

Keywords

💡Blurry Effect

A 'blurry effect' in photography and image editing refers to the aesthetic technique where parts of an image are intentionally made out of focus, creating a sense of depth or motion. In the video, the creator aims to teach viewers how to apply this effect using Photoshop, making it a central theme of the tutorial. The script mentions applying a 'motion blur' to achieve this effect, which is a specific type of blur that simulates the camera shaking during exposure.

💡Smart Object

In the context of Adobe Photoshop, a 'smart object' is a layer that allows for non-destructive editing, meaning that changes can be made without permanently altering the original image data. The script instructs viewers to 'right click convert a smart object,' highlighting the importance of preserving the original image quality while applying effects like the blurry effect.

💡Motion Blur

Motion blur is a visual effect that simulates the appearance of movement in a still image. It is created by blurring the image along the direction of movement. The video script describes selecting 'motion blur' from the filter options and adjusting its intensity and angle to achieve a desired level of effect, which is a key step in creating the trendy blurry effect being demonstrated.

💡Smart Filter

A 'smart filter' in Photoshop is a non-destructive filter that can be applied to a smart object. It allows for adjustments and re-editing of the filter effects without losing the original image quality. The script mentions clicking on the 'smart filter' after applying the blur, which indicates the process of modifying the filter's properties to fine-tune the effect.

💡Brush Tool

The 'brush tool' in Photoshop is used for painting, drawing, or editing specific areas of an image with various brush styles. In the script, the brush tool is employed to 'paint back the blur on specific areas,' which means selectively applying or removing the blur effect in certain parts of the image to create a more dynamic and controlled outcome.

💡Liquify

The 'liquify' tool in Photoshop is used for distorting and warping parts of an image in a fluid manner. The script describes using the 'liquify' tool to 'make this blur more longer only here,' which suggests manipulating the image to create a more pronounced blur effect in a specific area, adding to the overall visual interest.

💡Gradient Map

A 'gradient map' in Photoshop is an adjustment layer that uses gradients to map the tones of an image, altering its colors and contrast. The video script describes adding a gradient map and selecting colors to create a specific color effect, which is part of the process of enhancing the image post-application of the blurry effect.

💡Noise

In image editing, 'noise' refers to random variations in brightness or color that can occur in an image, often seen as grain or 'static.' The script mentions adding 'noise' to the image using the filter, which can give the image a textured or gritty appearance, complementing the trendy blurry effect.

💡Monochrome

The term 'monochrome' refers to a single color or a range of shades of that color. In the context of the video, 'uncheck the monochrome' suggests creating a noise effect with multiple colors rather than a single color, which can add visual complexity and depth to the image.

💡Adjustments

In Photoshop, 'adjustments' are changes made to the color, tone, and exposure of an image. The script refers to 'adjustments' when discussing the use of a gradient map and adding noise, indicating the final steps in refining the image's appearance after applying the blurry effect.

Highlights

Introduction to creating a trendy blurry effect in Photoshop

Step-by-step tutorial on applying motion blur to an image

Conversion of an image to a smart object for non-destructive editing

Using the motion blur filter to create a dynamic effect

Adjusting the angle and intensity of the motion blur

Applying the blur effect selectively using a brush tool

Increasing the blur intensity for more dramatic effect

Using the liquify tool to manipulate the blur direction

Creating a more elongated blur effect in specific areas

Adjusting the gradient map for color adjustments

Adding multiple color stops to the gradient map for a richer effect

Changing color stops to achieve desired color transitions

Combining gradient map adjustments with motion blur for a unique look

Adding noise to the image for a textured effect

Adjusting noise levels for different visual impacts

Final result of the motion blur effect in Photoshop

Encouragement to try the effect and thank you for watching

Transcripts

so I saw everybody is doing this trendy

blurry effect so I said I gotta give it

a try and show you how to do it step one

select your image right click convert a

smart object let's go to the filter blur

and let's select the motion blur you can

tilt the angle and you also can increase

or decrease the motion blur I gotta go

with somewhere around 700 and I'm gonna

tilt the angle to zero click OK and

let's click on the smart filter make

sure that you're on the black the black

is on the top press Ctrl backspace so

it's going to delete the blur switch it

to White and let's select the brush tool

and with a brush tool I'm going to paint

back the blur on specific areas

I might want to increase the blur a

little bit more so I can double click

here on the motion blur and you can also

increase the blur I gotta go with 870

click OK and I gotta go to the filter

liquify zoom out and I'm going to make

this blur more longer only here and I

gotta mess it up a little bit click OK

and so far it looks some like this and

now I'm going to go to the adjustments

and let's select the gradient map click

on the gradient I'm going to add another

line here click on the color and I'm

going to select a purple click OK add

another one here change it to Yellow

something like that click OK and I'm

going to double click on this one and

I'm going to make it cyan

and bring it here

and click OK press and hold shift select

both layers right click convert a smart

object and let's go to filter noise add

noise Make sure to uncheck the

monochrome and here you can increase or

decrease the noise I gotta go somewhere

around 40 click OK and decide make this

motion blur effect in Photoshop thanks

for watching

foreign

[Music]