Gaussian Blur Filter

Of all the Blur filters, Gaussian is probably used the most. It is quick and easy to apply and can be used in a variety of circumstances.

Images for these Photoshop tutorials on the Blur filters can be downloaded by clicking HERE.

• Once the PDF file has downloaded, open the images in Photoshop with File > Open.

• Open images number 01.jpg and number 02.jpg.
  We will put the moon into the motorcycle photograph and use the Gaussian filter to improve the look of the moon.
  
  
  
• With the moon image selected,
  go to View > Show Rulers.
  Rulers appear on the top and the left.

• Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Put the cursor in the top left corner (arrowed) and drag down and to the right. Cross-hair guides move over the image. Position them just inside the edge of the moon. Release the mouse but don't move the mouse.

  Press the mouse again and drag across the moon. The moving selection line appears and is in the form of an oval.

  To turn the oval into a circle, hold down the Shift key.
  Drag the circle out until it is large enough to encircle the moon.
  The two guide lines, which will have disappeared by now, will have set the top and left positions of the circle selection.
  Have the circle just inside the edge of the moon so that no black is included.
  Release the mouse before releasing the Shift key.
  If you got it right first time, treat yourself to an extra chocolate-cream.

• To soften the edge of the selection go to Select > Feather and enter a value of 1 into the dialogue box. Click OK.

• Go to Edit > Copy, which copies the selection on to the computer's clipboard.

• Select the Move tool and click on the motorcycle image.

• Go to Edit > Paste. This places the moon on to the motorcycle image.

• The moon needs to be reduced in size so go to Edit > Transform > Scale.
  A bounding box is placed around the moon.

• Put the cursor on to one of the small corner handles and move it inwards.
  To keep everything in proportion and square hold Shift.

• When the moon is a more reasonable size, put the cursor inside the bounding and move the moon into the sky. Resize the moon until it is a suitable size.
  
  
• Go to Edit > Transform > Rotate. When the cursor is just outside the bounding box, it changes to a double-headed arrow. Press the cursor and rotate the box clockwise a little.
  Press Enter or double-click inside the box to set its position.
  
  
• We can still make this more realistic.
  Go to Window > Show Layers (F7).
  The moon layer will already be selected and highlighted.

• Go to Layers > Duplicate Layer.
  Rename it 'moon blur' and click OK.
  You now have an exact copy of the moon.

• Drag this layer down to below the first moon layer and above the motorcycle.

• Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
  Gaussian blur puts a general softness over the image; the amount of softness is controlled by the slider. Here it will create an atmospheric haze look.
  Put in a Radius of 20. OK.
  
  
  This gives the moon a slight hazy look around the edge.
  If the hazy, blurred effect is very slight, it can be increased by making another hazy moon, perhaps with a different gaussian blur setting.

  To save this file,
  go to File > Save As.
  Saving is like in any other programme.
  In saving this file still in layers,
  it should be saved in Photoshop format.

Back to the top Blur Filters
Motion Blur
Radial Blur

Home Page