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Chatty Tuesdays >> Photoshop Tutorial >> Ten steps to Bokeh Heaven

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 Posted inALL,PHOTOSHOP

Hey you!

A question I get asked again and again is how I achieve the following look in my photos:

Soooo I thought I’d do a mini photoshop tutorial on it today >> ENJOY!

Ten Steps to Bokeh Heaven

1) Open your image

2) Open your texture (this one can be found here)

3) Select all of your texture.

4) Copy your texture.

5) Open your original image and paste texture.

6) Drag edges out so that it covers the whole image. Hit enter.

7) Change layer mode of texture to “Overlay“

8) Change texture to black and white if the colour is too distracting.

9) Add a layer mask. Draw over the layer mask in a black brush on all of the places you don’t want the texture to appear.

10) Admire your beautiful new creation!

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Posted inALL,PHOTOSHOP

  • http://brittaniphotography.com/ Brittani

    You are lovely. =) Giving away your secrets. =) Can’t wait to try this out!!

    Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.annawithlove.com annawithlove

    Alex you rock! thank you!

  • http://www.amandacarolinephotography.co.uk Amanda Caroline

    I read the above and also thought ‘Alex you rock!’ but then saw someone had already written it. But it’s true, you do! Thanks doll.

  • http://www.sherry-lu.com s h e r r y

    :) Ah, neat!! I have always struggled with layer masks. But yay, you made is super simple to understand!

  • http://ghirlanda-di-popcorn.blogspot.com Ghirlanda di Popcorn

    Love this video! Thank you so much!

    Silvia

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  • http://littlebitomeghan.blogspot.com Meghan

    Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I have Paint.NET instead of Photoshop, but I was still able to recreate this lovely effect!

  • ZeMarmotte

    Hello!! Thank you so much for this very interesting tutorial.
    It seems so easy to make gorgeous pictures thanks to you.

    Very great job, I love your eye. :o)

  • http://oh-yellow-bird.blogspot.com Karolina

    For me it’s pretty cool! Thanks! :)

  • http://annuaire-prezi.blogspot.com/ NathL

    so cool ! thank you :)

    Nathalie (France)

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  • http://zarischka.com Zarah

    That rocks! Thank you! :D

  • http://www.littlehousehold.blogspot.com jennifer little

    amazing! thank you!

  • Crystal

    Thank you soooo much for this! Not only did it really help me with the texture but also helped me with how to add a layer and use the brush. I have been working on this forever and everytime I used a black brush it never seemed to work, because I didnt have a mask layer inside my layer…DUH! haha Thank you so much…awesome!

  • Becky

    Thanks so much for this tutorial. Really enjoyed learning from you. Will keep checking back for more. Thanks again!

  • http://likeChristmaseveryday.com Mrs. Claus

    Thanks so much for the tutorial! Love this!!!

  • Kaela

    I am using CS4 on windows vista and when I paste a texture to the picture it doesn’t allow me to change it’s size to cover the whole image! Any tips or ideas why?

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Kaela!

    You need to make sure that after you copy paste it you do the following:

    Select your move tool (shortcut: v)
    Make sure that the Show Transform Controls checkbox is checked (this is located in the toolbar above the image)

    Let me know if it still doesn’t work or if you want me to send you a screen shot!

    Thanks for checking out the tutorial!! :)

    Big hugs
    xxx

  • Kaela

    Thank you so much! It wasn’t checked! =)

  • janedoe

    http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bonnie1.jpg

    how did you exactly add the bokeh texture in that link that i posted above? i have been trying to achieve that effect but i just dont know how. did you use the same technique with the video you posted? please do help me.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Janedoe – I added the bokeh texture in the photo you attached in the exact same way that I edited it in the video above. Good luck with it and let me know if I can help you further! <3

  • janedoe

    i tried to do it the same way as what you’ve shown in the video. however the bokeh isn’t as vivid and visible as what you’ve done which was what opted to do. i tried adjusting the opacity and such but still no luck. i hope you can do a video tutorial in how you edited that first photo.

  • http://theviramontesfamily.blogspot.com Emily

    I love all your photos! This tutorial is great…but I’m stuck. I have Photoshop 10 (I’m SO new to Photoshop) and I can’t seem to get the bokeh layer black and white without turning my image under it turning black and white as well. Any suggestions?

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Emily, I’m glad you like the tutorial but so sorry to hear that your’e stuck! First make sure that your bokeh layer is selected. Then try hitting command U to bring up the hue/saturation adjustment. [If the shortcut doesn't work try Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.] This should only turn the layer selected (the bokeh layer) black and white. Let me know how it goes :) Good luck!

  • ritza

    thanks for this tutorial!! I have a terrible time trying to learn ps but this really helps!

  • Emily Mower

    i discovered your blog on pintrest and i must say i lovee it! the tutorials are great and i really love your style. im a young photographer too and i must say i really enjoy looking at you work. keep it up! im looking forward to seeing more amazing work from you! :)

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Emily!

    Thanks so much for your comment :) I’m thrilled to hear that you love my blog and my photos! How wonderful that you, too, are a photographer! Keep creating and dreaming, my friend!

    Big hugs! xxx

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  • http://oscarbravopictures.com Oscar

    Thats not bokeh! Bokeh is related to depth of field. The circles in the texture overlay are imitating refraction of lens elements, which is caused by pointing the lens at a light source. Two completely different effects

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  • Rachel

    Hi there!

    I love this tutorial and have found it really useful and easy to follow! One of the problems I’m having now (using some other bokeh textures) is that even in B&W, they alter the original coloring of my photo a lot….I’m not sure what to do about this?

  • https://www.facebook.com/WisteriaDesignStudio Lisa Anderson

    So awesome! Thank you!!!

  • Kelly

    Beautiful pics, thanks for the tutorial! Just wondering, where do you usually get your textures?

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Kelly!

    I used to always try to find them online from stock photographers off deviantart who allow you to use their textures. But now I love making my own textures and experimenting that way instead!

    I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial! You can see more tutorials here: http://bit.ly/LiBw0I

    Big hugs and have fun editing!
    xoxo

  • Kelly

    I hope I don’t sound stupid with this, but I try the layer mask to remove it from the face and when I use the black all it does is put a black mark on the face. What am I doing wrong? Someone please help! Thanks!

  • Jade Hincks

    Great post! Thank you for sharing.. on another note, you inspire me to be the best i can, and to create a business model for my photography and art that is awesome. K bye

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Jade!

    I’m so happy you enjoyed this post, and I’m so glad to have inspired you to create an awesome business model for your photography and art! That’s one of my dreams come true :)

    Big hugs!
    xoxo