How to blur a background in Photoshop

A photoshop image with a blurred background

(Image credit: Future)

Once you know how to blur a background in Photoshop, friends photobombing and strangers walking into shot will never be a problem again. Blurring a background is the perfect technique to make sure that everyone who sees your pictures focuses on exactly what you want them to.

When you blur a background in Photoshop, all eyes fall to the foreground and the contrast in definition can make your main subject really "pop" and stand out. This is an especially useful tool for shots in crowds, such as at concerts or sporting events, where you can blur out strangers' faces and just focus on the memories of having fun with friends.

Although the backgrounds may be blurry, our instructions are clear, so keep reading to learn how to blur a background in Photoshop.

How to blur a background in Photoshop

1. Create a duplicate of your background layer.
2. Use the Select a Subject tool to highlight the main subject in your image.
3. Click on Select -> Modify-> Expand and then expand the selection by 5 or so pixels.
4. On the Edit tab select Content-Aware Fill.
5. Disable the two background layers and then add a Layer Mask to your subject layer.
6. With the Layer Mask selected, choose Filter -> Other -> Minimum and contract the mask by one pixel more than you expanded by.
7. Convert the copy of your background layer into a smart object. Enable the subject layer.
8. Select Filter -> Blur Gallery-> Tilt shift.
9. Adjust the blur’s thickness and position as you see fit.

1. First create a duplicate of your background layer. Simply select the layer and press CTRL J (or CMD J on Mac).

The first step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

2. On the Properties menu of the newly created copy, scroll down and click Select a Subject.

The second step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

3. To avoid cutting off the edges of your image, click on Select, then modify and then expand. Expand your image by five pixels or so and click OK.

The third step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

4. On the Edit tab, select Content-Aware Fill. The subject of your image should now be bordered by a dotted line.

The fourth step to blurring an image on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

5. Make sure that the Output Settings are set to output to a Duplicate Layer, then click OK.

The fifth step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

6. Disable the two background layers by selecting the eye icon next to each. On your subject layer, add a Layer Mask.

The sixth step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

7. With the Layer Mask selected, click the Filter tab, then select Other and then Minimum and contract the mask by one pixel more than you expanded by. The edges of the image should now be clean.

The seventh step to blurring a background on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

8. Right-click the copy of the background layer and convert it into a Smart Object. Enable the Subject Layer by selecting the eye again.

The eight step to blurring backgrounds on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

9. Select the Filter tab, then Blur Gallery and then select Tilt-shift.

The ninth step to blurring backgrounds on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

10. Adjust the blur’s thickness with the slider and adjust the position by dragging the lines on the image.

The tenth step to blurring backgrounds on Photoshop — (Image credit: Future)

And you’re all done! It's not a complicated process, but it's a very useful one, right? If something still doesn't look right after blurring the background you could even delete it and insert a whole new one if you learn how to add a background in Photoshop. If you're planning on doing a lot of Photoshop editing, check out the best monitors available. For those who are more au fait with their iPhone, learn how to edit photos on iPhone

Andy is Tom’s Guide’s Trainee Writer, which means that he currently writes about pretty much everything we cover. He has previously worked in copywriting and content writing both freelance and for a leading business magazine. His interests include gaming, music and sports- particularly Formula One, football and badminton. Andy’s degree is in Creative Writing and he enjoys writing his own screenplays and submitting them to competitions in an attempt to justify three years of studying.