Creating Focus on the Photo by Using Blur Map

Step 1

Start by opening photo on Photoshop. Now we are going to create a special blur map to focus attention on the object. To do that start by selecting foreground color as black (#000000).

Step 2

Use the Pen Tool with Shape Layers selected to draw out the figure of a man. Reduce layer opacity to 50% after starting to select man to see the real shapes of the photo.

In the end you should have man selected like on image below.

Update layer opacity to 100% for this layer.

Step 3

Use the Pen Tool to draw out the second shape (left horse) with foreground color #212121.

Step 4

Now draw third shape (right horse) on the photo with color of #4c4c4c.

Step 5

Draw another shape by using color #747474. Keep positioning layers like i have which means that this one should be above the layer with the photo.

Step 6

Draw another shape by using color #9a9a9a.

Move this layer with shape under all the layers but above the photo layer.

Step 7

Draw back horse same way but using color #c0c0c0.

Step 8

Create a new layer and fill with light grey color (#e7e7e7).

Step 9

Merge all layers except photo layer. Select photo layer and open Channel panel by going to Window > Channels or by clicking on Channels next to Layers.

Create a new channel. Adobe Photoshop will automatically name it Alpha 1.

Go back to layers panel. Select all merged layer content by using Ctrl+click on layer thumbnail.

Copy selected layer with Ctrl+C, select Alpha 1 channel and paste layer content with Ctrl+V. Move a little bit to left to place it correctly.

Step 10

Hide merged layer visibility on layers panel and also hide Alpha 1 channel on channels panel.

Select photo layer and apply Filter > Blur > Lens Blur. Don´t forget to change Source to Alpha 1, select Invert and update Shape to Triangle. Also update Blur Focal Distance and Radius like i have on image below.

Final Image

And we are done. We learned to create a nice focus effect on photo with different levels of blur. Hope you liked it.