Introduction:
Welcome! In this blog post, we're diving into the exciting world of Lightroom Classic's newest feature – the Lens Blur tool. Designed to add an artistic blur effect to specific parts of your photos, this tool opens up a realm of creative possibilities, allowing you to emphasize the focal point and achieve stunning bokeh effects. Let's explore how to harness the power of Lens Blur for your next photo masterpiece.
Note: this feature is unreleased and may differ in the final product. Version 13.1
Original image was, f7.1 so you can see the stunning effect it can have! This was a 5 minute edit using a Subject mask, Basic Adjustments & Color Grading with Noise Reduction (Denoise) and some sharpening.
Getting Started:
Navigate to the Develop Module:
Begin your creative journey by entering the Develop module in Lightroom Classic.
Locate the Lens Blur option and click on "Apply" to start transforming your image.
Select Your Bokeh Effect:
Choose from a variety of bokeh effects to enhance your photo's visual appeal:
Circle: Modern circular lens effect.
Bubble: Standard circular shape with over-corrected spherical aberration.
5-blade: Penta effect, reminiscent of vintage lenses.
Ring: Commonly seen in reflex or mirror lenses, known as "Doughnut."
Cat Eye: Resulting from optical vignetting in specific lenses.
Fine-Tuning with Sliders:
Blur Amount:
Adjust the intensity of the blur effect to suit your creative preferences.
Boost:
Fine-tune the intensity of your chosen Bokeh effect for a personalized touch.
Focal Range:
Control the depth of the blur effect using the Focal Range slider.
Expand or contract the slider box by dragging from either side.
Use the Subject Focus icon for automatic focal range adjustment based on AI subject detection.
Alternatively, choose the Point/Area Focus icon to manually set the focal range by dragging a box around the subject.
Visualizing Depth:
Visualise Depth:
Check the Visualise Depth box to view a depth map with cool and warm tones.
This feature provides a visual representation of focal areas in your image.
Refining the Depth Map:
Refine Focus and Blur Areas:
Further enhance your image by refining the depth map:
Select Focus and brush over areas you want to keep in focus.
Choose Blur and brush over areas you wish to blur within the image.
Utilize sliders like Amount, Size, Feather, and Flow for precise adjustments.
Conclusion:
With the Lens Blur tool in Lightroom Classic, you have the power to elevate your photography to new heights. Experiment with bokeh effects, fine-tune sliders, and visualize depth to create captivating images that tell your unique story. Unleash your creativity and make every photo a work of art!