Sunday, 28 August 2016

post processing - Can I achieve synthetic bokeh?


In order to have a good separation of the subject from the background you usually use fast lens with high aperture and so on.


Can this, however, be achieved purely digitally?



Answer



Many options exist for creating bokeh digitally. Some purists will tell you that nothing exists like true bokeh created from large apertures. But, if you want to experiment many options are available.



  • onOne Software - Focal Point


  • Alien Skin's Bokeh

  • Photoshop has many plugins available as well


If you want to create it yourself in something like Photoshop or Gimp, you can using the Gaussian Blur filter effect. I will caution you though, this is a "pet-peeve" of many photographers, much like selective coloring. If you use this effect too much or too obviously to the viewer - it can have a negative effect on your image, so take caution.


Note, fast lenses with large apertures have other benefits besides the pleasing bokeh they produce. In my opinion the "synthetic" options do not match the real thing for bokeh either.


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