Creative Effects Using the Linear and Brush Blur Tool in PhotoDirector

Sometimes a blurring part of your photo creates a unique atmosphere or emotion to your photographs. Yes, not everything has to be tact sharp. Further to our previous tutorial on creating the Circular Blur effect, in this tutorial, we will explore the Linear and Brush Tools.

The Linear Blur Tool is located in the Edit Module. 

There are 3 major types to choose from - Circular, Linear, and Brush. In this tutorial, let’s start with the “Linear” Blur.

The Linear Blur creates a miniature or toy effect one usually gets from an expensive shift-and-tilt lens. When you click on the Linear Blur Tool, a set of gradient lines will appear on your image. The middle section (1) is where the focal will be and this part of the image will remain sharp and intact. The outer areas (2) are the gradient range from being sharp and focused to blurred. Areas outside the gradient lines (3) will be completely blurred and you can adjust the amount of blur using the slider (4).

So, the first step is to decide to focal subject in the picture and adjust where you want to put the blur gradient and adjust the width. In the side panel, there are 2 Blur Type options – Soft focus, and Bokeh.

 

When applying the Blur effect, there are a couple of helpful tools:

1. A slider to adjust the intensity of the blur effect according to your preferred look.
2. A convenient check box to hide the gradient lines so you can preview the adjusted photo.
3. You can also use the “Compare” mode to see the images before and after applying the blur effect.

You can also turn the gradient tool to an angle. By mouse-over the center line, an arched arrow will appear indicating you can adjust the angle.

With the Soft Focus, you can instantly get the toy or miniature effect. Here is the Before and After images side by side.

Bokeh adds flavor to the blur and it comes with 4 different shapes.

The Brush Blur Tool gives you more control over which area you want to blur. When you click on the Brush Blur Tool, you will notice that the entire image is blurred and a brush is ready to wipe out any area that you don’t want to be blurred.

You can set the size, feather and intensity of the brush on the left panel.

In addition, PhotoDirector gives you two types of blur effect – Soft focus and Bokeh. And like the Linear and Circular Blur, you have 4 different bokeh shapes.

In this tutorial, the aim is to retain focus on the sunflower, and keeping the center sharp.

1. Use this brush to recover focus
2. Use this eraser brush to blur
3. Select Fit Edge to apply blur on areas of the photo with similar properties. Check the box to restrict blur effect from on the flower and retain blur in the background.
4. You can adjust brush size, feather and intensity with these sliders. A quicker way to adjust brush size is by mouse scrolls.

                           

I used a recovery sponge with 100% intensity to keep the center sharp and in focus.

Reduced the intensity to 70%, bigger feather and constantly adjusting the brush size to wipe on the petals. I kept the edges of the petals blurred to give it a motion effect,a s if the petals were moving from the wind. 

Here to compare the Before and After editing of the image: 

Now, it’s your turn. Try applying the Blur Tool to your images and share your art.

If you are new to PhotoDirector, learn more and download a 30-day free trial here. For technical support via email, contact louis_chen@cyberlink.com

NOTE: CyberLink reserves the right to share your personal information with third parties. CyberLink is not responsible for damages to hardware or lost data. By using CyberLink software, you agree to waive your rights as a consumer. 

Creative Effects Using the Blur Tool in PhotoDirector

PhotoDirector’s Blur Tool is an effective feature to create various effects to your photos. Plus they are extremely easy to use. The Blur Tool is located in the Edit Module. 

You can choose from Circular, Linear, and Brush (where you brush the area you want to be blurred) types of blur. In this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to apply the Circular Blur Tool and the effects they create on the photos.

When you click on the Circular Blur Tool, a radial will appear on your image. The inner circle is where the focal will be and this part of the image will remain sharp and intact. The outer circle is the gradient range from being sharp and focused to blurred. Areas outside the circle will be blurred.

So, the first step is to decide to focal subject in the picture and adjust the radial location and size. In the side panel, there are 4 Blur Type options – Soft focus, Bokeh, Radial Blur and Focal Zoom. Each type yields to a different look and feel.

After applying the Blur effect, there are a couple of helpful tools:

1. A slider to adjust the intensity of the blur effect according to your preferred look.
2. A convenient check box to hide the radial indicator so you can preview the adjusted photo.
3. You can also use the “Compare” mode to see the images before and after applying the blur effect.

Soft Focus creates a shallow depth of field look to the image, focusing on just the part you want to emphasize in the photo.

Bokeh simulates a beloved depth and blurry effect rendered by some lenses. It also comes with different bokeh shapes.

The Round-shaped Bokeh is the most common effect.

The X-shaped Bokeh is popular shooting street lights at night time.

Radial Blur creates and swirling motion to photos.

Focal Zoom adds speed, motion and Wow factor!

Now, go through your photos and apply some blur effect to make your photos look amazing!

 If you are new to PhotoDirector, learn more and download a 30-day free trial here.

If you have questions, or need technical support, send an email describing your system setup and current problem to: louis_chen@cyberlink.com .

The one photo effect you've been missing that will transform your pictures in one touch!

 

As a hobbyist photographer myself, I thought I already knew all of the filters, overlays and effects to make my photos tell my story better. With my smart phone in hand each day, I shoot a photo and then use the PhotoDirector app to enhance the color or adjust the mood before sharing on Instagram or Facebook. Today, the latest version of the app was released, and to my surprise I found a new photo editing effect that I had never heard of before.

Whether you are a true beginner or serious hobbyist, you've got to check out the new bokeh effect! Pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay, the term comes from the Japanese word boke (ボケ), which means "blur" or "haze." This effect shows an element of the image that is intentionally blurred or resulting in a soft out-of-focus background. Using this bokeh effect gives a smooth, silky result to your photos.

Use PhotoDirector's blur tool and blur tool shapes to create the bokeh effect in one touch:

  

After opening PhotoDirector, select the blur tool icon. Then choose from the circle or rectangle shape of the blur. Once you've selected the shape of your blur, you can drag the center dot to move the focal point of the photo and drag the dotted line up or down to increase the gradient of blurring. The slider increases or decreases the blur.

 If you are looking for more personalization, try the blur tool shapes. Select the circle in a circle icon next to the slider to reveal options for your blur. In the images above, I selected the star-shaped blur to get a more glistening lighting reflection effect. The final image I created using the star blur shape is the photo in the header of this blog post.

What else is new in the latest version of PhotoDirector Android?

In addition to the new blur tool shapes, you can also add creative new text bubbles that let you tell even more stories through your photos! Now let your photos speak through image and words.

How to use the new text bubbles:

 

Download PhotoDirector for free and open the app. Click on the "Text Bubble" icon, and select your desired text bubble shape. You can also customize the font, choose a different color, and select the opacity using the slider in order to see through to your original photo.

The result is a sweet photo memory to share with all your friends!

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