Awesome digital bokeh effect in Photoshop

Our last Wallpaper of the Week was an image I had created using Pixelmator, and I really liked the outcome. The best part about it was that it was pretty easy to accomplish in Pixelmator, but I decided for perspective's sake to create the same effect in Photoshop. The process is easy as well, but with a few extra steps.

As in the previous tutorial, I will show you how to create a digital bokeh effect, but this time in Photoshop. The process is very easy and we will be using the super powerful Brush Engine, one of the coolest things in Photoshop.

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop. As usual I will use a nice scree resolution, 1920x1200 pixels. Fill the background layer with a very dark grey, not black. If you fill it with black the effect won't work. The color I used was #262626.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 2

Select the Ellipse Tool (U), and create a circle. Use black for the color, and go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Change the Fill Opacity to 50%. After that select Stroke. Use 10 pixels for the size, Inside for the Position and Black for the color.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 3

Select the ellipse and go to Edit>Define Brush. Name your brush and that's done. Now we have a new brush ;)

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 4

Go to Window>Brushes (F5). The first thing to do in the Brush Engine is to select our new Brush. The size won't matter because you will change that when you use it. The Spacing, however, is very important. Chage the value to 100%. After that, select the Shape Dynamics, then Scattering and Other dynamics. For the values use the image below.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 5

Before we start painting our bokehs let's create a new layer and fill it with a colorful gradient. I created a new layer and used the layer styles to do that but feel free to do the way you are used to. My gradient settings are as follows: Blend Mode is Overlay, Opacity is 100%, Style is Linear, and the Angle is 45º. The colors I used are: Yellow (#00085), Cyan (#1bdaeb), Purple (#9b3b81), Orange (#d27e34).

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 6

Let's create a new Folder in our Layer Palette. Rename the folder to Bokehs and change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge. Then create a new layer, choose white for the color and select the Brush Tool (B). Now just paint some ellipses with our custom brush. For this first layer use a big size, like 500-600px.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 7

Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. For this first layer use 20 pixels for the Radius.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 8

Create another layer and paint more brushes. This time however use a smaller size for the brush. After that go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Use 4 pixels for the Radius.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Step 9

Create another layer and repeat the previous step, this time however use a much smaller brush. Apply the Gaussian Blur to this layer as well, but use only 1 pixel for the Radius.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop

Conclusion

Now just add your logo and that's it. We have a nice wallpaper. The idea of this tutorial was once again to show the power of the Brush Engine. You can try different shapes for this same effect, like hexagons for example. Also you can play a bit with the blurs to add more depth to the final design. Now it's up to you.

Digital Bokeh in Photoshop
Click on the image for a full preview

Video Tutorial

Below there is a quick video version illustrating the whole tutorial.



Digital Bokeh in Photoshop from fabio sasso on Vimeo.

Download the Photoshop File

Click here to download the PSD file used for this tutorial

Editor: David Parrott

About author

User picture

My name is Fabio Sasso, I'm a graphic/web designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil and I'm the founder of Abduzeedo. I hope we can share lots of information, tips, and ideas through Abduzeedo. Also you can follow me on Twitter or my personal site at http://fabiosasso.com.

Sponsored Links:

Made my own (fake) graphic design software with it:

http://l4dgg.com/files/79911230347323Sublime-Software-3.jpg

Dave's picture
Dave (not verified) 12/31/2008

Thank you! Pretty cool effect! Here's my first attempt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/netfool/sublime.jpg

I've since improved on it quite a bit.

Dave's picture
Dave (not verified) 12/26/2008

Wow, this is neat! I'll give it a try.
Thanks for the post.

d65blade's picture
d65blade (not verified) 12/18/2008

The yellow is #ffff85 not #000085 (which is a medium blue). Nice tut. Thanks!

Mike Lane's picture
Mike Lane (not verified) 12/16/2008

This is fantastic! While experimenting, I came up with another way to do this that adds some other possibilities. Create a black background. Create your brush. Create a new layer with your gradient, apply a black mask. Using your brush with white, apply your design on the mask. Blur as appropriate. Copy your gradient to another layer, apply black mask again, brush on design on the mask, blur as needed. Copy gradient to a new layer, apply black mask...etc..

You can apply the gradient in different directions in this fashion, too. I would have never thought of this without your AWESOME tutorials. Thank you!

Schwingding's picture
Schwingding (not verified) 12/12/2008

The answer to eveyone's problem is in Step 1:

Fill the background layer with a very dark grey, not black. If you fill it with black the effect won't work. The color I used was #262626.

bluebomberc's picture
bluebomberc 12/11/2008

That's actually horrid bokeh if you think it as a photographer. The outline shouldn't be there / should not be that visible.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 12/11/2008

Great tutorial and website love it! I be hanging around some more here :-)

Here is my result:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doxi/3095915639/

Raymond's picture
Raymond (not verified) 12/09/2008

Thanks great tutorial and super site!
Here's my result, change it a little bit and the FX tutorial for the dots came in handy :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/doxi/3095915639/

Doxi's picture
Doxi (not verified) 12/09/2008

Hey do you think you can put the brushes online so i can download them cause im using photoshop elements6 and i cant do all of the crazy brush thingys thanx!

Mike's picture
Mike (not verified) 12/03/2008

Awesome tut dude :-) thnks, here is my initial "test" with it: http://www.jscott.com.br/uxlab

txs

Jonathas Scott's picture
Jonathas Scott (not verified) 11/30/2008

Thank you for a great wallpaper, it looks great on my laptop. I will try my hand at the tutorial and see how my one turns out lol lol. Thanks again

MrEvo 11/29/2008

hey guys i have one question why is the gradient in step 5 not smooth. I dont get it why there are lines. Or its a problem with my pc or something? ;/

exido's picture
exido (not verified) 11/25/2008

In order to define a new brush preset: Make sure the color of the ellipse is C0, M0, Y0, K100.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 11/24/2008

Damm.. this is a really good tutorial, but i wasnt able to get the brush visible and it was for a silly stup..d reason!! had black as top colour!! HATE WHEN THAT KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN!!!

First Steps Designer's picture
First Steps Designer (not verified) 11/24/2008

I think the problem people are having is this:

Pay attention to EXACTLY what he's saying. Don't skip a step and copy his steps word-for-word if you want to get it right.

But the major thing is this:

Create the ellipse on a new layer. In the blending options, change the FILL opacity to 50%. Not the opacity, the FILL opacity. It's right under the normal opacity.

Hopefully that should fix it.

Anon 3000's picture
Anon 3000 (not verified) 11/21/2008

Wwooow!! Really good and easy effect. Thanks for sharing. Good Luck

gNcWebmaster's picture
gNcWebmaster (not verified) 11/21/2008

Excellent effect. I made a wallpaper out of it and absolutely love it. Thanks for the amazing tutorials you have here!

My result is here: http://munkybizness.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/moment-stopped/

mayankgarg's picture
mayankgarg 11/19/2008

Very nice work fabio, I like this one a lot.. thank you for sharing.

Mabuc's picture
Mabuc (not verified) 11/15/2008

Hey! Thanks for the tutorial! It looks great! sad I can't get it to work... I have the same prolem many people commented here, my circles don't glow...

When I paint with the brush I just created I get a flat 50% transparent circle without the solid border... maybe it's because my photoshop version? (CS3) anyone can help?

Thanks again!

AzRi3L's picture
AzRi3L (not verified) 11/14/2008

Great tutorial but im having a problem. When i brush over the gradient they come out grey and i don't get any of the colour coming through them. Could anybody point me to what im doing wrong?

orm's picture
orm (not verified) 11/14/2008

awsome, ecxellent, thanks...again and again, bye!

Laura Talucci's picture
Laura Talucci (not verified) 11/14/2008

i`m a beginner but i start to feel like i`m stupid :)
i just can`t get this thing done. :(
and i like the efect so much ...
i will try over and over again tho`
thank you very much Abduzeedo, for me at least, u ROCK !

ogre's picture
ogre (not verified) 11/13/2008

when i make the first circle shape, ps wont let me define it as a brush, any one have any ideas???

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 11/13/2008

Thanks guys this was my result:

Dominic Gray's picture
Dominic Gray (not verified) 11/12/2008

Kayla, he means create a 'group' to hold the layers for the Large, medium, and small brush strokes.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 11/10/2008

very nice tutorial, I've only got one question, does anyone know why applying color dodge to a layer doesn't give the same results as it does when you apply it to a folder as in step 6? Thank you!

wasfrans's picture
wasfrans (not verified) 11/10/2008

Stupid questions.. when it says to "Let's create a new Folder in our Layer Palette.".. what does that mean? what is a folder?

kayla's picture
kayla (not verified) 11/05/2008

Hey , This is a great tutorial , but when i got to step 3 it wouldn't let me click define brush preset on the edit menu
anybody know why?

Toni's picture
Toni (not verified) 11/03/2008

Nice tutorial, although I got the same problem as TommyZidane.

All the bubbles turn grey.

Any ideas somebody?

Dennan's picture
Dennan (not verified) 10/31/2008

I'm having issues and my bokeh's are looking rather DULL. Any ideas what I've done wrong??

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Nphj2lBSE1s/SQjxZxP0H9I/AAAAAAAAAOE/1EGDnPYH0Q...

Ash's picture
Ash (not verified) 10/29/2008

Forget it I figured it out I had me layers stacked wrong =)

kidlizard's picture
kidlizard (not verified) 10/28/2008

When I apply the brush I get a grayscale effect. Also, the gradient layer seems too dark compared to yours. Any help would be great.

Thanks for the Tutorial

kidlizard's picture
kidlizard (not verified) 10/28/2008

hey kaize.
? had the exact same problem coz I use ps7 :S
I covert the circular shape to a layer I maen I restarized the shape layer and tried again to define brush..and it worked for me..

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 10/27/2008

dude thats awsesome thankst

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 10/27/2008

Does this work on any version of Photoshop?

i cant do the define brush thing.

Kaizee's picture
Kaizee (not verified) 10/23/2008

Makes my myspace look dreamy =D

http://nl.myspace.com/hoettienouw

Peter91's picture
Peter91 (not verified) 10/21/2008

mine doesn't glow =(, does anybody know why?

otherwise, insanely awesome, tahnkyou!

lanz's picture
lanz (not verified) 10/21/2008

thanx 4 the lovely tutorial..

lulla

lulla 10/20/2008

Thanks abduzeedo,this is my result..

Photobucket

original size
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm117/starlight_hafidz/awesomebokeh.j...

putera_aladin 10/16/2008

Ask forgiveness for my pessimism ENGLISH!
I would have to ask one thing! The tutorial "Awesome digital Bokeh effect in Photoshop" I was unclear from the phase 4 to phase 7 there is something wrong, let me explain why I can not get your same effect? the circles that overlap does not have the brilliance of your own! a person has published his work my result is the same .... very different from your! I serve you can help me a lot!

thanks and good job
chris

chris's picture
chris (not verified) 10/16/2008

Simple and nice. Love it!
Thanks ;)

Johnson Koh's picture
Johnson Koh (not verified) 10/14/2008

I solved the problem with the grey color so no need to write a response.

TommyZidane's picture
TommyZidane (not verified) 10/13/2008

Great tutorial, heres my results.

Wallpaper - 1900x1200
http://grahamphisher.com/wallpaper/bubbles.jpg

GrahamPhisher's picture
GrahamPhisher (not verified) 10/13/2008

Hello.
Thank you for a great and inspiring site.

Question: What grey-color did you use on the background? I cant seem to get the circles to glow like in the tutorial so Im wondering that it might be that Ive got the wrong grey color from the start.

TommyZidane's picture
TommyZidane (not verified) 10/13/2008

cool one, thx for sharing

Axl's picture
Axl (not verified) 10/12/2008

Great tutorial... Very simple yet effective...

Thanks for sharing

Owain

www.icomcreative.com

owain's picture
owain (not verified) 10/10/2008

Ashley try ctrl and left clicking on the layer thumbnail to highlight the object you are going to make a brush. Then go to edit>define brush.

I created my object (actually used a fleur de leis) filled with black..went to layer style...dropped the advanced blending to %50, stroked with 5px instead of 10px with black. Then after you hit ok...ctrl left click the layer thumbnail to make the selection of your object to define as a brush.

Also, would recommend adding a curves layer on top of all the other layers to darken your image a wee bit. I used left control 0 for output and 25 for input and right control 230 for output and 255 for input. The use of the curves layer is dependent on your colors for the gradient. Hope this helps....

AA

ArchAngel 10/09/2008

Great tutorial! Just used it to create image background for a website I am working on.
By the way, your color code for yellow is not correct.

Marko's picture
Marko (not verified) 10/09/2008

very nice effect! great tutorial! i will make a try ;)

tanaka13 - Créations du Net's picture
tanaka13 - Créations du Net (not verified) 10/09/2008

Wow Fabio, that's awesome and my new wallpaper. Very nice tutorial for photoshop padawans...

Peter's picture
Peter (not verified) 10/08/2008

Hi I'm a beginner at using photoshop... In this tutorial i have a problem, I can't do the step Edit>Define Brush... can tell me why? and what did i do wrong?

Ashley's picture
Ashley (not verified) 10/08/2008

I took it a step further; animation! http://www.vimeo.com/1896955

Trino 10/07/2008

Really love it! I already made a wallpaper for my blog :)

Carola83's picture
Carola83 (not verified) 10/03/2008
mr_whizard 10/02/2008

Great Tutorial! Thanks the PSD!

Commanderlewis 10/02/2008

Great Tutorial! Thanks the PSD!

Commanderlewis 10/02/2008

=)

Melody
Go to Blending Options >> (Fill) and make it 50% after that make the stroke .

best of luck .

Didi-m-o 10/01/2008

My stroke doesn't show up because it's just as transparent as the rest. Has anyone else had this problem? Do you know how to fix it?

Melody's picture
Melody (not verified) 09/30/2008

=)

sweeeet !!
http://www.col-sea.com/vb/uploaded/4676_1222657068.jpg

how is that ?:P :P

thanks . !

Didi-m-o 09/29/2008

Thank you for such awesome tutorials. You are amazingly inspirational. See the wallpaper I did with this tutorial: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heyjohnnyb/2890406554/

jlbilderback's picture
jlbilderback 09/26/2008

love to see your creative abstract ideas fabio. Good job!
Flickr Photostream

BogDinamita's picture
BogDinamita 09/25/2008

thats great

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 09/25/2008

Simple yet effective.

Awesome.

josephL421 09/24/2008

Awsome, great tutorial! Simple and beauty.

Andy's picture
Andy (not verified) 09/24/2008

The image made with pixelmator looks better. To get the photoshop image more looking like that and not so flat, add a adjustment layer 'curves' and bring the darks more to the right.

Andre's picture
Andre (not verified) 09/24/2008

Awesome, indeed! Here's my result: http://flickr.com/photos/jakhris/2884806635/

Cheers,
Chris - http://flickr.com/photos/jakhris/

JaKhris's picture
JaKhris 09/24/2008

I liked the way photoshop let you configure a brush nowadays.

I will make something like that in Picture to People when I have time.

----------------------------------------------
http://picturetopeople.blogspot.com
Get Inside Computer Graphics

leocda's picture
leocda 09/24/2008

"..dont stop till you get enough..."

www.abduzeedo.com

Cameron's picture
Cameron 09/24/2008

this is so cool..i'll try it ;)

Wyath's picture
Wyath 09/24/2008

this is AWESOME !
Great tutorial !!
thanks .

deema's picture
deema (not verified) 09/24/2008

Simple and effective design. The blurred background really pulls it together.

MSOnWired's picture
MSOnWired (not verified) 09/24/2008

Great tutorial Fabio! I've always looked for a cool way to do this in Photoshop. Great video too by the way!

www.colorburned.com
-----------------------

colorburned's picture
colorburned 09/24/2008

Very nice effect+tutorial! I tryed to download it but the file in the .zip archive does not have an extension, i tryed to change it to .psd but id doens't work. Do i have a problem or is the archive?
Thank You,
Luciano

Luciano's picture
Luciano (not verified) 09/24/2008

it's so cool fabio.. thanx

http://www.giackop.com

giackop's picture
giackop 09/24/2008

Is there an chance you could show the pixelmator tutorial as well? You say it's been posted but I can't find it...

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified) 09/24/2008

Gr8!
Many thanks for new awesome wallpeper on my laptop :D

Deavy's picture
Deavy (not verified) 09/24/2008

Great tutorial guys, this blog gets updated so much that it is ridiculous.

Nathaniel's picture
Nathaniel (not verified) 09/24/2008

@daniel actually Im posting tutorials every week, but the last 2 weeks I wrote Pixelmator tutorials only :)

Thanks for the comments.

abduzeedo's picture
abduzeedo 09/24/2008

nice work! it's been a while since you've posted a tut!

Daniel's picture
Daniel (not verified) 09/24/2008

Great effect!!
Thanks for the tutorial, Fabio.

erikdraven 09/24/2008

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