How do you blur the background in a photo?

[Robin]

I have a photo and I want to blur the background in it so you can just see the person. How do you do that? I'm using Photoshop 7.
Thank You!

[SuzanneCWalker]

OH! Right up my alley!

In PS, you select the lasso tool, use a big feather (I use a 20 feather - up on the top bar), and then draw the lasso around just the subject. THEN, right click and select "new layer via copy" to make a layer on the top of the background that just has the subject. THEN... go back to your background layer with the whole image, and go into the filter>blur menu and I usually use a gaussian blur - blur to your taste (less is more, though). So, you're bluring the whole bottom layer, but the subject on top is clear. Then if you want, you can go back on the top (subject) layer and erase some of the edges......

Is that too vague? If you want more, feel free to holler!

[Lauren]

I also have written a tutorial on just this subject - you can view it here

[Robin]

Thank You to both of you! I'll be working on it and get back to you!
Have a Great Day!

[Emma]

love that tutorial, gets a really nice and accurate selection between the mag lasso and the brush

Be sure to try the Blur>Radial Blur>Zoom like Suz uses to get that bursting effect that looks so cool, like something's coming at ya!

have fun

[Meryl]

If you are reading this thread & have CS do try the new Lens Blur filter, it does an amazing job of blurring the background, gives you great control over all sorts of aspects of your blur.