Let's take a closer look at the retouching tools: Blur, Sharpen, Smudge.
Under retouching Blur(blur), Sharpen(sharpness), Smudge(lubrication). To work with these tools, you need to move the mouse pointer to a place in the image,
which requires correction, and by clicking the left mouse button, make changes. The radius of the tool depends on the selected brush size in the Options palette. All three tools have the ability to customize the blending mode ( Mode) and impact force ( Strength).

Tools of the Eraser group. are intended for deleting a selected fragment of an image. There are three types of erasers in Photoshop: eraser(rubber), Background Eraser(elastic band for background), Magic Eraser(“magic” elastic band).

Retouching tools: Blur, Sharpen, Smudge.

Under retouching refers to editing an image in order to improve (or change) its quality, for example, sharpening, reducing sharpness (softening), etc. There is a group of tools for this: Blur(blur), Sharpen(sharpness), Smudge(lubrication). To work with these tools, you need to move the mouse pointer to the place in the image that requires correction, and click the left mouse button to make changes. The radius of the tool depends on the selected brush size in the Options palette. All three tools have the ability to customize the blending mode ( Mode) and impact force ( Strength).

• Blur (blur)- used to soften sharp edges in an image.


• Sharpen (sharpness)- on the contrary, it increases the contrast of the edges, and therefore the sharpness of the image. You need to be careful with this tool - if you apply it several times in a row to one area of ​​the image, simply colored dots may appear that do not correspond in any way to the contents of the image.


• Smudge- an interesting tool that simulates the effect of smearing wet paint with your finger, it captures the color and mixes it with surrounding colors as you move. It has an option in the settings Finger painting(finger painting), which, when enabled, adds a primary color to the image where the tool is applied. It is not available in the Blur and Sharpen tools.

The picture shows the action of the Smudge tool. When processing the top part of the image, the Finger Painting option was enabled.

Comment. The sharpen and blur tools do not work with black and white or indexed images.

Eraser tool group.

These tools are designed to remove a selected portion of an image. There are three types of erasers in Photoshop: eraser(rubber), Background Eraser(elastic band for background), Magic Eraser(“magic” elastic band).

• eraser. A simple eraser is designed to remove part of an image, regardless of color. Its settings include: options Mode, Opacity, Flow, airbrush mode - see the section of the first lesson "Brush"; option Erase to history- when this checkbox is enabled, the eraser restores the just erased image. You can also choose what shape the eraser will be: Brush - brush, Pencil - brush with hard edges, Block - square.


• Magic Eraser. The "magic" eraser removes part of the image of the same color or similar colors, depending on the settings. You have already encountered all the settings before with the PaintBucket tool. (The principle of operation is similar to the PaintBucket fill tool, only it deletes instead of filling.)


• Background Eraser. Background eraser - removes everything, but leaves the background set to the main color when the option is enabled Protect Foreground Color. In settings Limits(Borders) you can choose the method of action of the rubber band:
• Discontiguous - deletes everything,
• Contiguous - removes adjacent similar colors and shades,
• Find Edges - leaves intact image fragments with contrasting colors (a sharp transition from one color to another).

Option Sampling- sets the color selection method.

How much effort photographers sometimes have to put in and what kind of tricks they resort to in order to extract sharpness from a not entirely successful photo, using the appropriate tools in the Photoshop program. But it turns out that many users, on the contrary, are interested in blurring a photo in Photoshop, although not at all in order to spoil the picture, but for artistic purposes (for example, in a group photo you can highlight yourself, protecting yourself from blurring, and everyone else around "smear")

Of course, the main impact of the editor is focused on increasing the sharpness of photographs, but the arsenal of blurring tools is also solid, and we still need to figure out which tools are more numerous - either blurring or clarifying. But in any case, blurs are one of the most used filters, and the number of blurring agents is growing almost from version to version. For example, in Photoshop CS5 there were 10 blur filters, and in CS6 there are already 14 of them.

All the power of blurring tools in Photoshop is concentrated in the “Blur” submenu, in the “Filter” menu (Blur). It would take a long time to list the goals and reasons for blur, but in the vast majority of cases, the main goal of such processing is to highlight the main object by defocusing the background space and giving volume to the image as a whole.

Blur and Blur+ filters

The simplest remedy for sharpening is the Blur tool in Photoshop. It has no settings, so no parameters are required. Blur “with a plus” means blurring even more, and if not enough, the Ctrl+F key combination will start reprocessing.

Gaussian blur

This is perhaps the most popular (of blurring tools) tool that uses a Gaussian blur algorithm. Here you can use the "Radius" slider to select the appropriate degree of blur. Also simple, as in the previous case, but much more effective.

Frame Blur

This filter is also adjusted only by the radius engine, but its operating algorithm differs from the previous filter. Here, blurring occurs by averaging the colors of neighboring pixels, and the engine changes this averaged area.

"Intelligent" blur

The smartest thing is called “Smart…”, and this filter really lives up to its name, although in the Russian “Photoshop” the word “smart” is in quotation marks, but in the English version it is not (Smart Blur). Here, in addition to the blur radius, you can set the threshold and processing quality, and also select one of the additional blending modes, in addition to the default one ("Manual", also known as the "Normal" mode).

Radial Blur

Depending on the selected blurring method, the filter allows you to simulate the blurring of the picture caused by turning the camera, when the image remains sharp in the center and is blurred at the periphery (ring method), or to obtain the effect that occurs when the camera moves sharply (Linear/Zoom). The strength of the blur is adjusted with the "Quantity" slider, but you can also select the center of the effect (with the mouse) and the quality of the output image.

Simulate image blur when shooting dynamic objects

Using the Motion Blur filter, Photoshop creates the characteristic blurring effect in a photograph that is obtained when shooting a fast-moving object. Therefore, in addition to the intensity of the effect, which is controlled by the “Displacement/Shift” slider, the direction of movement (angle) is naturally set.

Surface Blur

Despite the fact that the name of the Surface Blur filter is translated as “surface blur,” in some versions of Photoshop it is for some reason called “Surface Blur.”

This discriminating filter blurs the image while preserving lines and edges to the best of its ability and your settings, so it is often used to combat grain and digital noise by manipulating the Radius and Isohelium parameters.

Mysterious average blur

There is one such blur in Photoshop (Average), the activity of which can hardly be called blur, because this filter simply completely fills the entire image or selected area with the average color of this image or fragment.

If you apply this filter to the entire image on a duplicate of it, and then lower the opacity of the copy, you can tone the image, but for such purposes it is not the wisest solution. But if you blur and average some fragment and, lowering the opacity, make an inscription on it, it can turn out interesting.

Lens blur

This is the literal translation of the English name of the Lens Blur filter, which in Russian versions of the Photoshop program is called “Low Blur.” This blur in Photoshop is used in cases where ideal sharpness in the entire photograph is not satisfactory for compositional or other reasons, that is, when only a certain area or object should remain in focus. We only need to indicate to the filter what should be closer in the image and what should be further away, creating a so-called depth map, which can serve as, for example, one built in the alpha channel. linear or circular gradient from black to white.

A savvy filter, calculating the blurring algorithm, will immediately understand that the black areas are those closest to the camera. As they move away, they are followed by all shades of gray. Well, the white areas are as far away from the camera as possible, and here you need to perform intensive background blur. The filter will do the rest at its best, obeying the settings that we specify to him.

An alpha channel (empty) is created in the channels palette with the corresponding button and, opening the eye in the RGB line to see the photo itself, fill it with a black and white gradient, drawing a line from the closest point to the farthest one, which should correspond to the desired viewing angle.

Then you need to close the visibility of the alpha channel, return to the RGB channel and turn on the Lens Blur filter. Next, in the “Source” list, select our alpha channel and click on the area of ​​the image that should be in focus (or set the distance to the focal point using the “Focal Length Blur” slider). Well, use the “Radius” slider to select the blur strength (degree of defocus). The remaining settings are very subtle effects that are rarely used for ordinary photographs, so click OK and note with satisfaction how realistic the blur is in Photoshop. It can simulate the depth of field of the depicted space.

Manual blurring "Photoshop tools". How to use your finger to smudge photos

Along with filters (plugins) for blurring, which I do all the “dirty work” for us, Photoshop also provides tools for manual work for the same purposes, which can be used to do almost everything that filters can do, and even a little more, and maybe better (still handmade). We are talking about two of the three, deprived of hotkeys and headed by the Blur Tool.

By design, this is a brush whose pressure function is performed by the “Intensity” parameter in the settings. Depending on the size and hardness of the selected brush, the Blur Tool can blur the entire image or details in a certain area at once. Replacing sharp edges with smooth transitions, the tool skillfully softens the contours, and if you hold the mouse button down, it will work like a brush in spray mode, enhancing the effect. This tool is in good hands can do almost everything, in any case, with such a task as making a blurred background, the Blur Tool can handle it easily.

The Finger Tool, also known as the Smudge Tool, really smudges the drawing, as if you were running your finger over a freshly painted painting. The strength of the effect is also regulated by the “Intensity” parameter, but unlike the neighboring tool, there is also a function by selecting which (check the box), we will smear with the first color. Practical use The “finger” is found, for example, in the drawing of the finest details when highlighting such complex objects as hair, wool, fur, and so on, as well as in a kind of imitation of painting.

Blurred edges

With such a powerful arsenal of tools, techniques and blurring methods that can turn an ordinary photo into a marvelous artistic canvas, blurring edges for Photoshop is as easy as pie. To do this, you need to select an area that should not be subject to the effect, and blur the periphery by selecting one of the above filters. But most often “Gaussian Blur” is used for this purpose.

If standard tools are used for selection, then to obtain a smooth border, set a feather for them (at the top or in the “Selection > Modify” menu). And if the “Quick Mask” (Q) is used for this purpose, the smoothness of the transition is controlled by the opacity of the brush.

In all cases, the selection must be inverted (Shift+Ctrl+I), otherwise the image itself will be blurred, not the edges. By the way, it is not necessary to use a selection, since you can blur the edges manually using the Blur Tool.

New filters

In the version of Photoshop CS6, blur filters have arrived to the shelf. In the “Blur” submenu, the newcomers are located separately at the very top, defiantly separated from the old filters by a line. These “upstarts” are called Field Blur, Iris Blur and Tilt-Shift, and they, having a special interface, can create realistic depth of field in photos.

Unlike older “colleagues” of previous versions (including Photoshop CS5), the algorithms of the new filters are designed in such a way as to allow the user to perform selective focusing by working with controls directly on the image.

Hello comrades! In this article I will tell you about the main ADOBE Photoshop Tools, in this lesson we will use the CS6 version of the program. Each of the tools will then be given a separate article with a detailed description of it, but here we touch on it only in passing and omit a lot, this is a navigation article. Thanks for understanding.

We will analyze them all and possible operating modes each of tools, of course, telling fully enough about each tool in one article is an impossible task. Most likely, later, there will be a continuation of this article, or rather, several parts. This is where we will give free rein to our imagination and reveal the dirty secrets of each instrument.

In this article, everything is structured and very clearly stated; its main task is to convey brief information about what this or that tool does. Our goal is not to teach you how to use it; there will be other calculations for that. Now let me finish the introductory part and begin. Do you allow me? Great, I'm starting!

Main toolbar:

A brief description of all Photoshop tools. Section guide.

1 - Move

The hotkey for calling this tool is . The names are actually all clear; this tool is used to move individual objects, groups of objects, selection, etc. VIDEO LESSON: “Moving”

2 - Selection

Selection tool The hotkey for calling this tool is . It serves for highlighting, which again follows from its name. In turn, this tool has, so to speak, a group of modifications:

3 - Free selection or Lasso of different types

The tools of this group are similar in function to the tools of group (2), but they have one important feature, they select an arbitrary area, it all depends on which tool you chose:

4 – Photoshop Quick Selection Tools

5 – Crop and Markup Tools

6 - Auxiliary tools: pipette, ruler, commentary

7 – Retouching tools: healing brush, patch

9 - Drawing: brush, pencil, etc.

9 – Stamp and Pattern Stamp

10 – History Brush and History Art Brush

11 – Leaf, Background Eraser, Magic Eraser

12 – Fill and Gradient

13 – Blur, Sharpness and Finger (O_o)

14 – Brightener, Darkener, Sponge (Bob)

15 — Pen and its modifications. Outlines

16 - Text

17 — Outline selection and Arrow (not the one that flew into space)

18 - Figures

19 - Hand

Hand— used to move around the canvas, you can call it while in any tool mode by holding down the space bar.

Good to know! Every instrument in Adobe program Photoshop has a hotkey, such as the Brush key, the Pen key. Did you know that you can switch between modifications of a particular tool using the keyboard shortcut + TOOL KEY. For example, + will toggle the brush tool, pressing once = Pencil, etc.

If you want to use our materials, please, we have everything for people, but we would be very grateful if you leave a small link to our website, or to this article on yours. Thank you in advance!

In this lesson we will understand how to work with photoshop tools Blur, Sharpen and Finger ( Smudge Tool). They are all together in one group.

Let's start getting acquainted and first in line Blur tool (Blur Tool). Its direct purpose is to blur the image. It has settings like a regular brush: Size, Hardness and the shape of the brush itself. You can also adjust the “Blending Mode” and “Intensity”.

You can work with the tool in the same way as with a Brush. When you drag the brush over the image, it simply blurs depending on the settings you have set. By increasing the "Intensity" parameter, you enhance the blur effect.

Next in line photoshop sharpening tool (Sharpen Tool). Its effect is the opposite of blurring. Its settings are exactly the same: Size, Hardness, Shape, Blend Mode and Intensity.

Using the Sharpen Tool you can sharpen certain areas of your photo, but you need to be very careful not to overdo it.

The last thing we consider Finger tool (Smudge Tool). Its settings are the same as the previous two. The principle of its operation is that it captures color in the image and smears it as the brush moves. Small smears are obtained. The more we increase the intensity, the more color shifts we get.

What will you learn to do after watching this video?

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to lighten or darken areas of an image, and learn how to use the Blur, Sharpen, Sponge, and Smudge tools.

Video description:

In the previous lesson you learned how to use . In this tutorial you will learn how to use the Blur, Sharpen, Smudge, Dodge, Burn and Sponge tools.

To work, let's open a photo that shows two tigers. Select the Blur tool, enlarge the image and move the mouse in a circular motion over the tiger. It will seem that the tiger is behind cloudy glass. In the settings you can change the size and hardness of the brush, as well as the intensity of the blur.

Now select the opposite tool – sharpening. Move your mouse over the area that was previously blurred. Unfortunately, the image quality is not fully restored - graininess appears. That is, the Sharpening tool is not the best option to restore the image.

If you return the picture to its original state and use the Sharpening tool, the outlines of the tiger will simply become a little clearer.

Let's start learning the Finger tool. In the settings you can change the intensity. If you paint with your Finger at 25% intensity, the tool will pick up the color and smear it as you move the mouse. The smear will be light. As you increase the intensity, the edges will blur much more. By increasing the intensity to 100%, the image will be erased with your finger.

Return the image to its original state. Let's say, if you need to hide some defect in the image, then you need to set the intensity to about 20% and check the Finger Drawing setting, select desired color and start painting over the damaged area. This way, the area can be “washed out” and made less noticeable.

Editing, retouching or restoring old photos is conveniently done using the Dodge, Burn and Sponge tools.

To lighten individual parts of the image, you need to use the Lighten tool. For example, you will need to lighten the black fur of a tiger. In the tool settings there is a Range parameter. The default is Midtones. This means that the instrument will affect the mid tones. If you select Shadows, you can lighten only the dark areas without affecting the white areas. If you select Light, then only light areas will be lightened, dark colors the tool will not touch. In the settings, you can change the Exposure parameter - pressing force.

The opposite tool is the Darkener. Its settings are similar to Clarifier. Set the range parameter to Light. So they will be darkened bright hues, and the dark ones will remain unchanged. If you increase the Exposure parameter, the darkening will occur more intensely.

Let's move on to the Sponge tool. It is used to increase or decrease the color saturation in a specific area. Enlarge the brush, select the Increase Saturation mode and brush over the tigers. Notice how much brighter the fur becomes. To return all colors to their original state, you need to select the Reduce Saturation mode. If you increase the Pressure, the image can be made very dim, almost black and white.