Skip to main content
S
stefanm25580085
Participating Frequently
November 2, 2023
Answered

Is there an easy way to blur faces in lightroom?

  • November 2, 2023
  • 6 replies
  • 35664 views

Currently I use the gauss tools from Photoshop to blur faces. Is there something within Lightroom I can use for this? There is this new feature for getting parts of the image out of focus but I could not find a quick way to use it for my task.

 

Thanks!

    Correct answer JohanElzenga

    I think the idea of using the new Lens Blur is excellent. What you need to do is this. Click apply and let Lightroom create the mask. Now select the 'Focus' brush, set it to a very big size and to Amount 100 and Flow 100 and brush in the entire photo. Then select the 'Blur' brush, make it as small as the face and click on each face. This will only blur the face while the rest of the photo remains in focus. You can now use the Blur Amount slider to blur just enough to make the person not recognizeable, but not completely wiped out like the other suggestions.

    6 replies

    L
    lauriv51558777
    Participant
    July 17, 2024

    In LIghtroom:

    L
    lauriv51558777
    Participant
    July 17, 2024

    And if the sharpness is not strong enough, apply second or third brush to the same face 😉 

    P
    P.LAM Photography
    Participant
    July 4, 2024

    Honestly, I tried some method in here, and have a conclusion, I much prefer PS gaussian blur.

     

    Reason

    1. Lens Blur is new feature, when using it, it will also affect my photo's orginal broken, which I don't want LR behave like that. In addition, it made my computer become lag when using this function (my old computer)

     

    2. Other method, like make a new "person mask", the -100 texture effect is too weak for me and also it take so long time for my computer to process

     

    3. I found, in LR and using "Edit photo in PS", and deal with the Photo with gaussian blur with lasso selection tool is quite direct and the effect is great for me, my old computer also have a quick response time

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 2, 2023

    I think the idea of using the new Lens Blur is excellent. What you need to do is this. Click apply and let Lightroom create the mask. Now select the 'Focus' brush, set it to a very big size and to Amount 100 and Flow 100 and brush in the entire photo. Then select the 'Blur' brush, make it as small as the face and click on each face. This will only blur the face while the rest of the photo remains in focus. You can now use the Blur Amount slider to blur just enough to make the person not recognizeable, but not completely wiped out like the other suggestions.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
      S
      stefanm25580085Author
      Participating Frequently
      November 2, 2023

      Thank you!

      JohanElzenga
      Community Expert
      JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 2, 2023

      Small addition: You can also use the Amount of the Blur slider to fine tune it even more.

       

      -- Johan W. Elzenga
      R
      Community Expert
      richardplondonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 2, 2023

      Two options: blank out completely with local adjustment e.g. using Curve 

       

      or I suppose you can use the new tool and then blur the entire subject zone within the (guessed) picture depth space. In effect that means clicking the "most in focus" point on the background. Doesn't really meet the brief IMO!

       

      Seems there isn't really an easier way at present, to redact by blurring. Normal local adjustment would need multiple overlaid, duplicated masks to really operate strongly..

      S
      stefanm25580085Author
      Participating Frequently
      November 2, 2023

      Thanks a lot! I used the mask and darken method for lcience plates. just put the blacks and normal tones down. But this gives you black. Thanks for the hint with the curve! This gives me something that is closer to skin tone.

       

      I guess the focussing tool is what I ultimately want, so that some stuff of the person is still there. But I currently find it to difficult to handle. Just masking with a brush would be cool.

      C.Cella
      C.Cella
      Inspiring
      November 2, 2023

      As of now you can do: Masking > People > "All People" or "Person n° " > Facial Skin > Create Mask > use Sharpness or Texture -100

       

      Here attached two presets for you to use straight away.

       

      Use "Preset Amount" or "Correction Amount" to reduce the effect.

       

       

       

      Please Bear in mind that they will work only on "All People".

      LrC/Camera Raw has never been able to apply presets or sync masks created for "Person N° " correctly as the instruction is literally missing.

       

      P.S.

      Do not "Import Preset", drag and drop them to the folder where you store your Develop presets and then open LrC.

      They will be in you "User Presets" Group

       

       

       

       

      S
      stefanm25580085Author
      Participating Frequently
      November 2, 2023

      Cool. But the -100% is too weak. I tried with masks and duplicated them and trippled and so on. But there was to much still visible.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      November 2, 2023

      You can use the new lens blur tool, and brush just the person's face after selecting the Blur tool. See item 5 here: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/lens-blur.html

       

      You may need to also click on Focus and brush the rest of the photo.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices