Using the blur tool - no visible change

[Mark30Croton]

Hopefully this isn't just me being dense.  
i have a photograph of a rock wall 

the image goes left to right. 
i want to blur half the wall

I select the blur tool and paint the area but nothing gets blurred. 
what am I doing wrong?

thanks 

[Trevor.Dennis]

From what you have told us, the Blur tool might not be the best fit. The important thing is that you view the results at 100% zoom ratio.  The example below is a single pass at full strength showing before and after.

Try ussing one of the blur filters, like Gaussian blur.

If you need to blur a particular area, the Quick Mask can be a good choice for selecting it

Hit Q, paint in the area, and hit Q again to exit QM

A big advantage of using a filter blur rather than the blur tool, is that you can make the layer a Smart Object, and apply the blur nondestructively

[Mark30Croton]

I am missing something the gaussian blur tool for me is a white square where you have the image and the tool us just a small box

[Trevor.Dennis]

Mark, can you show us a screen shot of what you are seeing?  That would help a lot.

[Bojan Živković]

To achieve better results with the Blur Tool from the Toolbox, consider adjusting the Strength setting. You can find this option in the Options bar, located just below the menus. The Blur Tool acts like a brush, gradually building up the effect as you release the mouse button. When you start painting again, it will add to the existing effect. Admittedly, it may take some time to build up the desired effect.

[Mark30Croton]

here is the file - I want to blur the left side - but the blur tool does nothing.

My mistake with the blur filter was opening it in quick mode and it showed the white box

In the filter tho I paint the rock and it turns light pink but the filter does. nothing for me

I am sure it is my fault but I dont know why

[Myra Ferguson]

If you were in Quick Mask mode (Select > Edit in Quick Mask Mode or Q), then any adjustments you made onscreen would have affected the mask and not the image. After exiting Quick Mask mode (you can tell it's off when your layer is no longer highlighted in red in the Layers panel), then you should be able to add the blur either with the Blur tool or any of the Blur filters.

[Mark30Croton]

Thanks. I tried but had no luck getting a blur with either tool or filter. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

[Mark30Croton]

this is the best I think I can do - sorry

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Is there an active Selection (is Select > Deselect active)? 

[Mark30Croton]

No. I have the blur tool active and I'm attempting to pain the rocks on the left to blur. Nothing happens 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

No. I have the blue tool active and I'm attempting to pain the rocks on the left to blur. Nothing happens 

By @Mark30Croton

One can have an active Selection no matter which Tool is selected in the Toolbar. 

Could you please post with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible of your attempt with the Filter Gaussian Blur? 

And please try the Smart Filter I mentioned. 

[Mark30Croton]

How do you get the palettes to float like you show?

[Trevor.Dennis]

You should be able click any of the Blur Gallery options:

...and the Blur Tools panel should open.

You can drag this panel anywhere on the screen, and select any of the different Blur tools.  The selected tool will twirl open that part of the panel.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

How do you get the palettes to float like you show?

By @Mark30Croton

You can click-drag the Panels by their name-tags and move them from their docked positions. 

Please remember to save your Workspace if you have customized it according to your needs. (Window > Workspace > New Workspace)

[Mark30Croton]

there is no active selection

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Have you tried converting the Layer to a Smart Object and using Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur? 

That can be used to locally blur an image non-destructively? 

Use the Blur Gallery in PhotoshopAdobehttps://helpx.adobe.com › photoshop › using › blur-galle...

[Mark30Croton]

No. Just using the blur tool or the blur filter Gaussian 

[Mark30Croton]

Ok I went back an re-read everything

I made a selection of some of the rocks and then used the Gaussian Blur filter and got a blur - see attached

Its not as cool as I thought but I did it!

Thoughts?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Ok I went back an re-read everything

I made a selection of some of the rocks and then used the Gaussian Blur filter and got a blur - see attached

Its not as cool as I thought but I did it!

Thoughts?

By @Mark30Croton

Gaussian Blur works with one setting, so a soft selection/mask will mean a blend of the blurred and the sharp content, not a transition of increasing blurriness. (see screenshot)

Please try the Filter »Field Blur« already. (Remember to convert the image to a Smart Object before.)

[Mark30Croton]

thank you

When using the field blur - how d oyou increase the size of the area affected by each pin?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Have you perused

Use the Blur Gallery in PhotoshopAdobehttps://helpx.adobe.com › photoshop › using › blur-galle...

? 

Please post meaningful screenshots if you want to discuss this further. 

[Mark30Croton]

again, thank you but when you mention discussing this further - are you speaking for yourself or the entire forum?

[Trevor.Dennis]

again, thank you but when you mention discussing this further - are you speaking for yourself or the entire forum?

By @Mark30Croton

He is saying that full res screen shots of the entire workspace, showing the layers panel and image, would make it much easier to home in on a useful answer.  Screen shots are a huge aid to finding problems.