Depth Map Channel Missing in Layers - PhotoShop 2020

[Lorraine Mc]

I'm trying to use a lens blur to blur out a background and I've tried following tutorials. The problem is that I can't follow a tutorial past opening the Channels panel in layers as the depth channel will not appear.

Using PhotoShop 2020
I've tried so far:

RAW file

JPEG file

Made sure the file is in 8bit RGB

Closed and reopened Photoshop.

No matter what I do the depth map channel will not appear, so when I go to Lens Blur there is no depth map channel to work with.

Grateful for any assistance please?

[Sahil.Chawla]

Hi there,

That does not sound right, would you mind telling us what tutorial are you following? Could you check this video and let us know if it helps? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxbVU9LD_J0&feature=emb_logo

Regards,
Sahil

[Lorraine Mc]

Thanks for replying. I was following this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_yjO8dQtBk

But, when I go to the channels, there is no depth map channel, so I can't go any further.

[Derek Cross]

You would normally make a selection of the image and blur the unselected area, preferably non-destructively. There are tutorials on how to do this.

[Lorraine Mc]

Hi Derek,

I was trying to use the 'new' method in the new Photoshop, but maybe this new method misses a step. In the tutorial I was following, the depth map channel was already present in the channel list.

[davescm]

You normally have to make a depth channel from a selection. So make a selection of the focus area , then at the bottom of the channels panel choose Save Selection as Channel

If you already have a depth map in a separate layer - e.g. from a 3D multipass render, then you can use Image calculations as below to make a new channel from that layer

Dave

[Lorraine Mc]

Thanks, will give that a try.