Miniature Tilt Shift Guide
Tilt Shift Photography is one of the most popular photography techniques out there, and it's achieved by using special tilt-shift lens or by digital post-processing (also known as "fake" tilt-shift). Tilt Shift effect in other words means simulating a miniature scene. Is like creating a visual illusion mainly by adjusting camera movement and focus.
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10 easy steps in Photoshop to create Tilt Shift Miniture pictures
1. Shooting the right picture
When shooting a picture to post process using tilt-shift technique, keep in mind that you want to give the impression of a miniature model. Here are a few points to keep in mind if you want to get a picture that will give the best effect:
Shoot from above
Miniature models are usually viewed from above so try and choose a photo with an elevated viewpoint. The picture should not be too zoomed in, and it should also be a certain wide angle so that the depth of field will be more effective.
Avoid flat lighting
Also very important is the lighting in your picture, since most models usually are lit by a lamp. Flat light diffused light will not work as well as more directional shadows and bright light.
Include recognizable big structures in the background
The blurred out background/foreground should contain structures that are not too complicated so that you can see their shape “through” the blur. Also if the structures are too detailed and complicated it does not seem likely that someone would have actually built a model like that.
Things to focus on:
The objects or “models” in focus should typically be people, cars, trains etc.
For this tilt-shift photography Photoshop tutorial, we have selected a picture of a train running through the center of Berlin, Germany:
2. Add a mask
This step is quite easy and simple… if you have used Photoshop before you know it. Either enter into quick mask mode or add a mask to your layer.
3. Select the Gradient Tool
Choose the Gradient Tool by pressing G on the keyboard, or select the Gradient Tool icon. Be sure to choose the Reflected Gradient option (the fourth icon along before the Mode drop-down) and make sure it goes from black and shades out to invisible.
4. Draw a Gradient Tool Line
This step, and the subsequent two steps, will need quite a lot of trial and error the first few times in order to get the best perspective of the focal point.
Choose focal point:
Click and hold the point, then draw the lined of the gradient tool upwards. Release it at the top of frame. Keep in mind that the area that will appear after the blur effect has been applied, will be in the middle. So keep some distance between what will be the real focal point in the middle and the edges of the the gradient mask frame.
5. View mask area
Before progressing, review the position of the red mask. The middle of the line you drew in the previous step is where the miniature models in-focus area will be, gradually losing focus towards the edges. If you slightly missed the target area of your focal point, go back to the previous step again.
6. Go out of mask mode
Next step, go out of mask mode. Either click the layer picture or click Q to exit quick mask mode. You will see the “marching ants” marking the selection lanes.
7. Apply the Blur filter
Choose Filter > Blur > Lens Blur:
Now you should see a nice focus effect around the miniature models you want to display clearly. If there is not focus effect, you probably forgot to exit mask mode. The Photoshop default settings for Lens Blur usually work well, but experiment with them to improve the effect. If you are unhappy with the position of the focus area, go back to Step 4 and try drawing a line in a different place or with a different centre of focus. Accept the setting by clicking OK when done.
8. Increase saturation
Typical miniature models are often painted in bright colour, so either add a new layer or select Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.Tweak the setting until you are satisfied.
9. Adjust Curves
To add to the feeling of artificiality miniture, bring up the Curves palette (go Image ▸ Adjustments ▸ Curves) and drag the RGB curve to something like the example above. It blows out the colours in the image, and makes it look more as if it's built from polystyrene and lichen. Use a very small S-shaped curve to increase contrast. Take care not to over-do this step; in fact, it may not be necessary at all.
10. Finished !
Hopefully you will be happy with the result:
1. Shooting the right picture
When shooting a picture to post process using tilt-shift technique, keep in mind that you want to give the impression of a miniature model. Here are a few points to keep in mind if you want to get a picture that will give the best effect:
Shoot from above
Miniature models are usually viewed from above so try and choose a photo with an elevated viewpoint. The picture should not be too zoomed in, and it should also be a certain wide angle so that the depth of field will be more effective.
Avoid flat lighting
Also very important is the lighting in your picture, since most models usually are lit by a lamp. Flat light diffused light will not work as well as more directional shadows and bright light.
Include recognizable big structures in the background
The blurred out background/foreground should contain structures that are not too complicated so that you can see their shape “through” the blur. Also if the structures are too detailed and complicated it does not seem likely that someone would have actually built a model like that.
Things to focus on:
The objects or “models” in focus should typically be people, cars, trains etc.
For this tilt-shift photography Photoshop tutorial, we have selected a picture of a train running through the center of Berlin, Germany:
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2. Add a mask
This step is quite easy and simple… if you have used Photoshop before you know it. Either enter into quick mask mode or add a mask to your layer.
3. Select the Gradient Tool
Choose the Gradient Tool by pressing G on the keyboard, or select the Gradient Tool icon. Be sure to choose the Reflected Gradient option (the fourth icon along before the Mode drop-down) and make sure it goes from black and shades out to invisible.
4. Draw a Gradient Tool Line
This step, and the subsequent two steps, will need quite a lot of trial and error the first few times in order to get the best perspective of the focal point.
Choose focal point:
Click and hold the point, then draw the lined of the gradient tool upwards. Release it at the top of frame. Keep in mind that the area that will appear after the blur effect has been applied, will be in the middle. So keep some distance between what will be the real focal point in the middle and the edges of the the gradient mask frame.
5. View mask area
Before progressing, review the position of the red mask. The middle of the line you drew in the previous step is where the miniature models in-focus area will be, gradually losing focus towards the edges. If you slightly missed the target area of your focal point, go back to the previous step again.
6. Go out of mask mode
Next step, go out of mask mode. Either click the layer picture or click Q to exit quick mask mode. You will see the “marching ants” marking the selection lanes.
7. Apply the Blur filter
Choose Filter > Blur > Lens Blur:
Now you should see a nice focus effect around the miniature models you want to display clearly. If there is not focus effect, you probably forgot to exit mask mode. The Photoshop default settings for Lens Blur usually work well, but experiment with them to improve the effect. If you are unhappy with the position of the focus area, go back to Step 4 and try drawing a line in a different place or with a different centre of focus. Accept the setting by clicking OK when done.
8. Increase saturation
Typical miniature models are often painted in bright colour, so either add a new layer or select Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.Tweak the setting until you are satisfied.
9. Adjust Curves
To add to the feeling of artificiality miniture, bring up the Curves palette (go Image ▸ Adjustments ▸ Curves) and drag the RGB curve to something like the example above. It blows out the colours in the image, and makes it look more as if it's built from polystyrene and lichen. Use a very small S-shaped curve to increase contrast. Take care not to over-do this step; in fact, it may not be necessary at all.
10. Finished !
Hopefully you will be happy with the result:
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