Digital panning effects tutorial

Panning a moving object can be tricky and requires a lot of practise to get it right in camera. Thankfully though, creating realistic motion effects with Photoshop involves nothing more than three layers, a steady hand and some creative use of the Blur filters. Here’s how it’s done:

SELECT THE OBJECT

That is to remain sharp – in this case this vintage Porsche 911 sports car. We’ve made a selection initially using the Magnetic Lasso, then gone into Quick Mask mode to touch up any areas that were missed. Lastly, feather the selection by 5 pixels (Select >Feathering).

PRODUCE THE LAYERS

Duplicate the initial layer by right clicking it and selecting Duplicate from the pop-up menu. Then cut out the car to the clipboard (Edit > Cut) and paste it back in as a new layer (Edit > Paste). You should now have three layers in the following order: the shot intact, as it was; the background with the car cut out; and the car itself. Turn the lower layer off for now by clicking the eye icon next to it.

MOTION BLUR containing just the background (Filters > Blur > Motion Blur)

Make the effect quite pronounced to give a real impression of speed. When the blur has finished rendering you’ll notice there are areas of transparency at either end of the car where the motion blur has blurred the hole as well as the background. Turn on the bottom layer again (click the box to bring the eye icon back) and this should go away.

APPLY RADIAM BLUR to the wheel to make it appear as though they are moving

Select them with a circular selection tool (you can hold down shift while selecting the second one to add to your selection). Add Radial blur by choosing Filters > Blur > Radial Blur. Lastly flatten the layers down to save space when saving the file (Layer > Flatten image).

Which Digital Camera - Camera Finder

: DSLR

You want to take the best photos you can and possibly explore photography as a hobby

Enter this section if you are looking for a more advanced camera with the ability to change lenses to suit your needs. You will find entry-level cameras through to high-end models favoured by professional photographers.

What’s your budget?
Do you have a specific brand in mind?
Resolution

: Bridge

You want the convenience of a compact with the versatility of a DSLR

Enter this section if you are looking for the convenience of a compact camera but the photographic power of a DSLR. You will find both point-and-shoot cameras as well models offering more advanced functionality.

What’s your budget?
Do you have a specific brand in mind?
Resolution
Zoom Range

: Compact

You want to take family snaps, events and holidays

Enter this section if you are looking for a small easy-to-use camera. You will find a wide range of models to suit every budget all of which offer a wide range of features for everyday shooting.

What’s your budget?
Do you have a specific brand in mind?
Resolution
Zoom Range
The range of compact cameras available in the sub £250 price bracket frequently changes. Therefore Which Digital Camera has invited manufacturers to maintain their own listings in this section only. This includes their own recommendations.

We regret we are unable to include all manufacturers.

Become a member of Photography Monthly today!

Tips & Techniques

: Creative Shutter Speed: pro tips for better action photography

Whether you are shooting a Formula 1 racing car or a ballerina, getting creative with shutter speed