Apply Blur to Images in Illustrator CS6

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Video: Apply Blur to Images in Illustrator CS6
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You're watching VisiHow. This tutorial will show you how to apply a blur effect to an image in Adobe Illustrator CS6 in Windows 7.

Apply A Blur Effect To An Image On Adobe Illustrator CS6.mp4-canvas352 35.jpg


Steps

  1. 1
    You should have Illustrator open and a document ready. In this video, a photograph is used; but you can use digital or even scanned drawings. Either way, try to use a high-quality image.
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  2. 2
    Click the "Selection Tool" black arrow from the top-left side of your toolbar to select your object. You can also use different selection tools if you are working with more complicated shapes.
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  3. 3
    Click the object or image. A thin blue frame and anchor corners will appear, which means your object is now selected and ready for editing.
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  4. 4
    Click "Effect" at the top of the window.
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  5. 5
    Within the "Photoshop Effects" section, move the cursor to "Blur". A menu will appear where you can select which blur you would like: "Gaussian Blur...", "Radial Blur...", or "Smart Blur...".
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  6. 6
    First, let's click "Gaussian Blur...". A small dialogue box will appear.
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  7. 7
    You can click and drag the dialogue box around your canvas.
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  8. 8
    Ensure the "Preview" box in the bottom-left corner is checked. Without applying the changes, the image or objects will be blurred.
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  9. 9
    You can adjust the intensity of the blur by clicking and dragging the "Radius" scroller to the left and right. Alternatively, you can manually type the number of pixels.
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  10. 10
    When you are satisfied with your settings, simply click "OK" to apply the changes. The "Gaussian Blur" is really good for general blur or haze. You can exaggerate a blurry and soft-focus background to pull the in-focus foreground even more forward.
    Apply A Blur Effect To An Image On Adobe Illustrator CS6.mp4-canvas157 289.jpg
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  11. 11
    Press "Ctrl" + "Z" to step back.
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  12. 12
    Click the image to ensure that it is selected.
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  13. 13
    Click "Effect".
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  14. 14
    Move the cursor to "Blur".
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  15. 15
    Next, click "Radial Blur...". This blur has a radius with a central point of blurring. Again, a small dialogue box will appear. There is a contour preview within the dialogue box, which shows you the shape of the blur.
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  16. 16
    You can adjust the "Amount". You can click and drag the scroller or type a value in the input box. This intensifies or lessens the blur as desired.
    Apply A Blur Effect To An Image On Adobe Illustrator CS6.mp4-canvas205 996.jpg
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  17. 17
    You can click either "Spin" or "Zoom". These make your image look like it is spinning or being zoomed in.
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  18. 18
    Finally, you can adjust the "Quality" option. "Draft" will be the worst quality but faster to work with because of the size, whereas "Best" might slow down your computer a little. It's recommended to leave "Quality" on "Good".
    Apply A Blur Effect To An Image On Adobe Illustrator CS6.mp4-canvas248 013.jpg
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  19. 19
    Then, click "OK" to apply your settings. You cannot preview this option.
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  20. 20
    Press "Ctrl" + "Z" to step back.
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  21. 21
    Click "Effect".
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  22. 22
    Move the cursor to "Blur".
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  23. 23
    Finally, click "Smart Blur...". A preview box will appear.
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  24. 24
    We can click and drag away the preview box.
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  25. 25
    Click the plus and minus icons under the preview to zoom in and out.
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  26. 26
    Click the arrow next to a percentage under the preview.
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  27. 27
    Click the zoom percentage.
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  28. 28
    You can edit the "Radius" value. You can do it by clicking and dragging the slider or by typing the value into the box next to "Radius". The filter blurs things like sky and brings everything else forward. It is the way of Illustrator and Photoshop to help you in your work.
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  29. 29
    You can adjust the "Threshold" value in the same manner. The preview will be subtly updated.
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  30. 30
    Click the "Quality" drop-down menu. The default setting is "Low". You can easily change that to "Medium" or "High".
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  31. 31
    Click the "Mode" drop-down menu.
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  32. 32
    Let's click "Edge Only".
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  33. 33
    Click the "Mode" drop-down menu again.
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  34. 34
    Click "Overlay Edge".
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  35. 35
    Then, click "OK" to apply changes to your image.
    Apply A Blur Effect To An Image On Adobe Illustrator CS6.mp4-canvas349 555267.jpg
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This concludes our tutorial showing you how to apply a "Blur" effect to an image in Adobe Illustrator CS6 in Windows 7. If you have any questions or comments regarding this video or the program used, then just add them to the comment section below. Thank you for choosing VisiHow!

Video: Apply Blur to Images in Illustrator CS6

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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Recent edits by: VisiHow, Freya

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