Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus parts of an image, creating beautiful, dreamy effects. The term comes from the Japanese word “boke,” meaning “blur” or “haze.”
Photographers often use special lenses or adjust their camera settings, such as a wide aperture, to create the bokeh effect. However, these Photoshop actions offer a convenient and time-saving solution for those without access to expensive camera equipment.
These actions act as pre-made adjustments that can be easily applied to your photos. You can control the intensity and style of the bokeh effect, giving you creative freedom.
Whether you want to create a dreamy portrait, add sparkle to product photography, or make holiday photos more festive, these bokeh effect Photoshop actions are what you need.
Dual Light Photoshop Actions
The Dual Light Photoshop Actions set creates a striking double light effect on any photo, along with added smoke and bokeh effects. The final image is layered and highly customizable. This action set also includes 20 color presets for further adjustments.
Soft Focus Photoshop Actions
Another action set to consider is the Soft Focus Photoshop Action. Apply it to the photo area you want to keep in sharp focus, then play the action. The result is a soft focus on the rest of the image, creating a bokeh effect.
Bokeh Kit for Photoshop
The Bokeh Kit for Photoshop is another fantastic option. It’s minimal in effect but can transform your photographs in various ways. It comes with eight bokeh gradients and 40 bokeh brushes to help give you more control over the final result.
Bokeh Light Leak Photo Overlays
This photo overlay package is chock full of tools and resources for adding stunning bokeh effects to your photographs.
Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action
You might always want to check out the Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action set. It includes an action file, a brush file, and a detailed how-to guide. It’s easy to use and non-destructive.
Bokeh Photoshop Actions
This is another excellent bokeh option. This Photoshop action will transform your selfies into professional-looking bokeh photos. It also includes ten color effects to customize the final result further.
Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action
Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action is also worth considering. This action applies soft focus and light effects to your photos. All you have to do is select an area and then click play. Thanks to the ten color presets and well-organized layers, you can also make adjustments to color, contrast, and gradients.
Shimmer Photoshop Action
If you want to dazzle your viewers, the Shimmer Photoshop Action is a great option. Simply brush the area of the photo where you want the sparkle effect, then click play. The result is a bright, eye-catching area that looks like it’s shining with tiny pieces of glitter.
Circles Animation Photoshop Action
The Circles Animation Photoshop Action is a great set to add to your toolbox. With just one click, you can add soft-focus light effects around a specific area of your photo, resulting in a sparkling effect.
Glory Photoshop Action
The Glory Photoshop Action is super easy to use. Fill in your chosen subject with a color of your choice, select a light direction, and play the action. You can choose from eight different light directions, and the result is non-destructive, allowing you to undo the effect if needed.
Magicum Studio Lights Photoshop Action
The last action in our collection is the Dreamy Photoshop Action. This one adds firefly effects with soft focus to your images. Select the area you want to highlight and click play. This action comes with ten color presets and a collection of graphic elements.
How to Install Photoshop Actions
- Download and unzip the action file.
- Launch Photoshop.
- Go to
Window > Actions
. - Select
Load Actions
from the menu and go to the folder where you saved the unzipped action file to select it. - The action will now be installed.
- To use the newly installed action, locate it in the
Action
panel. - Click the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions.
- Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the
Actions
panel.
Conclusion
We hope you found this collection of the best Photoshop actions for creating the bokeh effect useful. Bokeh is a versatile effect for many photographs and design choices. With the help of these actions, you can achieve stunning bokeh effects in just a few clicks, saving you time and effort.