How Do I Change the Blur Layer in Photoshop?

To change the blur applied to a layer in Photoshop, you generally adjust the blur settings directly on the layer or use layer masks for more control.

Here's a breakdown of how you can modify a blur effect, assuming you've already applied a blur filter like Gaussian Blur:

1. Locate the Blur Filter: In the Layers panel, find the layer that has the blur effect applied. If you used a filter like Gaussian Blur directly on the layer, it's a destructive change. If you used a Smart Filter, you can modify it nondestructively.

2. Adjusting a Smart Filter (Nondestructive Method):

   • If you applied the blur as a Smart Filter (by right-clicking the layer and selecting "Convert to Smart Object" before applying the blur), you'll see the filter listed under the layer name in the Layers panel.
   • Double-click on the name of the blur filter (e.g., "Gaussian Blur") to reopen its dialog box.
   • Modify the "Radius" slider (or any other relevant parameters) to increase or decrease the blur amount.
   • Click "OK" to apply the changes.

3. Adjusting Opacity: You can change the overall strength of the blur effect by adjusting the layer's opacity in the Layers panel. Lowering the opacity makes the blur less intense. This is mentioned in the reference video from [0:41-5:17].

4. Using Layer Masks (Selective Blur):

   • To apply blur selectively, use a layer mask.
   • Ensure the layer with the blur is selected.
   • Click the "Add Layer Mask" button at the bottom of the Layers panel (it looks like a rectangle with a circle inside).
   • Using a brush tool with black as the foreground color, paint on the mask to hide the blur in those areas. Painting with white will reveal the blur again. Grayscale values will partially reveal the blur. This allows for very precise control over where the blur is visible.

5. Modifying a Destructive Blur (Less Ideal): If you applied the blur directly to a raster layer (i.e., not as a Smart Filter), it's more difficult to change. You would have to use the History panel to undo the blur and then reapply it with different settings. This is why using Smart Filters is recommended.

Example:

Imagine you've blurred a portrait but want to keep the eyes sharp. You would:

1. Apply Gaussian Blur to the portrait layer (preferably as a Smart Filter).
2. Add a layer mask to the blurred layer.
3. Paint with black over the eyes in the layer mask. This removes the blur from the eyes, restoring their sharpness while the rest of the portrait remains blurred.