Custom Printed Bokeh

If you want to change the look of the bokeh (out of focus lights) on your photos follow these simple steps and tips.

Check more photos coming soon on damngood.

Step 1: Materials for This Project

These are the necessary materials for the project realization:

1) image editing software

2) transparent foil for printing

3) laser printer

4) scissors

5) DSLR camera

6) Camera lens with f 1.4 or 1.8

6) Lens filter

Step 2: Making the Custom Made Bokeh Filters

First draw the image in editing software (Photoshop, Gimp, etc.). Black circles diameter should be slightly smaller than the lens filter diameter.

After that use the white brush with the shape that you want your bokeh filter to be. The size of the brush must be smaller than the aperture of the lens. Then make several different shapes as in the attached .pdf files. Use the transparent foil for the printer and print your file.

With scissors cut the circles and mount them on the lens filter, attach it on the lens and mount on the camera. Use the camera M (manual) or A (aperture priority) mode to set the aperture. Aperture must be 1.4 or 1.8 for the best results.

Go outside and take some good shots, enjoy! ;)

Step 3: Bokeh in Action

Step 4: Some Samples

Some samples at the end.

Comments

[jraward]

Love this! Definitely going to give this a whirl

[Just4Fun Media]

Very ingenious technique! Have a great day.

[dejan.maletic.77]

Tahanks

[WhitskyU]

Muito interessante, obrigado por compartilhar seu instructable.

[Ginko Balboa]

Smart way to make Bokehs, must try it...I even don't need some fancy of a printer, as I can see from your prints.

[seamster]

Whoa, awesome. This is such a cool technique!

[dejan.maletic.77]

Thanks, try it and make some cool images.