Background editing

[1234]

So I found this tutorial on youtube, I love how they made the subject stand out from the background so that the focus is on the dog and it blends in a bit better.  I have this picture here (currently raw edits are waiting for approval in the raw class) that I love and want to revive and thought it would be a perfect one to try something like this on.  My question - I have been taking your levels class (I know I still have a long way to go) but how would a background change like this factor in to the levels work? like would I do it before or after would this be during the levels editing itself?

 

[Damien Symonds]

This will be your first step: https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/06/blurring-background-false-dof.html

[1234]

any tips on masking around the hair? I tried to to use the hair replacement method and it didn't go very well and this is my best attempt so far...

[Damien Symonds]

Come on, it needs to be a LOT more blurred than this, if you want it to match the one you linked above.

[1234]

haha! how about this?

[Damien Symonds]

It's still way too busy.

[1234]

ok i applied it 3 times... the left leg looks funny as I am currently in the process of taking out the leash!

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry, applied what three times?

[1234]

Oops sorry! I applied the lens blur three times

[Damien Symonds]

Gosh no, don't do that!  Only ever apply it once.

[1234]

ahhhh - in that case we are back to this  

[Damien Symonds]

No, I mean, apply it once, but stronger.  As strong as you need.

[1234]

Ok - feeling a bit dumb here - i've used lens blur and set the radius to 100 - is there a way to make it stronger? it won't let me go over 100

[1234]

ok did a bit better with gaussian blur!

[Damien Symonds]

Great!

[1234]

fabulous! At this point would I do levels or start to deal with the colour?

[Damien Symonds]

Levels now.