The bokeh effect has many uses within digital art. It can be overused, sure. But it can also be simply stunning. Trying to recreate this look on your own would be time-consuming. Thanks for Photoshop actions, right?
What you will find here is a great set of Photoshop actions that greatly simplify the process of creating the bokeh effect. Most of these can be applied with a single click and offer a wide range of great results.
It’s a good idea to try out a few of these effects to see which would suit your work best. You are sure to find something that works well and speaks to your specific needs. Now, without further ado, let’s jump in!
The Dual Light Photoshop Actions set creates a beautiful double light effect on any photo of your choice and also adds smoke and bokeh effects. The final image is layered and can be customized in many ways. This activity set also comes with 20 color presets.
Another action set you might want to consider is the Photoshop Soft Focus Action. Simply add it to a specific area of a photo that you want to stay in sharp focus, then play the action. The result is a soft focus on the rest of the image, which provides the bokeh effect.
Another great option is the Bokeh Kit for Photoshop. It has little effect but it can change your photos in different ways. This kit has a lot going for it, in that it’s not just Photoshop bokeh action. It also comes with eight bokeh gradients and 40 bokeh brushes to help give you more control over the result.
This photo overlay pack is full of tools and resources to add amazing bokeh effects to your photos.
You might always want to check out the Holidays Bokeh Photoshop Action set. This one has just one action file and one brush file, and is complemented by a thorough how-to file. It is easy to use, non-destructive and compatible with the latest versions of Photoshop.
This is another great option designed with selfies in mind. This Photoshop action works by turning your selfies or iPhone photos into professional-looking photos by adding a bokeh effect. The action has ten color effects that you can also use to further customize the finished product. A help file and video tutorial are also included for your convenience.
The Brightum Soft Focus Photoshop Action is definitely worth considering as well. This action works by creating soft focus and light effects on your photos. All you have to do is select an area and then click play. You can also make adjustments to colors, contrast and gradients thanks to the ten color presets and well-organized layers.
If you want to leave your audience dazzled, Photoshop’s Shimmer Action is a great choice. This action works like this: sweep the area of the photo you want to add a spark effect to, then click play. That’s it! The end result is a bright area of the photo that draws the eye and appears to be shining with small pieces of moon.
And check this one out! The Circles Animation Photoshop Action is a great addition to your toolbox. With one click, you can apply soft-focus light effects around the end of a specific area of a photo you choose. The result is a sparkling effect that draws in the eye.
The Glory Photoshop Action is extremely easy to use. All you have to do is fill in your chosen material with your choice of color, choose a light direction, then play the action. That’s it! You can choose from eight different light directions, and the final result is also non-destructive, so you can cancel the effect if you don’t like how it turned out.
The last action on 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. That’s all there is to it. This action comes with ten color presets, a collection of graphic elements, and is layered and organized for convenient use (and undo, where necessary).
How to install Photoshop Actions
- Download and unzip the activity file
- Send Photoshop
- Go Window > Actions
- Choose Loading 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, find it in the box Action panel
- Click on the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions
- Click on the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the Actions panel
We hope you enjoyed this collection of the best Photoshop actions to create the bokeh effect. Bokeh is versatile and relevant to many photos and design options.
And in the end, after trying some of the actions offered here, you will have to adopt a look that meets your artistic preferences. Good luck!
