Bokeh Filter

User-Contributed Project

User-Contributed Project

This project guide is not managed by MAKE staff.

Make your own bokeh-effect photos in a very simple way.

  • Author: Sindri Diego
  • Time required: 5 to 20 minutes
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Add Note x
  • x 8

"Bokeh" comes from the Japanese word "boke" (暈け or ボケ) which means blur or haze. The English word "bokeh" has to do with the aesthetics of out-of-focus points of light. Different types of lenses may render different qualities of bokeh, so if you own an SLR or DSLR, experiment! With this project, you can create an effect where the out-of-focus point-source lights in your pictures appear any shape you want.

Tools
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Bokeh Filter  ¶ 

  • You need for this:

  • A ruler, knife, compass, scissors, and a camera with a 50mm lens.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Measure the diameter of the front of the lens where you'll be able to place the circle of paper. Set your compass to draw circles of this size. If the diameter of the front of the lens is 50mm, set the compass to a 25mm radius.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Take a piece of black thick paper and make a circle.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Cut out the circle using scissors, but leave a tab hanging off of it that you can use as a handle.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use your knife to cut out any shape you want in the paper. Try to make it fairly small and centered.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • I chose an S, but you can do anything you desire. You could even do more complicated things.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Now put your circle on the lens, where the cover goes.

  • Set your camera to the lowest aperture setting, and start shooting.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Practice until you are happy with the results! :)

For more information, check out the Photography category page.

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Comments Add Note Comments are onturn off

Guide Add Note

Do you need to use a 50mm lens or will longer lenses work? I know you need a lens with a large aperture (small f value).

Although I guess the longer you go you naturally reduce the useful aperture opening.

Martin Goddard, · Reply

I actually don't know, I don't have the lenses to try it, but you should definitely try it out and experiment with this, but all the places I have seen this, it is made with 50mm lens.

But good luck :)

Sindri Diego,

Because bokeh is created in the areas of the photo that are outside the field of focus, longer lenses should actually work better for this since by their nature they have less depth of field than shorter lenses do.

Martin Schmidt, · Reply

Step 2 Add Note

I think there's a confusion about the diameter of the front glass and the focal length of the lens here. A 50mm lens won't necessarily have a 50mm diameter front element. In the case of Cannon's 50mm, it does have a 50mm diameter front glass, but that's not the case with all lenses.

Matt Richardson, · Reply