Miniature tilt-shift effect in Photoshop

Let me show you how to achieve that miniature effect on images by using Photoshop.

In Photoshop open a picture you want to miniaturise.

The picture should be from the similar perspective as mine. You can make tilt-shift pictures of cars, people, buildings, just mind the perspective.

Click the Edit in Quick Mask Mode icon (Q for the keyboard shortcut)

Click the Gradient Tool icon (G for the keyboard shortcut).

If you can't see the Gradient Tool, look for Paint Bucket Tool click on it and hold the button for a second or two. A Gradient Tool icon should appear, then click it.

Choose the Reflected Gradient. (see picture)

Draw a vertical line. Click where you want to start drawing, hold the mouse button, pull the mouse down and let the button go.

Starting point of the line is where the focus of the picture will be, the ending point, where the bluring begins.

It should look something like this.

Click Edit in Standard Mode icon (Q for keyboard shortcut)

Now you see selected areas. The middle rectangle is where the focus will be, then it will gradually go blur in both directions. This is why we chose the Gradient tool.

Now click Filter, Blur and Lens Blur.

In the Lens blur window, set the Radius accordingly.

I've set it to 16, just play with the radius setting and observe the preview.

Click OK when finished.

This is how it looks in my case.

Let's make the selection lines disappear by clicking Select and Deselect (Ctrl+D for keyboard shortcut).

Like this.

Let's make some color correction to make it more toy-like.

Click Image, Adjustments and Hue/Saturation.

In the Hue/Saturation window, set the Saturation accordingly.

I've set it to +10, it depends of your image colors, just keep checking the preview.

Click OK when finished.

Just one more tweak and we're done.

Click Image, Adjustments and Levels.

In the Levels window set the middle tones and light tones accordingly.

I've set the middle tone to 0.86 and light tones to 216. It depends of the image, keep playing with the settings and observe the preview.

When satisfied, click OK.

You're done! This is how they do it.