{How-to} Make a Bokeh Filter

A couple of weeks ago I promised a {How-to Make a Bokeh Filter} post. Bokeh is defined as “the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of focus areas of an image, or “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.” Without a filter, you can create regular circle-shaped bokeh. With a filter, you can create it in all different kinds of shapes. I will show you how to make a heart bokeh, but you can use any shape you want.

MATERIALS
*SLR camera with large aperture lens (I use a 60 mm f/2.8)
- Black construction or cardstock paper
- Black tape
- White pencil
- Scissors
- Ruler

Preferred but not necessary:
- Cutting knife
- Cutting matte
- Drafting triangle
- Compass

1. Gather your materials
2. Using a ruler or drafting triangle, draw a white line about .25 in from the edge of your cardstock. Make sure the line is super straight.
3. Cut along this line – you will get a thin strip of paper
4. Measure this strip around the circumference of your lens

5. Cut this strip – don’t make it exactly the measurement of the circumference – make sure it is a little longer
6. Fit the trip around your lens, again
7 + 8. Tape this strip to create a ring – do tape it directly to the lens

9. Measure the diameter of the paper ring you just made
10. Draw a circle with a diameter about .5 in larger than the ring’s dia. I measure the radius with my compass and then draw the circle, but you can find anything around your house that fits the measurement
11. Cut out the circle

12. Draw a heart (or any shape) right in the middle of the circle. You can also use a shape puncher like these
13 + 14. Cut out the heart. I like to fold the circle in half so my heart is symmetric
15. Finished circle with heart cutout!

16+17. Cut small flaps around the circle
18 +19. Place the circle on top of the ring, and tape it all around. Make sure you tape it very well so no light can come through.