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Faking motion in a Photograph, Photoshop Tutorial

Colin Smith

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We start with a photograph on a car that is stationary and then make it look like it’s moving in Photoshop. (See the bottom of the page to download the photo)

This is a trick I have been using for a number of years, and frankly, its a lot of fun to do. Check out the video and learn how to put this car into motion

How to put a still subject into motion!


Basically, we are going to cut out the car and put it on a new layer. Ill show you quick select and refine edge, as well as how to do it with the pen tool, by making paths.

Then we blur the background with a motion Blur. We then blend the 2 layers together to add the appearance of motion. A little extra work is done to fix the windows. I show you how to darken the windows, so the lack of driver isn’t a problem. I also show how to make the windows transparent, but still having the appearance of glass. Finally, we need to spin the wheels. I cover 2 ways of doing it. We do the traditional way that works on all versions of Photoshop. We then look at a newer way that works only in photoshop CC.

I hope you enjoy this. Check out all the new, free tutorials here on photoshopCAFE.

You can grab my practice Photo here (Educational use only please).

free practice photo, make a car move in photoshop
Click for full size image (2,000 px) feel free to use it to follow along with this PhotoshopCAFE tutorial.

Till next time, Colin


PS Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media for more tips.. (I've been posting some fun Instagram and Facebook Stories lately)
You can get my free Layer Blending modes ebook along with dozens of exclusive Photoshop Goodies here photoshop goodies for free

8 thoughts on “Faking motion in a Photograph, Photoshop Tutorial

  1. Charlotte Geier
    March 31, 2016 at 8:01 am

    The videos are very helpful and give a good visualization, but I still need a written tutorial to use while I am working in Photoshop. I cannot watch the video while I am working and get it to my place in the operation. I always enjoy learning something new from your tutorials.

    1. April 23, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      I do my best to include written tutorials with the videos usually. Ill get around to a written tut soon, just a bit behind right now 🙂

  2. geoffthekiwi
    April 23, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    Great tutorial…. thanks Colin, let me share it!!
    Disclosure: I am an Adobe Community Professional and as such am always looking for resources to use in helping users.

    1. April 23, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      Share it out, LOL, I am also an ACP and my nickname is kiwicolin 😉

      1. geoffthekiwi
        April 23, 2016 at 2:50 pm

        How did you get that name mate????

  3. Tani Adams
    December 2, 2016 at 10:32 am

    I like your photo manipulations, I tried to make also but my experience was failed, Photoshop is too hard for me to learn 🙂 For such effects I just use apps or I send my photos to online photo retouching services like FixThePhoto

  4. Denis Sharpington
    November 15, 2018 at 5:56 am

    Brilliant…. Little touches make all the difference, I’m just an enthusiastic photoshopper manipulating my own photos ….you’ve made such a difference in a short space of time …Thank -you so much.

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