Blur Similar to OS X Stacks (Grid)

[Kliphten]

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way in Photoshop to mimic the blur that OS X Stacks (specifically the grid view) does when you open it. If you check it out, you will see that it blurs anything below it. Anyone know how to do this in Photoshop or on the web?

 

[Hoogle]

Hello and welcome to the forum are you asking if you can mimick macs stacklets on a pc then yes google rocket dock and stacklets there are 100s of versions out there all customisable

 

[Kliphten]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I was actually wondering how I could create a layer in Photoshop that would blur everything below it and once I hid that layer, there would no longer be a blur.

Basically, the top layer would have some blur in it that would affect the lower layers without directly applying any filters or effects to the lower layers.

I would also like to be able to apply this effect to a website. Anyone know if these are both possible?

 

[Hoogle]

Ok I am not sure how to get what you want exactly or even anything close if I have misunderstood you how about duplicating the background layer or any layer with a lot going on moving it to the top layer apply guassian blur and lower the opacity of that layer so you can still see what is going on underneath all be it blury once you turn of visibility of the blurred layer everything goes back to normal. Sorry I could not be any more help but that is all I can think off

 

[Kliphten]

Yeah, duplicating all the layers and merging them and applying the blur would work but if something changes in a lower layer, I will have to repeat this merging and blurring. I want to create a top black layer, apply a blur and give it about 80% opacity, but then I want everything below it to be blurred. Right now, if I do that exactly what I just said, the layers below are still clear/sharp.

 

[Hoogle]

what about if you crate them in smart groups