As a photographer or a videographer, it’s natural to want to blur the background and focus on the subject to create a visually appealing effect. But, did you know that you can achieve the same results with your iPhone? Yes, you read that right! Apple’s latest models, iPhone XR, X, XS, 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max come with a feature that lets you blur backgrounds. Before you start shooting with your phone, let’s walk through how to blur the background on iPhone step-by-step. So, get your iPhone ready, and let’s dive in!
1. Why blur the background on iPhone photos?
Many professional photographers use blurred backgrounds to make their subject stand out and draw focus to specific parts of the image. Blurred backgrounds add depth and interest to images, making them look more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
In the past, to achieve the blurred background effect, you would need a DSLR camera or a dedicated lens. However, with the iPhone’s advanced camera technology, you can now achieve a similar effect using the portrait mode feature.
The portrait mode feature allows you to blur the background while keeping the subject in focus, creating a more professional-looking image. This effect is particularly useful when taking portrait photos of people or pets, but can also be used for other types of photography, such as nature or food photography. By blurring the background, you can draw attention to the subject and make the image look more polished and sophisticated.
So, if you want to add some extra visual appeal to your iPhone photos, learning how to blur the background is a great place to start. In the next section, we will go over how to enable portrait mode for blurring the background on your iPhone.
2. How to enable portrait mode for blurring the background?
Portrait mode is a feature available for iPhones that have dual-lens cameras or dual-camera setups. This feature utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and the dual-camera setup to create a blurred background effect, also known as bokeh.
To enable portrait mode, open the camera app on your iPhone and swipe to the left until you reach the Portrait mode option. This option is represented by an icon of a person’s head with a circular background. Once you’ve selected Portrait mode, your iPhone camera will automatically focus on the subject and blur the background.
It’s important to note that portrait mode works best when you have a well-lit subject. A poorly lit subject may result in blurry or grainy images. Additionally, portrait mode may not work well with moving objects or pets due to the AI technology used to create the blurred effect.
To take a portrait mode photo, simply tap the shutter button. Your iPhone camera will capture the image with the blurred background effect. You can then view and edit the image in the Photos app.
In the next section, we’ll discuss tips for adjusting the blur intensity in portrait mode to customize the background blur effect.
3. Tips for adjusting the blur intensity in portrait mode
One of the advantages of taking photos using portrait mode on iPhone is the ability to adjust the blur intensity of the background. This feature allows you to create a professional-looking bokeh effect that can make your subject stand out even more. Here are some :
1. Choose the right distance from the subject
The distance between your subject and the background can affect the intensity of the blur effect. If you want a stronger bokeh effect, make sure that your subject is at least two feet away from the background. Ideally, the subject should also be more prominent in the frame to make the blur effect more noticeable.
2. Use the slider to adjust the blur intensity
Once you’ve taken the photo using portrait mode, you can now adjust the blur intensity of the background. To do this, tap on the “Edit” button and tap on the “Portrait” tab. You should see a slider that you can use to adjust the blur effect. Moving the slider to the right will increase the intensity of the blur effect while moving it to the left will decrease it.
3. Test different blur intensity levels
Different subjects or backgrounds require different levels of blur intensity. If you’re not sure how much blur you need, try adjusting the slider at different levels and compare the results. You can also preview the changes you’ve made by tapping on the “Portrait” button again.
With these tips, you can adjust the blur intensity of your portrait mode shots and create stunning photos that look like they were taken by a professional photographer. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different settings and see what works best for your subject.
4. Using third-party apps to add background blur
If your iPhone doesn’t support portrait mode, or if you’re not happy with the level of background blur you get with the iPhone’s native camera app, you can take advantage of third-party apps to achieve the desired effect. There are many photography apps available on the App Store that offer advanced features for editing and enhancing your pictures. Here are some of the best apps you can use to add background blur to your iPhone photos.
Focos
Focos is one of the most popular photography apps for iPhone users who want to create stunning portrait shots with bokeh effect. Bokeh is a Japanese term that refers to the blur quality in the out-of-focus areas of an image. With Focos, you can simulate the bokeh effect by adjusting the aperture of your virtual camera lens. You can also select the focus point and the depth of field before or after taking the shot. Focos also offers advanced features for editing the background blur, such as masking, saturation, contrast, and more.
AfterFocus
AfterFocus is another app that lets you add background blur to your iPhone photos with ease. With AfterFocus, you can create DSLR-like bokeh shots by choosing the foreground and background area of the image. You can also adjust the blur intensity, the sharpness, and the saturation of the picture. The app also includes a range of filters, textures, and frames to enhance your photos. AfterFocus is available for free or at a low cost of $1.99 for the Pro version.
Big Lens
If you’re looking for a simple yet powerful app to blur the background of your iPhone photos, Big Lens is a great choice. This app offers a variety of aperture settings and lens effects to simulate a shallow depth of field. With Big Lens, you can create realistic bokeh, tilt-shift, and fisheye effects that will make your photos stand out. The app also includes a range of editing tools for adjusting the contrast, brightness, and saturation of your images. Big Lens is available for $0.99 on the App Store, or for free with in-app purchases.
5. Editing background blur after taking the photo
Sometimes, you may not be satisfied with the amount of background blur in your portrait mode photo. Or, you may have mistakenly taken a photo without enabling portrait mode. Fortunately, there are editing options available to add or adjust the background blur after taking the photo.
One popular option is using the editing tools on the Photos app that is embedded in your iPhone. Open the portrait mode photo and tap “Edit” at the top right corner. Then, tap the “f/number” icon at the top left corner to adjust the blur intensity slider. You can test out different levels of background blur by moving the slider left or right and observing the changes on the photo.
Another option is downloading a third-party app like Adobe Photoshop Express or Snapseed, which offer advanced editing tools. For instance, in Snapseed, you can use the selective tool to adjust the blur on different parts of your photo. You can select the areas that need to be blurred and adjust the blur intensity level as required.
Remember, when , try not to over-pixelate it, which can make the photo look artificial. A subtle amount of background blur can effectively highlight your subject. Additionally, saving a copy of the original photo before editing will keep you covered in case you want to revert to the original photo.
People Also Ask:
1. Can I blur the background in a photo on my iPhone?
Yes, you can blur the background in a photo on your iPhone using the Portrait mode on the iPhone camera app. This feature is available on the iPhone 7 Plus and later models.
2. How do I blur the background in a photo on my iPhone after taking the picture?
If you have taken a photo without Portrait mode, you can blur the background using third-party photo editing apps such as Snapseed, VSCO, and Adobe Lightroom.
3. How do I adjust the intensity of the blur effect in Portrait mode on the iPhone?
You can adjust the intensity of the blur effect in Portrait mode on the iPhone by tapping on the “f” button that appears on the camera screen and then adjusting the slider to your preferred level.
4. Can I still resize and crop the photo after using Portrait mode to blur the background?
Yes, you can still resize and crop the photo after using Portrait mode to blur the background. The edited photo will be saved as a separate file, leaving the original photo intact.
5. Is it possible to blur the background in a live photo on my iPhone?
Yes, it is possible to blur the background in a live photo on your iPhone using the Long Exposure feature in the Photos app. This feature allows you to create a blurred background effect in the live photo.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, if you want to blur the background on your iPhone, you can use Portrait mode on the camera app for iPhone 7 Plus and later models or use third-party photo editing apps. Adjusting the intensity of the blur effect and resizing and cropping your photo after using Portrait mode is possible, and you can also blur the background in a live photo. With these simple steps, you can create stunning photos with a beautiful blurred background effect on your iPhone.
