Do you want to master the art of background blur in iPhone photography? It’s easier than you think, and dfphoto.net is here to guide you through it with simple techniques for stunning visual artistry. Learn how to use depth of field to create professional-looking images. Discover photography tips and visual aesthetics.
1. Capture Beautifully Blurred Backgrounds Using Portrait Mode
Do you want to capture stunning iPhone portrait photos with a beautifully blurred background? Forget about needing a DSLR – your iPhone can do it!
iPhone Portrait Mode blurs the background, focusing on the subject
The built-in iPhone Camera app has an incredible tool for blurring backgrounds: Portrait mode! It uses depth-effect software to artistically blur the background while keeping your subject in sharp focus, perfect for portrait photography and drawing attention to your main focus.
Portrait mode is available on many iPhones, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7 Plus.
1.1 How To Blur Background On iPhone Using Portrait Mode
How do you use Portrait mode to blur the background? First, open the Camera app and select Portrait at the bottom.
Selecting Portrait Mode on the iPhone Camera App to enable background blur
Ensure your subject is two to eight feet away and that there’s enough light, as Portrait mode struggles in low light. A yellow focus box will appear around your subject’s face, indicating they’re in focus while the background blurs.
When you see Natural Light (or Depth Effect on iPhone 7 Plus) in yellow, your iPhone is ready. Press the shutter button to capture your photo with a blurred background.
1.2 How To Change Background Blur In Portrait Photos
Did you know you can adjust the background blur after taking the photo on iPhones such as the iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XS Max, and XR? Open the photo in the Photos app and tap Edit at the top right.
Editing a portrait photo on iPhone, selecting the f-number icon to adjust background blur
Tap the f/number icon at the top left and use the Depth slider to adjust the blur strength. A lower f/number creates a stronger blur, while a higher f/number results in less blur, revealing more background detail.
Adjusting the Depth slider to control the intensity of the background blur in an iPhone portrait
Older iPhones lack the Depth slider, but you can remove the blur by tapping the yellow Portrait option at the top. Tap Portrait again to switch the blur back on.
Portrait Lighting (not on iPhone 7 Plus) allows you to add studio lighting effects to your portrait photos. Tap the Portrait Lighting (hexagon) icon at the top left of the editing screen to reveal the lighting options.
Choosing a Portrait Lighting effect to enhance the subject's features in an iPhone photo
Swipe across the Portrait Lighting icons (cube icons) at the bottom of the photo to choose from effects like Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and High-Key Light Mono.
Natural Light preserves the original lighting, while Studio Light brightens the face. Contour Light adds shadows for defined features. Stage Light darkens the background, and Stage Light Mono does the same in black and white. High-Key Light Mono creates a black and white photo with a white background.
Applying the Stage Light Mono effect to create a dramatic black and white portrait with a dark background
Adjust the strength of the lighting effect using the slider, then tap Done to save your changes.
2. Get Closer To Your Subject For Amazing Background Blur
Do you want to know how to take pictures with a blurred background on an iPhone that doesn’t have Portrait mode? Here’s a simple trick: Get closer to your subject.
Close-up iPhone photo with a blurred background, showcasing the impact of proximity on depth of field
Shooting close to your subject creates a shallow depth of field. This means only a small portion of the image is in focus while the rest is blurred. The closer you get, the shallower the depth of field and the blurrier the background.
Ensure your subject remains in sharp focus. If it’s blurry, move slightly away and try again. For extreme close-ups, consider using an add-on macro lens like the Moment Macro Lens.
Capturing nature macro photography with an iPhone, utilizing an add-on lens for extreme close-up focus
A macro lens allows the camera to focus at very close distances, perfect for detailed photos of flowers, insects, and nature.
Focus on the correct part of the scene when shooting up close to ensure your foreground subject is sharp and the background is blurred.
Using tap-to-focus to ensure the foreground subject is sharp against a blurred background
To set the focus, simply tap the screen where you want the focus to be. A yellow box indicates the focus point. If the background isn’t blurred enough, move closer and tap to refocus.
Achieving a shallow depth of field by getting close and tapping to focus on the desired subject
3. Blur The Background Of A Picture In Editing
What if you didn’t capture a blurry background but decide it would enhance the photo? You can easily blur the background using an editing app after taking the picture.
Using an editing app to selectively blur the background of an iPhone photo
We’ll use the AfterFocus app to blur the background.
3.1 Select Your Foreground Subject & Background
Open AfterFocus and tap Select Photo, then choose the photo you want to edit.
After opening the image, helpful tips may appear; swipe through them and tap the X to exit.
First, use the Smart Selection tools to select the subject and background. Tap the Focus icon and draw a line inside the area you want to keep in focus.
Using the Smart Selection tool in AfterFocus to mark the area to keep in focus
You don’t need to be precise, just roughly mark the foreground subject. Next, tap the Background icon and draw a line over the background you want to blur. The foreground will be highlighted with a red mask.
The red area with white lines is the part of the image that will remain in focus. The black line indicates the area that will be blurred.
Check if the app has accurately selected your subject. If part of your foreground isn’t highlighted or the background appears red, fix it to ensure only the background is blurred.
Identifying areas that need correction in the foreground selection for accurate background blurring
If the Smart Selection tools don’t give perfect results, switch to Manual Selection mode by tapping the Pencil icon at the top.
Zoom in by pinching with two fingers and carefully check the edges. Use two fingers to drag the image while zoomed in.
Tap the Brush Size icon and select a suitable brush size. Then, select either the Focus or Background icon and brush over the subject or background to refine your selection.
Switching to Manual Selection to refine the foreground and background selections using a brush tool
Be precise with the Manual Selection tools. Any area you brush over will be selected. If you make a mistake, tap Undo (curved arrow) or switch between the Focus and Background icons to repaint.
When finished, the red mask should only cover the foreground subject. The neater the selection, the more realistic the blur effect.
Tap the arrow at the top right when your selection is complete. The background of your photo will now appear blurred!
If you notice a mistake, tap the single left arrow to adjust your selection with the Focus and Background tools, then tap the right arrow to return to the blur effects screen.
3.2 Customize The Blur Effect
The icons at the bottom of the AfterFocus app allow you to customize the blur. Tap the Blur icon and ensure Lens Blur is selected. Drag the slider to adjust the blur strength.
Adjusting the Lens Blur intensity to fine-tune the background blur effect in AfterFocus
Below is an edited photo with a beautifully blurred background.
An example of a final image with a selectively blurred background using AfterFocus
Compare that to the original image where the background is in focus. The blurred background helps draw attention to the subject.
If you want to add a sense of movement, use the Motion Blur option instead of Lens Blur. This enhances the feeling of motion, perfect for moving subjects.
Applying motion blur to the background to create a sense of speed and movement in a photo
Even if the original photo was taken while the subject was stationary, motion blur can make it appear as though they were moving quickly.
When you’ve finished editing, save your photo by tapping the down arrow at the top and then tap Yes.
4. Frame Your Subject With A Dreamy Blurred Vignette
This technique creates a blurred vignette around the edges of the scene instead of blurring the entire background.
Creating a dreamy blurred vignette effect around the edges of an iPhone photo using Snapseed
The blurred edges draw attention to the central focused area, framing the subject and adding a dreamy quality.
Here’s how to create this effect using the free Snapseed app:
Open Snapseed and tap the screen to open your photo library. Select Open From Device and choose the photo you want to open.
Opening a photo in Snapseed to apply the Lens Blur tool for a vignette effect
Tap Tools at the bottom and select the Lens Blur tool. Two white circles will appear on your image.
Everything inside the inner circle will be in sharp focus, while everything outside the outer circle will be blurred. The area between the circles is where the image transitions from sharp to blurred.
Positioning and adjusting the Lens Blur circles in Snapseed to create the desired focus area
Drag the circle to a different area or resize it by pinching with two fingers.
To adjust the blur strength, swipe up or down and select Blur Strength, then swipe left or right to adjust the intensity.
Adjust the Transition and Vignette Strength in the same way. Transition adjusts how gradually the focused area transitions to blur, while Vignette Strength controls the darkness of the edges.
When satisfied, tap the checkmark at the bottom right.
Save your image by tapping Export, then Save A Copy.
Saving the edited image in Snapseed after applying the blurred vignette effect
Below is an edited image with a dreamy blurred vignette around the edges.
A final image showcasing a dreamy blurred vignette effect achieved with Snapseed
Compare this to the original image without any blur. The subtle blurring draws the eye toward the center of the frame.
A blurred vignette works best when the subject is positioned centrally with enough space around it to blur the edges.
Understanding User Search Intent
To truly optimize this article, it’s crucial to understand the search intent behind “How To Blur Background In Photos Iphone.” Here are five key intents:
- Tutorial Intent: Users want a step-by-step guide on how to blur backgrounds using various iPhone features and apps.
- App Recommendation Intent: Users seek recommendations for the best apps to blur backgrounds on their iPhones.
- Troubleshooting Intent: Users are facing issues blurring backgrounds and need solutions (e.g., Portrait mode not working).
- Technique Comparison Intent: Users want to compare different methods of blurring backgrounds (e.g., Portrait mode vs. editing apps).
- Creative Inspiration Intent: Users are looking for ideas and inspiration on how to use background blur creatively in their iPhone photography.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How do I blur the background on my iPhone?
You can blur the background on your iPhone using Portrait mode in the Camera app, getting physically closer to your subject, or using editing apps like AfterFocus and Snapseed. Each method offers different levels of control and effects.
2. Which iPhones have Portrait mode for background blur?
Portrait mode is available on iPhones starting from the iPhone 7 Plus and later models, including the iPhone 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 series.
3. Can I adjust the background blur after taking a photo on my iPhone?
Yes, on iPhones such as the iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XS Max, and XR, you can adjust the background blur in Portrait photos after they’ve been taken using the Depth slider in the Photos app.
4. What is the best app to blur the background in photos on iPhone?
Several apps are great for blurring backgrounds, including AfterFocus and Snapseed. AfterFocus offers precise selection tools, while Snapseed provides a dreamy vignette effect.
5. How do I blur the background without Portrait mode on my iPhone?
You can achieve a blurred background effect by getting physically closer to your subject. This creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. Consider using a macro lens for extreme close-ups.
6. Why is Portrait mode not working on my iPhone?
Portrait mode may not work if there isn’t enough light, or if your subject is too close or too far away (they need to be between two and eight feet from the camera). Ensure the camera detects a face or object to focus on.
7. How do I create motion blur in the background of my iPhone photos?
Use the AfterFocus app and select the Motion Blur option instead of Lens Blur to add a sense of movement to the background of your photo.
8. What is a blurred vignette and how do I create it on my iPhone?
A blurred vignette is a technique where the edges of the photo are blurred to draw attention to the center. Use the Lens Blur tool in the Snapseed app to create this effect.
9. Can I remove the background blur from a Portrait mode photo on my iPhone?
Yes, you can remove the background blur by tapping the yellow Portrait option at the top of the screen when editing the photo in the Photos app.
10. Where can I find more tips and tutorials on iPhone photography?
Visit dfphoto.net for a wealth of resources, including detailed tutorials, stunning photo collections, and a vibrant community of photographers in the USA.
By understanding and addressing these search intents, this article is well-positioned to attract a wide audience and provide valuable, comprehensive information on how to blur backgrounds in iPhone photos.
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