Are you taking pictures with an iPhone but unsure how to blur areas surrounding your subject? Read on to learn about Blur Background iPhone and how to use it.
The iPhone has become a popular smartphone brand, especially among younger people. It is not surprising since the iPhone offers many benefits over other brands of smartphones.
The first major benefit of using an iPhone is its excellent camera. Many users have praised the iPhone for its ability to take quality photographs, and this is one of the reasons why so many people like using this particular device.
Another reason why iPhones are so popular is because of the Blur background iPhone feature. The blur background iPhone feature is a unique and powerful tool that lets you blur out the background of your photos. This can be used for professional or personal use but is especially helpful for those who want to post their photos on social media websites like Facebook and Instagram. Blurring out the background in your photo helps bring attention to your subject and makes it stand out more.
Use Portrait Mode to Blur Background on iPhone
The Apple Portrait Mode available on iPhones 7, 8 Plus, and all iPhone X and iPhone 11 models is a great trick for blurring the background of your photos. If you're shooting in portrait mode, your iPhone will automatically detect the subject in your photo and make sure it's nice and sharp. This works best with people or pets, but you can also use it to blur out unwanted objects in the background.
You can use the mode in 3 different ways. These include:
Blurring the Background with Portrait Mode:
Portrait mode is one of the standout features in Apple's latest iPhones, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many iPhone users believe that Portrait mode only blurs the background of a photo, but there's more to it than that. Apple's software actually uses two different techniques to create its portrait effect: It can change the focus point on your shot or apply a blur effect.
To use it:
Step 1: On your iPhone, launch the Camera app.
Step 2: Swipe up from the camera shutter and touch the [Portrait] option.
Step 3: An extra menu with various portrait lighting options will appear. Select from [studio light, Contour light], and other options.
Step 4: Position your phone with the camera facing the subject and follow the on-screen instructions. For example, you might be prompted to get closer or further away from your subject.
Step 5: The lighting banner will turn yellow once Portrait mode has established your phone positioning to be Okay.
Step 6: Click the shutter release button.
Modifying the Background While Taking a Photo
Step 1: Frame and size your photo in Portrait mode, then follow the on-screen instructions until the yellow light appears.
Step 2: Tap the f-stop button (followed by a number) in the upper right corner. Touching the button opens the depth-of-field slider.
Step 3: Slide the measuring line that will appear above the camera shutter towards the right. This will increase the blur, while to the left decreases it.
Step 4: When you're satisfied with the effect, press the shutter button.
Modifying the Background Blur After Taking the Photo
Step 1: Take a portrait-style photo with either of the compatible iPhone models.
Step 2: Tap the [Edit] button in the Photos app.
Step 3: In the edit screen, the depth control slider will appear alongside your photo.
Step 4: Move the slider to achieve the desired blur.
Step 5: Click on the [Done] button.
Each Portrait Mode Lighting Effect Means:
Portrait mode makes the iPhone stand out from the crowd. It allows you to take clear and crisp photos with a bokeh effect. The lighting is adjusted automatically depending on the background. So what does each lighting effect mean?
Here are some of the most common portrait mode lighting effects and what they mean:
- Natural Light: This is the default option, which will adjust automatically according to the natural light in your surroundings. You can also use this option to take a picture of yourself or another person.
- Stage Light: This mode uses artificial lighting to create a spotlight effect, making it ideal for taking pictures in low-light conditions. It’s also useful if you want to capture an object that has a reflective surface or bright colors that would otherwise look dull or washed out in natural light conditions.
- Studio Light: This mode creates an artificial studio light effect, so it’s best used when you want to create dramatic effects such as soft shadows and highlights on your subject’s face or body parts (such as lips).
- Contour Light: This is the most common lens flare effect that you'll find on iPhones. It's called “Contour Light” because it enhances the contrast between light and dark areas in your photo. The Contour Light effect adds a halo to bright spots in the photo and adds contrast to shadows, making them appear darker than they actually are.
- High-Key Light Mono: The High-Key Light Mono effect is similar to Contour Light but instead of adding contrast to shadows, it lightens them up so that they don't appear as dark as they do in real life. This makes your image look like it has been taken in bright sunlight on an overcast day or with flash photography.
Get Closer to Subject to Blur Background on iPhone
To blur a background, without using the Portrait mode on your iPhone, you need to get closer to your subject. The closer you get, the more blurred the background will be. However, you must know the method isn't as simple as in the Portrait mode, but if anything, it works well in older iPhones.
So to do it:
Step 1: The first thing to do is get closer to your subject. If you have a zoom lens for your phone, use that. Otherwise, move closer to whatever you want to focus on.
Step 2: Next, tap the shutter button, so the camera focuses on them. The camera will automatically try to focus on whatever is closest to the middle of the screen.
Step 3: Now tap and hold the shutter button until a yellow box appears around your subject. This tells you they are focused and will remain so when you take the shot.
Use Third-Party Apps to Blur Background on iPhone
Blurring the background of a photo is one of the most common edits you'll see on Instagram and other social platforms. But what if you want to blur the background without using the normal portrait mode?
You can use third-party apps like Photoshop Express or Blur PhotoBackground to blur the background of your iPhone photos in just a few simple steps. For this guide, we'll use Photoshop Express.
Here's how:
Step 1: Open Photoshop Express on your iPhone after downloading it.
Step 2: Next, select a photo to edit.
Step 3: Select the [Adjustments] option, then scroll down and select the [Blur] option.
Step 4: A circle will appear on display; drag it over the top of your central focus.
Step 5: Use the slider to change the amount of blur and your fingers to make the circle smaller or larger.
Step 6: When finished, touch the [Upload] icon at the top of the display to save the image to your library.
Conclusion
Apple's use of blur technology has become a hit. Considering its effects can be used to achieve stunning results, it is only expected that many people use iPhone 8 Plus and the latest models these days. So it goes without saying that if Apple has started using this technology, other smartphone companies such as Samsung and HTC would follow suit so as not to be left behind in the competition.
