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Learning how to Blur the Background of iPhone Photos is an important skill to have, especially if you don’t like the scenery that you’re taking pictures of. Or maybe you just want to make a cool depth-of-field effect for your photograph. In either case, blurring the background on an iPhone photo is a relatively simple process. On an iPhone, performing even the most fundamental photo edits takes only a few seconds thanks to Apple’s inclusion of a wide variety of editing tools within the Photos app. These tools allow you to enhance your images as soon as you take them. To give one illustration, it only takes a few moments to eliminate the background from a picture taken with an iPhone.
But what if you don’t want to get rid of the background altogether and want to blur it instead? That is a possibility on the iPhone as well. And thanks to the features included in the default Photos app, it works just as quickly. However, in order for this blur effect to function properly, there are a few prerequisites that must be met. Taking a picture with the intention of blurring the background on your iPhone is the simplest way to achieve this effect (for example, by using the Portrait Mode). If, on the other hand, you have already taken the picture, we will discuss how to Blur the Background of iPhone Photos is less noticeable.
How to Blur the Background of iPhone Photos Using Portrait Mode

- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- On the list below the picture, swipe to the Portrait mode.
- The light options are Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and High-Key Light Mono. You can switch between them by swiping.
- As usual, take the picture and look at it in your Photos album.
How to Blur the Background on iPhone Photos After Taking a Photo in Portrait Mode
- In your Photos Album, find the picture that was taken in Portrait Mode.
- Go to Edit.
- Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and High-Key Light Mono can be chosen by moving the sliders.
- To save the new picture, press “Done.”
How to Blur the Background on iPhone Photos by Moving
- Start up the Camera app.
- Get closer to your subject to line up your shot. As you get closer, the background gets less clear outside.
- Mark on the screen where you want the picture to be sharpest. The focus seems to be a yellow box.
- To take a picture, press the shutter button.
Why Blurring the Background Matters in Photography
- Subject Isolation: By blurring the background, you can make your subject stand out and draw the viewer’s attention to it. This is particularly useful in portrait photography, where you want the person’s face to be the primary focus.
- Reducing Distractions: A blurred background helps to eliminate distracting elements that may clutter the composition. It allows the viewer to concentrate on the subject without being distracted by what’s happening in the background.
- Creating Depth: Background blur adds a sense of depth to your photos, making them more visually appealing. This can make your images look more three-dimensional and lifelike.
- Emphasizing the Main Subject: When the background is blurry, it can make the subject appear larger and more prominent in the frame. This is particularly effective when you want to emphasize a specific subject in your composition.
- Enhancing Aesthetics: Bokeh can be aesthetically pleasing, adding a touch of artistry to your photos. The soft, out-of-focus background can create a dreamy or ethereal quality that many photographers find attractive.
Different types of background blur effects
Background Blur Effect | Description |
---|---|
Bokeh | Creates circular or hexagonal highlights in the blurred background. |
Gaussian Blur | Applies a smooth and even blurring effect to the entire background. |
Depth of Field | Emulates the way a camera focuses on a subject, with the background gradually blurring. |
Radial Blur | Blurs the background in a circular or radial pattern, with the center being the least blurred. |
Motion Blur | Simulates the effect of motion, making objects in the background appear streaked or blurred. |
Tilt-Shift Blur | Creates a miniature or toy-like effect by selectively blurring the top and bottom of the image. |
Zoom Blur | Gives the impression of motion by blurring the background as if zooming in or out while taking a photo. |
Comparison of iPhone Models and Their Background Blurring Capabilities
iPhone Model | Background Blurring (Portrait Mode) | Additional Notes |
---|---|---|
iPhone 13 Pro Max | Advanced background blurring | Improved Night mode, Deep Fusion, and ProRAW support |
iPhone 13 Pro | Advanced background blurring | Offers ProRAW support and enhanced low-light performance |
iPhone 13 | Advanced background blurring | Improved Night mode and Deep Fusion |
iPhone 13 Mini | Advanced background blurring | Compact size with advanced camera capabilities |
iPhone 12 Pro Max | Advanced background blurring | Night mode, Deep Fusion, and ProRAW support |
iPhone 12 Pro | Advanced background blurring | Night mode, Deep Fusion, and ProRAW support |
iPhone 12 | Advanced background blurring | Night mode and Deep Fusion |
iPhone SE (2nd Gen) | Basic background blurring | Single-lens Portrait Mode, less advanced than Pro models |
Questions and Answers
The main reason why you can’t see the Zoom blur background on your desktop is that your computer doesn’t have the right version. To use the feature, make sure your OS is up to date.
If you tap any photo that you took using the Portrait mode, you can view it in its entirety. located at the very top of the display. Below the photo is where you’ll find the slider. To adjust the degree to which the background is blurred, drag the slider to the left or right.
In Photoshop, choose the Blur tool, select a brush tip and the amount of pressure you want to apply, and then drag it over the areas you want to blur. You are able to accomplish the same thing in Lightroom. Create the illusion of movement by using motion blur. Applying a directional Path Blur filter in Photoshop is a great way to give the impression that a person or object that is stationary in a photograph is moving.