Capturing photographs on iPhone has become more exciting, especially when you effortlessly apply elements like bokeh or soft blur to bring that dramatic effect to your pictures. Although there is no straightforward way to blur the background of a picture on an iPhone, you can still do it using some unconventional methods.
In this article, we’ll explore how to blur the background of a picture on an iPhone and reduce clutter using the tools available. Let’s jump right in:
How to Blur Background on an iPhone Using Portrait Mode
The background of the images on your iPhone can be blurred using the portrait mode on your camera app. Portrait mode offers the best quality blur while keeping the subject in the image clear and focused. However, before using the portrait mode on the iPhone, here are certain things worth mentioning:
Portrait mode is only available on iOS models from iPhone SE (2nd Generation) and later, iPhone X and later, and iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus, respectively, with the latest iOS updates installed.
Now, let’s understand how to blur the background of a picture on an iPhone using Portrait Mode:
Step 1: Open the Camera app on your iPhone and select the Portrait Mode to capture the pictures.
Step 2: While the portrait mode is ON, tap the subject you want to keep in focus.
Step 3: Click on the ‘f’ icon on the top right corner of the screen to select different types of blurs on your picture.
Step 4: You can now access the depth control slider to check how your picture will look before clicking it.
Step 5: You can also change your picture’s lighting to Natural, Stage, Studio, Stage Light Mono, High-Key Light Mono, and Contour to give your blur that professional touch.
Step 6: After setting all your preferences, click the picture.
How to Blur the Background of a Picture on an iPhone Without Portrait Mode
You can blur the background of a picture on an iPhone without using the built-in portrait mode. Taping the subject shown on the screen using your iPhone’s camera. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open the camera on your IOS device to capture the image you prefer to blur the background.
Step 2: Now, get close to the object you want to capture (Preferably about 0.05 – 2.00 meters) under good lighting.
Step 3: Now tap the subject you like to stay in focus and let your iOS device blur the background automatically for you.
Step 4: Capture the photo after setting up all your preferences.
Step 5: Now check the picture in your iCloud Photos. You’ve successfully blurred the background of a picture on your iPhone without using portrait mode.
How to Blur the Background of a Picture on an iPhone Using Sketch My Pic
Sometimes, you want to blur the background images that are already captured on your iPhone. In that case, Sketch My Pic offers a wide range of edits for your pictures, which are absolutely FREE! You can not only blur your images using the tool but also convert them into cartoons, pop art, oil paintings, and much more.
Here’s how to blur the background of a picture on an iPhone using Sketch My Pic.
Step 1: Open the Sketch My Pic website through your Web browser on your iOS devices.
Step 2: On the top-right corner, click on the ‘Blur Image’ tool.
Step 3: You will be redirected to the ‘Blur Image’ tool page and then select Upload Image.
Step 4: Find the image you want to blur from your iCloud photos using the upload button.
Step 5: After the picture is uploaded, click on the blur settings using the left-hand side and choose the Outside option.
Step 6: Select the area you want to blur and toggle the slider to choose the intensity of your blur.
Step 7: Click on Download Image to save it on your IOS device.
How to Blur the Background of a Picture on an iPhone Using Canva
You can also use third-party apps to obtain a similar, if not close to your desired background blur on your iPhone. Let’s understand how to maintain a similar effect using Canva on your iPhone.
Step 1: Open Canva on your iPhone. If it hasn’t been installed, you can install it using the app store.
Step 2: Upload your preferred image from the gallery and click on the Edit Image tab to reveal edit options.
Step 3: Now, scroll down the menu until you find the Effects option and select Blur.
Step 4: You can manually mark the image to blur specific areas or select the background blur option to cast the feature onto your image automatically.
Step 5: Click Save after done.
Things to Know Before You Blur the Background of Pictures on an iPhone
Below are certain things you must keep in mind before you blur the background of a picture on an iPhone:
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Purpose of Blur
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- Understanding why you want to blur your images can help you immensely to pick the right type of blur and the lighting you need while capturing your subject.
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Distance and Placement
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- It’s important to know at what distance your subject should be while adding the blur effect to its background. In a low-light environment, it will be hard to recognize your subject’s background on your iPhone, so use lighting and space cheerfully.
- The suggested distance to effectively use the blur effect is 0.05 to 2 meters. You can check if you’re at the right distance using the yellow box. If the box appears yellow on your screen while capturing, your iPhone has successfully identified the subject.
Conclusion
You can achieve the background blur effect in your photos using your iPhone through various methods, including using your iOS portrait mode, keeping an adequate distance from your subject, or using the effective Sketch My Pick Tool. You can also utilize third-party apps like Canva to achieve background image blur on your iOS device.
