{"id":21313,"date":"2021-04-08T00:30:47","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T07:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/?p=21313"},"modified":"2022-04-10T04:27:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T11:27:18","slug":"blur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/blur\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Easy Ways To Blur The Background In Your iPhone Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you wondering how to blur the background of a picture on your iPhone? Creating beautifully blurred backgrounds might seem difficult&#8230; but it&#8217;s easy with the tricks you&#8217;re about to discover! Read on to start creating stunning iPhone photos with gorgeous background blur.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24712\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Table Of Contents: How To Blur Background On iPhone<\/h2>\n<p>Click any title link below to go straight to that section of the tutorial:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#Portrait Mode\">1. Capture Beautifully Blurred Backgrounds Using Portrait Mode <\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#Get Closer\">2. Get Closer To Your Subject For Amazing Background Blur<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#Editing\">3. Blur The Background Of A Picture In Editing<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#Blur Vignette\">4. Frame Your Subject With A Dreamy Blurred Vignette<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Portrait Mode\">1. Capture Beautifully Blurred Backgrounds Using Portrait Mode<\/h2>\n<p>Do you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/portraits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">shoot stunning iPhone portrait photos<\/a> with gorgeous blurred backgrounds?<\/p>\n<p>If you thought you could only achieve professional results with a DSLR camera&#8230; think again!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22668\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">built-in iPhone Camera app<\/a> has an incredible tool for blurring the background in your photos.<\/p>\n<p>What is this tool?<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s called <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/portrait-mode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Portrait mode<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28392\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Portrait mode uses depth-effect software to blur the background of a picture as you shoot it.<\/p>\n<p>The subject will remain in sharp focus&#8230; which is perfect for portrait photography.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22707\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also great for scenes with distracting backgrounds. Your subject will stand out much better if the background is blurred.<\/p>\n<p>Portrait mode is available on all of the latest iPhones: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/iphone-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/iphone-12-pro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iPhone 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll also find it on the <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-11-vs-iphone-11-pro-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-xs-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone XS<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-xs-vs-iphone-xs-max-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone XS Max<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/iphone-xr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone XR<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-x-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone X<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-8-plus-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone 8 Plus<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/iphone-7-plus-portrait\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone 7 Plus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22705\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If your iPhone doesn&#8217;t have Portrait mode, don&#8217;t worry! Just <a href=\"#Get Closer\">skip to Section 2<\/a> below to discover how to blur photos on iPhone <em>without<\/em> using Portrait mode.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"How To Use Portrait Mode\">1.1 How To Blur Background On iPhone Using Portrait Mode<\/h3>\n<p>So, how do you use Portrait mode to blur the background in your iPhone photos?<\/p>\n<p>First, open the <strong>Camera<\/strong> app. Then select <strong>Portrait<\/strong> at the bottom of the screen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28392\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ensure your subject is between two and eight feet from the camera. There also needs to be enough light in the scene. (Portrait mode doesn&#8217;t always work in <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/low-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">low light<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve composed your photo, you&#8217;ll see a yellow focus box around the subject&#8217;s face. The face will be in focus and the background will appear blurred.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28391\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you see the words <strong>Natural Light\u00a0<\/strong>(or\u00a0<strong>Depth Effect<\/strong> on iPhone 7 Plus) in yellow, your iPhone is ready to shoot.<\/p>\n<p>Now, simply press the shutter button to take a picture!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26661\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Edit Background Blur\">1.2 How To Change Background Blur In Portrait Photos<\/h3>\n<p>Did you know you can make changes to the background blur&#8230; <em>after<\/em> you&#8217;ve taken a photo?<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22666\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you have one of the iPhones listed below, you can easily adjust the strength of the background blur:<\/p>\n<p>iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XS, XS Max, and XR.<\/p>\n<p>Open your portrait photo in the <strong>Photos<\/strong> app. Then tap <strong>Edit<\/strong> at the top right.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26657\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Tap the\u00a0<strong>f\/number<\/strong> icon at the top left.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26658\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now use the <strong>Depth<\/strong> slider beneath your photo to adjust the blur strength.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26655\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A low f\/number results in strong blur. And a high f\/number results in less blur with more background detail.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Depth<\/strong> slider isn&#8217;t available on older iPhones. However, if you&#8217;re not happy with the background blur, you can revert to the original image without any blur.<\/p>\n<p>To remove the blur, tap the yellow <strong>Portrait<\/strong> option at the top of the screen. The depth effect will be switched off and the blur will be removed. You can switch the blur back on at any time by tapping <strong>Portrait<\/strong> again.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26660\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While we&#8217;re looking at the Portrait mode editing options, let&#8217;s take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/portrait-lighting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Portrait Lighting<\/a>\u00a0(not available on iPhone 7 Plus).<\/p>\n<p>Portrait Lighting lets you add different studio lighting effects to your portrait photos.<\/p>\n<p>At the top left of the editing screen, tap the\u00a0<strong>Portrait Lighting<\/strong> (hexagon) icon. The\u00a0<strong>Portrait Lighting<\/strong> icons will appear beneath your photo.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26648\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Swipe across the <strong>Portrait Lighting<\/strong> icons (cube icons) at the bottom of the photo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Natural Light<\/strong> doesn&#8217;t modify the lighting in any way. <strong>Studio Light <\/strong>brightens your subject&#8217;s face. <strong>Contour Light<\/strong> adds shadows for more defined facial features.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26651\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Stage Light <\/strong>turns the background black. <strong>Stage Light Mono<\/strong> is the same as Stage Light, but with a <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/black-and-white-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">black and white<\/a> effect.\u00a0<strong>High-Key Light Mono<\/strong>\u00a0creates a black and white photo with a white background.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26650\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve chosen a Portrait Lighting effect, use the slider to adjust the strength of the light.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26649\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve finished editing your portrait photo, tap <strong>Done<\/strong> to save the changes.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"Get Closer\">2. Get Closer To Your Subject For Amazing Background Blur<\/h2>\n<p>Do you want to know how to take pictures with blurred background on iPhone&#8230; even if you don&#8217;t have Portrait mode?<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a simple trick for getting incredible background blur:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Get closer to your subject.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s that simple!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24719\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Shooting with the camera close to the subject creates a shallow depth of field.<\/p>\n<p>A shallow depth of field means only a small portion of the image is in focus. The rest of the image will be blurred out.<\/p>\n<p>The closer you get to the subject, the shallower the depth of field will be.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22680\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So for really blurry backgrounds, you&#8217;ll need to get really close.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you get too close, the camera won&#8217;t be able to focus at all. And your subject will appear blurred.<\/p>\n<p>So always check that your subject is in sharp focus. If it isn&#8217;t, move a bit further away and try taking the photo again.<\/p>\n<p>For extreme <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/nature-macro-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">close-up photos<\/a>, you&#8217;ll need an add-on macro lens, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopmoment.com\/products\/macro-lens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moment Macro Lens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/26102\/1120\/nature-macro-photography.jpg\" alt=\"nature macro photography\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A macro lens allows the camera to focus at very close distances.<\/p>\n<p>You can take amazing close-up photos of <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/flower-macro-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">flowers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/insect-macro-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insects<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/nature-macro-photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nature<\/a> with a macro lens.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28393\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When shooting up close, it&#8217;s important to ensure the correct part of the scene is in focus.<\/p>\n<p>You want your foreground subject to be sharp and the background to be blurred.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24720\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Luckily, it&#8217;s easy to set the <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/focus-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">iPhone camera focus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In the <strong>Camera<\/strong> app, simply tap the screen where you want the focus to be set. A yellow box will indicate the focus point.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28395\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If the background doesn&#8217;t look blurred, move a bit closer, then tap to set focus again.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, the closer you get, the blurrier the background will be!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28394\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Editing\">3. Blur The Background Of A Picture In Editing<\/h2>\n<p>As you&#8217;ve discovered, taking photos with a blurred background is easy.<\/p>\n<p>But what if you don&#8217;t capture a blurry background&#8230; and then decide the photo would look better if it was blurred?<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22703\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This isn&#8217;t a problem!<\/p>\n<p>Because you can use an <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/blur-background-app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">editing app to blur the background<\/a> <em>after<\/em> taking a picture.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/22702\/1120\/How-To-Blur-Background-On-iPhone.jpg\" alt=\"How To Blur Background On iPhone\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In this tutorial, you&#8217;ll learn how to blur the background of a picture using the <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/afterfocus\/id506271165\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AfterFocus app<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>3.1 Select Your Foreground Subject &amp; Background<\/h3>\n<p>Open <strong>AfterFocus<\/strong>, then tap <strong>Select Photo<\/strong> at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the photo you want to edit.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/28396\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Some helpful tips may appear on the screen after opening your image. Swipe across to read the tips, then tap the <strong>X<\/strong> at the top left to exit.<\/p>\n<p>The first step is to use the<strong> Smart Selection <\/strong>tools to select the subject and the background.<\/p>\n<p>Tap the <strong>Focus<\/strong> icon at the bottom of the screen. Now, use your finger to draw a line inside the area you want to keep in focus.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24790\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to be too precise. Just roughly mark out the foreground subject that you want in focus.<\/p>\n<p>Next, tap the <strong>Background<\/strong> icon. Draw a line over the background that you want to blur. When you release your finger, the foreground will be highlighted with a red mask.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24791\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>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 in the next step.<\/p>\n<p>However, before you blur the background, you need to check whether the app has selected your subject accurately.<\/p>\n<p>Is part of your foreground subject not highlighted in red? Or does part of the background appear red? If so, you&#8217;ll need to fix this so that only the background gets blurred.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24792\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the example above, you can see that the top of the cycle helmet hasn&#8217;t been selected.<\/p>\n<p>You can try drawing more lines to mark the foreground and background areas. But this doesn&#8217;t always produce perfect results.<\/p>\n<p>If you can&#8217;t achieve an accurate selection with the <strong>Smart Selection<\/strong> tools, you&#8217;ll need to switch to <strong>Manual Selection<\/strong>\u00a0mode. To do this, tap the\u00a0<strong>Pencil<\/strong> icon at the top of the screen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24793\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Zoom in by pinching with two fingers. Then check the edges of your selection carefully. Use two fingers to drag the image while zoomed in.<\/p>\n<p>Tap the <strong>Brush Size<\/strong> icon, then select a suitable brush size for the area you want to select. Now, select either the <strong>Focus<\/strong> or <strong>Background<\/strong> icon, then brush over the subject or background that you want to select.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24794\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Remember, you need to be precise when using the Manual Selection tools. Any area that you brush over will be selected.<\/p>\n<p>If you make a mistake, tap <strong>Undo<\/strong> (curved arrow) at the top of the screen. Or switch between the <strong>Focus<\/strong> and <strong>Background<\/strong> icons to repaint an area you selected by mistake.<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve finished, the red mask should only be on the foreground subject that you want in sharp focus. The neater you make your selection, the more realistic it will look when you apply the blur effect.<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve made a neat selection,\u00a0tap the <strong>arrow <\/strong>at the top right. The background of your photo will now appear blurred!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24795\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you notice a mistake with your selection, tap the <strong>single left arrow<\/strong> at the top of the screen. You can then adjust your selection by brushing with the <strong>Focus<\/strong> and <strong>Background<\/strong> tools. When you&#8217;ve finished, tap the <strong>right arrow<\/strong> to return to the blur effects screen.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Customize Blur\">3.2 Customize The Blur Effect<\/h3>\n<p>The icons at the bottom of the AfterFocus app let you customize the blur in your photo.<\/p>\n<p>Tap the <strong>Blur<\/strong> icon, and ensure <strong>Lens Blur<\/strong> is selected. Drag the slider to adjust the strength of the blur.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24796\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Below is the edited photo with a beautifully blurred background.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24785\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For comparison, below is the original image where the background is in focus. Notice how the blurred background helps to draw attention to the boy.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24783\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you want to add a sense of movement to the scene, you can use the <strong>Motion Blur<\/strong> option (instead of\u00a0<strong>Lens Blur<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24797\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is perfect for <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/moving-subjects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">moving subjects<\/a> as it exaggerates the feeling of motion in your image.<\/p>\n<p>Below is the image with motion blur applied to the background.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24784\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The original photo was taken while the boy was stationary. But the motion blur makes it look like he was moving quickly through the scene!<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve finished editing your photo, don&#8217;t forget to save it. Tap the <strong>down arrow<\/strong> at the top of the screen, then tap <strong>Yes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24798\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Blur Vignette\">4. Frame Your Subject With A Dreamy Blurred Vignette<\/h2>\n<p>This next editing technique offers something slightly different.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than blurring the entire background, you&#8217;re going to create a blurred vignette around the edges of the scene.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24804\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The blurred edges help draw attention to the central focused area. The blur acts as a <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/framing-composition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">frame<\/a>, drawing the viewer&#8217;s eye toward the subject.<\/p>\n<p>A blurred vignette also adds a dreamy quality to your photo.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24803\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how to blur photos on iPhone using the free <a href=\"https:\/\/iphonephotographyschool.com\/snapseed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Snapseed app<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p>Open\u00a0<strong>Snapseed<\/strong>, then tap the screen to open your photo library. Select <strong>Open From Device<\/strong>, then tap on the photo you want to open.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24799\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Tap\u00a0<strong>Tools<\/strong> at the bottom of the screen. Then scroll down and select the\u00a0<strong>Lens Blur<\/strong> tool.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24800\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Two white circles will appear on your image.<\/p>\n<p>Anything inside the inner circle will be in sharp focus. Anything outside the outer circle will be blurred. The area between the two circles is where the image transitions from sharp to blurred.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24805\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"320\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can drag the circle to a different area if you wish. Or resize it by pinching with two fingers.<\/p>\n<p>To adjust the blur strength, swipe up or down and select\u00a0<strong>Blur Strength<\/strong>. Then swipe left or right to adjust the strength of the blur.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24806\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can also adjust the\u00a0<strong>Transition<\/strong> and\u00a0<strong>Vignette Strength<\/strong> in the same way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transition<\/strong> adjusts how gradually the focused area transitions to blur. And <strong>Vignette Strength<\/strong> controls how dark the edges of your photo appear.<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;re happy with the blur effect, tap the <strong>checkmark<\/strong> at the bottom right.<\/p>\n<p>Save your image by tapping\u00a0<strong>Export<\/strong>, then\u00a0<strong>Save A Copy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24807\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Below is the edited image with a dreamy blurred vignette around the edges.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24801\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For comparison, below is the original image without any blur applied. Notice how the subtle blurring in the photo above draws the eye toward the center of the frame.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full aligncenter ip-cdn\" src=\"https:\/\/images.iphonephotographyschool.com\/24802\/1120\/Blur.jpg\" alt=\"Blur\" width=\"560\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Note that a blurred vignette doesn&#8217;t work well on every photo. It tends to work best went the subject is positioned centrally in the frame. And you need to have enough space around your subject to blur the edges.<\/p>\n<p>But on the right photo, a blurred vignette can be very effective!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you wondering how to blur the background of a picture on your iPhone? Creating beautifully blurred backgrounds might seem difficult&#8230; but it&#8217;s easy with the tricks you&#8217;re about to discover! Read on to start creating stunning iPhone photos with gorgeous background blur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[318,298],"tags":[384,234,255,157],"class_list":{"0":"post-21313","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-photo-editing","7":"category-tutorials","8":"tag-blur-background","9":"tag-depth-of-field","10":"tag-motion-blur","11":"tag-photo-editing","12":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n<title>4 Easy Ways To Blur The Background In Your iPhone Photos<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you want to blur the background in your iPhone photos? 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