How To Change Background Blur In Iphone Xs And Xr Photos

How to change background blur in iPhone XS and XR photos is a question that pops up a lot, especially when you’re trying to make your pics look more professional. It’s all about using that awesome “Portrait Mode” to make your subject stand out.

But you don’t just have to rely on the phone’s built-in settings. You can also edit the blur after you take the picture, and even use apps to give your photos that extra “wow” factor.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about background blur on your iPhone XS or XR. We’ll cover the basics of Portrait Mode, how to adjust blur after you’ve snapped a photo, and even some tips for getting the best results.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this guide will help you master the art of blurring backgrounds and take your iPhone photography to the next level.

Table of Contents

Background Blur on iPhone XS and XR Photos

The iPhone XS and XR have a feature that allows you to blur the background of your photos, creating a professional-looking depth-of-field effect. This feature, called Portrait Mode, uses advanced algorithms to separate the subject from the background, blurring the latter to make the subject stand out.Background blur, or bokeh, is a popular photographic technique that can enhance your photos in various ways.

It helps to draw attention to the subject, create a sense of depth, and add a touch of artistry to your images.

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Examples of Background Blur in Photos

Here are some examples of how background blur can enhance photos:

Portrait Photography:Blurring the background behind a person can make them the focal point of the photo, creating a more intimate and professional look. This is especially effective for portraits taken in busy or distracting environments.
Product Photography:Blurring the background behind a product can make it stand out and appear more appealing. This is a common technique used in online stores and marketing materials.
Landscape Photography:Blurring the background in a landscape photo can help to emphasize the foreground and create a sense of depth and distance. This is particularly effective for photos with a strong focal point, such as a mountain peak or a lone tree.

Using the Portrait Mode

Portrait Mode on your iPhone XS and XR is a fantastic feature that lets you create professional-looking photos with a blurred background, making your subject stand out. This mode uses advanced technology to simulate the shallow depth of field effect you’d get with a DSLR camera.

Let’s explore how to use it and get the most out of your Portrait Mode photos.

Accessing Portrait Mode

To access Portrait Mode, open the Camera app and swipe left through the shooting modes at the bottom of the screen until you see “Portrait.” You’ll know you’re in Portrait Mode when you see the “f/1.8” or “f/2.4” aperture value displayed on the screen.

Features of Portrait Mode, How to change background blur in iPhone XS and XR photos

Portrait Mode offers several features that enhance your photos:

Depth Effect

Portrait Mode uses advanced algorithms to analyze the scene and create a blurred background, known as the “bokeh” effect. This effect draws attention to your subject by making the background appear out of focus.

Lighting Options

You can adjust the lighting in Portrait Mode to enhance your subject’s appearance. The iPhone XS and XR offer several lighting options:

Natural Light:This option uses the natural lighting in the environment, providing a realistic look.
Studio Light:This option provides a soft, even lighting, ideal for portraits.
Contour Light:This option adds dramatic lighting to the subject, emphasizing their features.
Stage Light:This option isolates the subject with a spotlight effect, creating a dramatic look.
Mono Light:This option creates a black and white image with a spotlight effect, adding a classic touch.

Tips for Taking Successful Portrait Mode Photos

To get the best results from Portrait Mode, follow these tips:

Keep Your Subject in Focus:Ensure your subject is within the focus area, which is indicated by a yellow box on the screen. The closer your subject is to the camera, the more pronounced the depth effect will be.
Use Good Lighting:Adequate lighting is crucial for successful Portrait Mode photos. Natural light is generally preferred, but you can also experiment with different lighting options to achieve the desired effect.
Experiment with Backgrounds:Try different backgrounds to create visually interesting portraits. A blurred background can add depth and create a more professional look.
Use the Depth Control Feature:After taking a Portrait Mode photo, you can adjust the depth of field effect using the “Depth Control” slider in the “Edit” mode. This allows you to fine-tune the blur to your liking.
Compose Carefully:Pay attention to the composition of your photo. Use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and other compositional techniques to create visually appealing portraits.
Use the Volume Buttons to Take Photos:To avoid camera shake, use the volume buttons on your iPhone to take photos instead of tapping the shutter button on the screen.

Adjusting Background Blur After Taking a Photo

You can edit the background blur in your iPhone XS and XR photos even after you’ve taken them. This is a great way to fine-tune the effect or add blur to a photo that wasn’t taken in Portrait Mode.

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Once you’ve got those pesky interruptions under control, you can get back to fine-tuning your background blur!

Editing Background Blur in the Photos App

The Photos app on your iPhone XS and XR allows you to adjust the background blur in your photos. It offers several tools for fine-tuning the blur effect.

Depth Control: This tool allows you to adjust the amount of blur in the background. You can increase or decrease the blur to your liking.
Subject Selection: This tool allows you to select the subject of your photo and adjust the blur around it. This is helpful if the subject wasn’t perfectly centered when you took the photo.
Light and Color Adjustments: You can also use the editing tools in the Photos app to adjust the light and color of your photo, which can enhance the overall effect of the background blur.

Step-by-Step Guide for Adjusting Background Blur

To adjust the background blur in your photos, follow these steps:

Open the Photos app on your iPhone XS or XR.
Select the photo you want to edit.
Tap the “Edit” button in the top right corner of the screen.
Scroll down to the “Depth” section.
Use the “Depth Control” slider to adjust the amount of blur in the background.
If you want to select the subject of your photo, tap the “Subject Selection” tool and drag the selection area to adjust it.
Once you’re satisfied with the adjustments, tap the “Done” button in the top right corner of the screen to save your changes.

Using Third-Party Apps for Background Blur

Sometimes, the built-in Portrait Mode on your iPhone XS or XR might not give you the exact level of blur you want, or you might want to apply blur to photos that weren’t taken in Portrait Mode. In these cases, third-party apps can come in handy.

These apps offer a wider range of customization options and can be used to create unique and artistic effects.

Popular Third-Party Apps for Background Blur

Third-party apps offer various tools and features for adjusting background blur, allowing you to achieve different levels of blur, adjust the focus area, and even add creative effects.

Adobe Photoshop Express: This popular photo editing app provides a variety of tools for adjusting background blur. You can use the “Blur” tool to selectively blur specific areas of your photo, or you can use the “Radial Blur” or “Tilt Shift” tools to create more artistic blur effects.
PicsArt: This app offers a wide range of editing features, including a dedicated “Blur” tool. You can choose from different blur types, including Gaussian Blur, Linear Blur, and Radial Blur. You can also adjust the intensity of the blur and create custom blur masks.
Snapseed: This app from Google is known for its intuitive interface and powerful editing tools. It includes a “Selective Blur” tool that allows you to blur specific areas of your photo while keeping the subject sharp. You can also use the “Lens Blur” tool to create a more realistic bokeh effect.
AirBrush: This app is designed for portrait editing, and it includes a “Blur” tool that allows you to soften the background and make your subject stand out. You can also use the “Bokeh” tool to create a more artistic blur effect.

Comparing Features of Different Apps

Each app offers a unique set of features, catering to different editing needs and preferences.

App	Key Features	Advantages	Disadvantages
Adobe Photoshop Express	Selective blur, radial blur, tilt shift, various editing tools	Wide range of blur options, professional-grade editing tools	Can be complex for beginners
PicsArt	Gaussian blur, linear blur, radial blur, custom blur masks	Intuitive interface, wide range of editing features	Can be overwhelming for beginners
Snapseed	Selective blur, lens blur, various editing tools	Powerful editing tools, intuitive interface	Limited blur options compared to some other apps
AirBrush	Blur tool, bokeh tool, portrait editing features	Easy to use, focused on portrait editing	Limited editing features compared to other apps

Using Third-Party Apps to Enhance Photos

Third-party apps can be used to enhance photos in various ways, including:

Creating a more artistic look: By applying blur to the background, you can draw attention to the subject and create a more pleasing composition. For example, you could use a radial blur to emphasize a particular point of interest in the photo.
Improving portrait photos: By blurring the background, you can create a more professional-looking portrait that makes the subject stand out. This can be especially helpful for photos taken in cluttered environments.
Creating a sense of depth: By blurring the background, you can create a sense of depth and distance, making the photo more visually appealing. This can be helpful for photos of landscapes or cityscapes.

Tips for Achieving Optimal Background Blur

Blurring the background in your iPhone photos can add a professional touch and make your subject stand out. Here are some tips for achieving the best results:

Lighting

Proper lighting is crucial for creating a natural and pleasing background blur. When shooting in Portrait mode, the iPhone uses a combination of sensors and algorithms to identify the subject and blur the background. However, the effectiveness of these algorithms depends on the lighting conditions.

Shoot in bright, even lighting:Bright lighting allows the iPhone’s camera to focus more accurately and produce a more natural blur. Avoid shooting in harsh shadows or direct sunlight, as this can create unwanted contrast and make it difficult for the camera to differentiate between the subject and the background.
Use soft, diffused lighting:Soft, diffused lighting is ideal for portraits, as it creates a more flattering look and reduces harsh shadows. You can achieve this by shooting in the shade, using a diffuser, or even using a flash with a bounce card.
Avoid backlighting:Backlighting can create a halo effect around the subject and make it difficult to get a good blur. If you’re shooting with the sun behind your subject, try to position yourself so that the sun is slightly off to the side or use a reflector to bounce light back onto the subject.

Subject Distance

The distance between your subject and the background is another important factor in achieving a pleasing background blur.

Keep your subject close:The closer your subject is to the camera, the more pronounced the background blur will be. This is because the iPhone’s camera has a limited depth of field, which means that only a small portion of the image will be in focus.

So you wanna know how to blur the background on your iPhone XS or XR photos? It’s actually pretty easy! Just open the Camera app, tap the “Portrait” mode, and then you can adjust the blur level using the slider.

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Once you’ve got your blur dialed in, you’ll be taking some seriously pro-looking pics!
Use a telephoto lens:Using the telephoto lens on your iPhone XS or XR can also help to create a more dramatic blur. This is because the telephoto lens has a longer focal length, which means that it magnifies the subject and makes the background appear smaller and more blurred.

Focus and Exposure

The focus and exposure settings on your iPhone can also play a role in the quality of your background blur.

Focus on your subject:The iPhone’s camera will automatically focus on the subject, but you can also manually adjust the focus by tapping on the screen. Make sure that the subject is in sharp focus before taking the photo.
Adjust exposure for optimal brightness:The exposure setting determines how bright or dark your photo will be. Adjusting the exposure can also affect the background blur. If the photo is too dark, the blur may not be as pronounced. If the photo is too bright, the blur may be too harsh.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, achieving the perfect background blur on your iPhone XS or XR photos can be a bit tricky. Don’t worry, there are some common issues and solutions to help you get the desired effect.

Blur Not Appearing or Inconsistent

It’s frustrating when the background blur you expect isn’t there, or it’s inconsistent across the photo. Here’s why this might happen and how to fix it:

Subject Distance:The Portrait mode works best when your subject is a few feet away from the background. If you’re too close, the phone might have trouble distinguishing between your subject and the background. Solution:Try moving back a bit or zooming out slightly to give the phone more space to work with.
Lighting Conditions:Poor lighting can confuse the phone’s sensors, making it difficult to create accurate blur. Solution:Shoot in well-lit environments, or use a flash if necessary.
Subject Movement:If your subject is moving, the phone might have trouble focusing, resulting in uneven blur. Solution:Try to keep your subject still or use a tripod to help stabilize the phone.
Background Complexity:A busy or complex background can make it harder for the phone to create a smooth blur. Solution:Choose a simpler background if possible.

Examples of Photos with Background Blur

Let’s take a look at some real-world examples of photos with different levels of background blur, showcasing the impact of this technique on the overall composition.

Examples of Photos with Different Levels of Background Blur

Here are four examples of photos with varying levels of background blur, each showcasing the effect on the subject and overall composition.

Photo Description	Subject	Lighting Conditions	Level of Blur
A close-up portrait of a person with a shallow depth of field.	A person’s face	Natural light, outdoor	High, with a soft and dreamy effect
A photo of a flower with a blurry background.	A single flower	Bright, sunny day	Medium, with a gentle blur that highlights the flower
A photo of a cityscape with a blurred background.	A city skyline	Evening, with artificial light sources	Low, with a subtle blur that adds a sense of depth
A photo of a product with a blurry background.	A product, such as a phone or watch	Studio lighting, controlled environment	Moderate, with a controlled blur that highlights the product

Conclusion

So, there you have it! You’ve now learned a variety of ways to achieve that coveted background blur in your iPhone XS and XR photos. From utilizing Portrait Mode to exploring third-party apps, the options are plentiful and can help you elevate your photography skills.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with these techniques and discover what works best for your creative vision. The beauty of photography lies in exploring different approaches and finding your unique style.

End of Discussion

So, there you have it – a guide to making your iPhone XS and XR photos pop with background blur. Whether you’re using the built-in features or exploring some of the awesome apps out there, you’ll be taking stunning photos in no time.

Don’t forget to experiment with different blur levels and lighting to find what works best for you. And hey, share your best blurry masterpieces with the world! You never know, you might just inspire someone else to take their iPhone photography to the next level.

Quick FAQs: How To Change Background Blur In IPhone XS And XR Photos

Can I use background blur on photos I’ve already taken?

Yep! You can adjust background blur in the Photos app after you’ve taken a photo. Just open the photo, tap “Edit,” and look for the blur slider. You can also use third-party apps to achieve even more creative effects.

What if my iPhone XS or XR doesn’t have Portrait Mode?

Portrait Mode is available on iPhone XS and XR, but older iPhones might not have it. If your phone doesn’t have Portrait Mode, you can still try using apps to create a similar effect.

Is there a way to make background blur look more natural?

Absolutely! The key is to use natural lighting and keep your subject a bit farther away from the background. You can also experiment with different focus and exposure settings to fine-tune the blur.

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