Have you ever taken a photo and realized that there is something in the background that you wish wasn’t there? Maybe it’s a stranger, or an object that takes away from the main focus of the image. Fortunately, if you own an iPhone, you can quickly and easily blur out unwanted elements in your pictures. In this blog post, we will show you several methods you can use to blur something out of a photo on your iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Blur Something Out of A Photo on iPhone
The ability to blur out parts of a picture can come in handy for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to protect someone’s privacy, or perhaps you want to create a more professional-looking image by removing distracting elements. Whatever the reason, blurring is a simple and effective way to enhance your photos.
Method 1: Via the Built-in Photos App
The most straightforward way to blur something out of a photo on your iPhone is by using the built-in Photos app. Follow these steps:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap "Edit" at the top right corner of the screen.
- Tap the three circles icon at the top left corner of the screen.
- Choose "Markup" from the drop-down list.
- Select the magnifying glass icon at the bottom right corner of the screen and move it over the area you want to blur.
- Adjust the size of the magnifying glass to cover the entire area you want to blur out.
- Choose "Done" when you’re finished.
- Save the edited photo by tapping "Done" at the top right corner of the screen.
Pros:
- Quick and easy to access, no third-party app is needed.
- Markup tools can be used to add text or arrows to photos.
Cons:
- The blurring effect is not adjustable, and it may sometimes appear uneven.
- The original, unedited photo will be replaced once you save the changes.
Method 2: Using the Focos App
The Focos app offers more advanced editing features, including adjustable blurring and depth control. Here’s how to use it:
- Download and install the Focos app from the App Store.
- Open the app, and allow it to access your Photos library.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap "Portrait" to enable the selection of the focus area.
- Choose the "Brush" icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Adjust the size and intensity of the brush to cover the area you want to blur.
- Tap "Inverse" to invert the selection and exclude the focused part.
- Tap "Apply" when finished.
- Export the edited photo by tapping "Share" at the bottom left corner of the screen.
Pros:
- Flexible blurring options and depth control are available.
- You can undo or redo changes at any step.
- The original photo is kept intact during editing.
Cons:
- Focos is not a free app and requires a one-time payment to unlock all features.
Method 3: Using the AfterFocus App
The AfterFocus app provides similar editing options to Focos but in a more user-friendly interface. Here are the steps to blur out parts of a photo with AfterFocus:
- Download and install the AfterFocus app from the App Store.
- Open the app, and grant it access to your Photos library.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Choose the "Smart" or "Manual" option depending on your preferences.
- Use the "Foreground" and "Background" brushes to separate the two parts of the image.
- Adjust the "Blur" slider to control the amount of blur effect.
- Select "Check" when finished.
- Save the edited photo by tapping "Save" at the top right corner of the screen.
Pros:
- Straightforward editing process and available preview window.
- You can customize the shape and size of the blur area with the "Motion" tool.
Cons:
- The free version of AfterFocus has ads and limited features.
- Photos edited with the free app will have a watermark.
What to Do If You Can’t Blur Something Out of A Photo on iPhone
If you’re having trouble blurring something out of a photo on your iPhone, here are some possible solutions:
- Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS and that the Photos app is updated.
- Restart your iPhone to clear any software glitches that may interfere with the blurring process.
- If you’re using a third-party editing app, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
- If your photo is too low-quality or blurry, blurring it may not yield satisfactory results.
Bonus Tip: How to Edit Multiple Photos at Once
If you want to apply the same blur effect to multiple photos on your iPhone, you can use the "Batch" feature of the Focos app:
- Open the Focos app on your iPhone and tap the "Batch" tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the photos you want to edit.
- Select "Portrait" mode and tap "Brush" to adjust the blur effect as desired.
- Tap "Apply" to save the edited photos to your camera roll.
5 FAQs About Blurring Something Out of A Photo on iPhone
Q1: Can I undo the blurring effect I applied with the Photos app?
A1: Yes, you can revert to the original photo by tapping "Revert" when editing the photo in the Photos app.
Q2: Can I use other apps to blur something out of a photo on my iPhone?
A2: Yes, there are many other photo editing apps that offer blurring options, including Photoshop Express, Snapseed, and Pixlr.
Q3: Will blurring something out of a photo reduce the quality of the image?
A3: Depending on the intensity of the blurring effect, some loss of detail may occur, but it’s generally minimal.
Q4: Can I remove blur from a photo on my iPhone?
A4: Yes, you can remove the blur effect by using the "Eraser" tool in the Focos or AfterFocus app.
Q5: Will editing photos with third-party apps affect the quality of the original photo?
A5: Most editing apps, including Focos and AfterFocus, retain the original image file while creating a separate edited copy, so the quality of the original image is not affected.
Final Thoughts
With these methods in your arsenal, you can easily and quickly blur something out of a photo on your iPhone. Whether you’re looking to remove unwanted background elements or simply want to improve the aesthetic of your pictures, blurring is a simple and effective tool that anyone can use.