Modern Smartphones have become powerful tools for mobile photography, allowing the average user to create shots that were previously only available to owners of professional DSLR cameras. One of the most popular artistic techniques is blurring the backgroundor, as photographers say, the bokeh effect. This technique allows you to focus the viewer’s attention on the main subject of the photo, cutting off unnecessary details of the surroundings and giving the image volume and depth.
Previously, to obtain such a picture, high-aperture optics and a large matrix were required, but today computational photography algorithms work wonders even on budget devices. However, the automation does not always work correctly: sometimes it blurs the hair or, conversely, leaves background objects sharp. In this article, we will analyze in detail how to get a high-quality result using the built-in capabilities of the system, third-party software and manual settings.
Device owners are faced with many nuances: from choosing the correct distance to the object to understanding the work of artificial intelligence in the camera. We will consider not only standard functions, but also post-processing methods that will save the frame if you did not have time to set up the camera in advance. Ready to turn your photos into works of art? Let's start with the most accessible tool.
Using the built-in portrait mode
The vast majority of modern smartphones based on Android equipped with a special shooting mode, often called “Portrait”, “Live Focus” or “Bokeh”. This is the first and easiest way to get the desired effect. The principle of operation here is based on a combination of data from several cameras (main and telephoto lens or depth sensor) and software image processing in real time.
To activate this function, you need to open the standard camera application and find the corresponding item in the mode menu. After switching, aim the lens at your subject. The system will automatically detect the boundaries of the subject and apply blur to the background. You'll see a warning on the screen if the subject is too close or too far away, which is critical to the focusing algorithms.
Many manufacturers allow you to adjust the degree of blur before pressing the shutter button. This is usually done through the slider with the letter "f" or the aperture icon. The lower the numeric value (for example, f/1.4), the stronger the blur. You should not turn this parameter to the maximum, as this can lead to unnatural artifacts along the contour of the object.
For the best result in portrait mode, ensure good lighting of the subject - it is easier for the algorithms to separate the object from the background in contrasting light.
It is worth considering that the quality of the built-in mode directly depends on the hardware of your phone. Flagship models cope with this task perfectly, while budget devices can make mistakes in complex scenes with small details.
Manual adjustment via Pro mode
If automatic portrait mode does not give the desired result or your smartphone does not support it, you can try to achieve the effect optically through the professional shooting mode. This method requires an understanding of the basics of photography, but gives you more control over the process. Here we are not working with software blur, but with physical depth of field.
First, go to the Professional or Pro section in the camera application. Your task is to open the aperture as much as possible (if your smartphone has a variable aperture, which is rare, or uses fixed aperture lenses) and focus on the subject. The basic rule: the closer you get to the subject and the further it is from the background, the stronger the natural blur will be.
Use manual focus by switching the slider Focus to MF (Manual Focus). Focus strictly on the model's eyes or face. Make sure there is enough distance between the model and the background - at least 2-3 meters. This physical condition is key to obtaining optical bokeh without the participation of neural networks.
- 📸 Get as close to your subject as possible, maintaining the minimum focusing distance of your lens.
- 🌳 Look for a background with bright light sources or contrasting spots - they will turn into beautiful bokeh circles.
- ⚙️ Set the ISO to the lowest possible value to avoid noise that can ruin the effect.
This method will not work if the background is close to the subject, since the smartphone's optical system has a fairly large depth of field due to the small size of the matrix. However, for macro photography of flowers or small objects, this approach is often more effective than software.
Optical blur always looks more natural than software, since it does not create “cut out” contours around hair or transparent objects.
Processing finished images in Google Photos
Sometimes the desire to take a photo with a blurred background comes after the shot was taken. Luckily, the ecosystem Google offers powerful post-processing tools right in the gallery. The Google Photos app is available on most Android devices and regularly updates its retouching algorithms.
Open the image you want in the app and click the Edit button (the icon with sliders). In the bottom menu, find the Portrait or Blur tool. If Google's neural network recognizes a person or animal in a photo, it will offer to apply a background blur effect even to a regular photo taken in standard mode. You can adjust the intensity of the effect with the slider.
It is important to note that the quality of processing depends on the original resolution and contrast of the frame. The algorithm may not correctly process complex hairstyles or objects that blend in color with the background. In such cases, it is better to use third-party editors with manual selection of areas.
⚠️ Warning: The blur tool in Google Photos may not be available on very old smartphone models or may require an active Google One subscription for some advanced editing features.
After applying the effect, be sure to zoom in and check the boundaries of the object. If you notice "dirt" or ghosting, try reducing the blur strength a little - this often makes the artifacts less noticeable to the human eye.
Why is blur not applied to some photos?
Google Photos algorithms require a clear separation between the foreground and background. If there is no obvious subject in the photo (person, animal, large object) or the lighting is too flat, the system will not be able to build a depth map for correct processing.
Third-party applications for creating bokeh
When the built-in tools are not enough, specialized applications from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. They offer more flexible masking tools and different types of blur that simulate different lenses. Among the market leaders are AfterFocus, PicsArt and Snapseed.
The application Snapseed from Google uses the “Lens” or “Blur” tool. You place the center of the effect on the subject, which should remain sharp, and the blur area extends from the center to the edges. A more advanced method is to use the Brush tool with the Blur option, where you paint over the areas of the background you want to hide.
The app AfterFocus allows you to automatically select the foreground, but also gives you the ability to manually trace an object with your finger to create a precise mask. This is especially useful for images with complex geometry, where automation often makes mistakes. After selection, you can choose the type of blur: lens, motion or standard Gaussian.
| Application | Blur type | Difficulty of use | Presence of advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Photos | Automatic (AI) | Low | No |
| Snapseed | Manual / Spot | Medium | No |
| AfterFocus | Masking + AI | High | Yes (in the free version) |
| PicsArt | Effects / Stickers | Medium | Yes |
Use of third-party software Gives creative freedom, but takes time to process. Do not forget to save a copy of the original, since the process of applying effects is destructive and cannot always be completely undone after saving.
☑️ Preparing for processing in the editor
Technical limitations and image quality
Understanding the technical limitations of your device can help avoid disappointment. The quality of blur directly depends on the resolution of the matrix, the quality of the lens and the power of the processor responsible for processing image signals (ISP). Budget smartphones often use software interpolation, which can give a “soapy” picture.
Another important factor is the cleanliness of the camera lenses. Fat fingerprints create a diffuse glow around light sources, which algorithms can mistake for part of the scene and not blur, or, conversely, blur along with the background, ruining the entire frame. Always wipe your optics with a soft cloth before shooting.
It is also worth mentioning the impact of digital zoom. When using digital zoom (crop matrix), image quality decreases and noise increases. It is more difficult for blur algorithms to work with a noisy image, which leads to artifacts and unnatural transitions between sharp and unsharp zones.
⚠️ Attention: Camera interfaces and mode names may differ depending on the manufacturer’s shell version (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS). If you do not find the described functions, check the official help for your specific phone model.
Do not chase the maximum resolution when shooting portraits if the device memory is limited. Processing a photo in 108 MP mode with bokeh effects can take a significant amount of time and lead to freezing of the camera application on weak devices.
Clean optics and sufficient distance between the subject and the background are more important than the number of megapixels in your smartphone camera.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Even experienced mobile photography users make common mistakes that ruin all efforts to create beautiful bokeh. The most common of them is trying to take a portrait in the dark. At night, noise reduction algorithms conflict with blur algorithms, creating strange visual distortions.
Another common problem is shooting through glass or mesh. The camera can focus on reflections or the mesh itself rather than the object behind it. In such cases, software blur will either not turn on or will blur the entire image, including the subject.
- 🚫 Avoid shooting moving objects in portrait mode - the shutter speed may be longer than you expect, which will lead to blur.
- 👓 Be careful when photographing people wearing glasses: there may be glare on the glasses perceived as part of the background and blurred, or create double contours.
- 🎨 Do not use colored backgrounds that merge with the object’s clothing - it is difficult for a neural network to separate the border in such conditions.
If you notice that the edges of the object are “chewed” or have a colored border, try changing the angle. Sometimes it is enough to take a step to the side so that the background becomes more contrasting in relation to the object, and the algorithm will work correctly.
Is it possible to make a blurred background in a video when shooting on Android?
Yes, many modern smartphones support the “Portrait Video” or “Cine Effect” mode. However, when recording video, blur is applied in real time, and correcting focus errors in editing is much more difficult than in photos. It also puts a lot of stress on the processor and quickly drains the battery.
Why don’t older phones have a “Portrait” mode?
Portrait mode requires a second camera (for depth detection) or a powerful processor with support for special AI libraries. Older or budget models without a dual main camera often lack this feature in hardware, although some manufacturers add software emulation through updates.
Does the case affect the quality of background blur?
Yes, bulky or incorrectly selected cases can block one of the lenses of the main camera module or the depth sensor. This confuses the system, and it cannot correctly calculate the depth map, resulting in the photo being completely sharp or with artifacts.
How to blur the background if there are several people in the photo?
The built-in algorithms usually focus on the person closest to the center of the frame. In applications like Snapseed or PicsArt you can manually paint over all the people with the Save brush and blur the rest of the background. Automatic mode can recognize only one person as the main subject.