As smartphone cameras continue to improve, people rely on their phones more and more for taking photos. However, even the most experienced photographers make mistakes or photograph things they don’t want in the image. Fortunately, there are multiple methods to address these issues and make the photo look professional. In this blog post, we address one of the more common problems, how to blur a spot on a picture, with step-by-step guidance. By the end of this post, you will have as much control over editing and refining your photos as you do while taking them.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Blur a Spot on A Picture iPhone
Technology has made it easier for us to capture and create high-quality images with our iPhones. However, despite the advances, a photo may have unwanted objects, blemishes, or spots, which might require editing. You may need to blur a particular spot to remove unintentional distractions from the photo. Some of the reasons to blur a spot on an iPhone image include:
1. To remove a small area that could distract attention in the photo.
2. To hide or anonymize personal information before sharing the image.
3. To add depth to an image in which some parts are blurry and others are sharp.
In this post, we will outline simple steps to help you edit your iPhone pictures and blur a spot on a picture using a variety of methods.
Method 1: Using the iPhone’s built-in editing tools
The iPhone provides a simple editing tool that enables you to make basic adjustments to your photos. The tool is perfect for blurring out parts of the image and can help you correct exposure, color, and contrast without installing any third-party app.
Here are the steps to follow to blur a spot using the iPhone camera’s built-in tool:
1. Locate the Picture on your iPhone and open it.
2. Click "Edit" at the top right of your iPhone screen.
3. Click the "three-dot" icon at the top-right screen corner and select "Markup" from the bottom row of tools.
4. Select the "Blur" tool and use your finger to apply the blur to the area you want to hide.
5. Use the blur tool’s controls (highlighted by two blue lines) to adjust the size of the brush.
6. Once you are satisfied with the amount of blur, click "Done" at the top left corner of your iPhone screen.
7. Save or share the edited photo.
Pros:
– Requires no third-party app
– Quick and easy process
– Non-destructive editing method
– Can undo any changes made
Cons:
– Limited features and editing capabilities
– May produce uneven blurs on complex images
– Can be difficult to target specific areas
Method 2: Using a Third-Party App (Adobe Lightroom)
There are many third-party applications available for iPhone users, and some of them are specialized in editing photos. Adobe’s Lightroom is amongst the more popular third-party applications and is well known for its advanced features and editing capabilities. To blur a spot on a picture using Adobe Lightroom, here are the steps to follow:
1. Download and Install Adobe’s Lightroom App from the App Store.
2. Open Lightroom and select the photo you want to edit.
3. Click on the “three-dot” icon at the top-right corner, then click "Selective."
4. Choose the "Brush" tool and adjust its size.
5. Brush over the area where you want to add blur, and then increase the "Blur" slider until the desired effect is achieved.
6. Save or share the edited photo.
Pros:
– Provides advanced editing options.
– Multiple options to apply blur.
– Can be used to create precise blurs.
Cons:
– Requires a download and takes up storage space.
– A bit more complex.
– The free version is limited.
– More expensive than other available solutions.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party App (Snapseed)
Snapseed is a free photo editor available for iPhone users, which provides advanced editing features without being complicated to use. Here’s a step-by-step guide to blurring a spot with Snapseed:
1. Download and Install Snapseed App from the App Store.
2. Open Snapseed and select the photo that needs editing.
3. Tap on the "Selective" icon on the bottom row.
4. Tap on the area you want to blur.
5. Adjust the blur circle to cover the spot you want to blur.
6. Adjust the "Brightness" and "Contrast" settings as needed to make the blurred spot less noticeable.
7. Save or share the edited picture.
Pros:
– Free Application
– User-friendly.
– Has advanced editing features, including "selective" editing.
Cons:
– Cannot control the blur intensity.
– Not as precise as Photoshop.
– Takes up space on the user’s mobile device.
What to Do If You Can’t Blur a Spot on A Picture iPhone
If you’ve tried all the steps from the methods outlined above and still can’t blur a spot on your iPhone picture, here are some other fixes you can try:
1. Cropping the picture – You can crop the photo to remove the part you want to blur.
2. Adding filters – You can add filters to the picture to blend the spot into the picture creatively.
3. Resetting and trying again – Reset your phone to its default camera settings by going to the settings app and choosing reset all settings, then try using one of the above methods again.
Bonus Tip
Take a test photo before editing the actual one, because editing the actual photo will result in unwanted changes beyond the blurred spot. Also, be cautious when blurring out too much of the picture. Doing so could affect its quality.
5 FAQs
Q: Does the iPhone editing tools or third-party apps reduce the quality of the original picture?
A: Makes no permanent changes to the original image, so there’s no risk of losing image quality.
Q: Which one of these methods is the most effective for blurring out a picture?
A: Adobe Lightroom as it provides advanced editing features and options.
Q: Do these methods support Live Photos?
A: Yes, all of them do.
Q: Do these methods work on older iPhones?
A: Yes, they do work with older iPhone versions as long as the version supports the app.
Q: Can I blur out anything without any restrictions?
A: No, you cannot blur out anything, especially when publishing edited photos. Some information or details must remain visible.
Final Thoughts
Blurring out areas of a photo can help make the image look polished and professional. Whether using your iPhone’s built-in editing tools or third-party applications, there are a variety of methods to achieve this effect. Our guide outlined three different methods, each with its pros and cons. By following our step-by-step guide and helpful tips, anyone can blur out a spot on a picture for that perfect image.