In photography, bokeh (/ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə or /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay; Japanese: [boke]) is the quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of a picture, usually produced by a lens.
“Bokeh” is defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”. This effect is great for portrait images where you want the focal point, such as a face, in sharp focus, but the balance of the image around the focal point, blurred.
This effect is offered as Potrait mode on iPhones from iPhone 7 Plus up. However, if you don’t have a new model phone there are several apps on the App Store, which, with a bit of effort, achieve similar results.
Here are popular apps for bokeh effect:
1. Depth Blur
Paid app on the Apple App Store
The developers promise that this app creates natural depth in images, imitating the effect that distance creates on the eye. This feature achieves a bokeh effect on any protrait type image.
The app allows you to add multiple depth masks, alter aperture to change blur intensity, add rectangular, diagonal or radial depth backgrounds, use various brushes & soft edge smoothing tools. You can upload any photo from your devices photo library & the app, also, allows you to save your work to a project folder, so that you can redo the same image in different styles.
Free on the Apple App Store, with Pro version available
Tap to blur any area of an image instantly. This app features a blur enabled image editor, which also allows you to add nifty blur type to your photos, such as Gaussian, zoom or motion blur. Images can also be edited to show various effects such as, pixel, crystalline, dots or glass blurs. All blur effects can be done & undone, giving you options to examine your work before publishing your masterpiece.
3. FabFocus
Paid app on the Apple App Store
AI face detection offered by this app, makes it perfect for portrait making. Once detection is complete, the app automatically blurs the area around the focal point.
However, if you’re not satisfied with the result, the in built editor allows you to ‘paint’ a blur onto the image. With a handy do/undo tool, it’s especially easy to create bokeh effects on any image from your photo library. Additionally, the app features several masks that can be used to overlay your image, such as star, heart & other shapes. Also featured is a tool that allows you to adjust the intensity of the blur.
In conclusion: So, if you want to achieve bokeh effects, you don’t, necessarily have to fork out for a new device, simply download an app, & you’re good to go!
