Top 10 Face Blurring Tools for Photos and Videos: A Beginner’s Guide

10 Best Free Blur Face Apps

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

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Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Say Cheese! Top Apps to Convert Your Photos Into Cartoons

Top Best 16 Apps to Cartoon Yourself with Ease [iPhone & Android]

Liza Brown

Apr 23, 2024• Proven solutions

Posting your photos or videos on various digital platforms to communicate with your audience helps you increase your followership. Instead of sharing simple photos with different filters, you can do some creative things with them, like introducing cartoon effects.

Nowadays, many mobile applications are available in the market that help you turn yourself into a cartoon. This guide presents top-rated apps for you to convert a photo to cartoon for free.

If you are looking for how to turn a picture into a cartoon, make sure you don’t miss this read. Let’s get into further specifics.

• Part 2. Top 5 iOS Apps to Turn Yourself Into a Cartoon
• Part 3. Want to Cartoon Yourself on a Computer? Try Filmora!
• Conclusion

Part 1. 5 Best Android Applications to Cartoon Yourself

Try using the Android apps below to convert your pictures into cartoons effortlessly.

1.MomentCam

This app comes with a wide selection of emoticons and cartoons to make your experience memorable. Along with elegantly converting your pictures into cartoons, this app also gives rewards to the most creative users.

All you need is to upload the photo you want to cartoon and select the suitable background. Once done, leave the rest on MomentCam. It allows you to choose beard styles, glass, hairstyles, and much more.

Pros

• It offers a wide range of cartoon effects to make your photos creative.
• This app has an active community where you can share your pictures and win prizes.

Cons

• Some users have reported loading issues.
• Every photo you create with the free version comes with a watermark.

2. Cartoon Photo Editor

This application is specifically designed to convert your photos to cartoons. A single click can help you get this job done quickly. It comes with a selfie mode that makes photo editing an easy task for you. The high processing speed of the Cartoon Photo Editor assists you in cartooning yourself within seconds.

Pros

• You can find a range of cartoon animation features incorporated into this Android application.
• It enables you to create a cartoon photo with the selfie camera.

Cons

• The display of too many advertisements may be awkward for users.

3.Painnt

It is listed among the few leading Android apps that help you turn yourself into a cartoon. Whether you want to adjust the brightness, saturation, transparency, or other parameters of your images, Painnt will become your go-to photo editor. Plus, this app features a creative community where you can find like-minded people and artwork of other users.

Pros

• It holds more than 1000 filters and cartoon effects.
• You can customize cartoon filters by adjusting various parameters, like brightness and more.
• This app launches regular updates to offer more effects and filters.

Cons

• Some users have reported bugs in the desktop version of this application.

4. Prisma Photo Editor

You must have heard this name, as it was the most popular photo-editing app on the market a few years back. Though Prisma is not as popular as it was in the past, it still features some amazing filters and cartoon effects. It is known for giving your photo a cartoonish look as if it is designed by seasoned photo artists.

The best thing about this application is that it introduces new filters and effects regularly to ensure you have enough ideas to create your cartoon photo. With this app, you can save your photos in both HD and SD quality.

Pros

• It offers over 300 filters to turn your photos to cartoons.
• This app releases new cartoon effects every other day.

Cons

• It crashes sometimes on Android and iPhone devices.

5.Cartoon Yourself

With this photo-editing application, you can turn yourself into a cartoon very easily. Though it does not allow you to take pictures, it makes it super easy for you to create cartoon photos from your existing images.

Choose the desired picture by hitting the “Add a Photo” button and click on the “Apply Effect” button. Doing this will help you explore a rich collection of cartoon effects and stickers within the app. Once your cartoon photo is created, this app allows you to share it on various social media platforms.

It also comes with basic photo editing features, including but not limited to rotating, mirroring, or cropping pictures.

Pros

• The user interface is super simple for every user, including beginners.
• It helps you introduce unmatchable cartoon effects to your photos.

Cons

• The free version carries limited effects and filters.

Part 2. Top 5 iOS Apps to Turn Yourself Into a Cartoon

Do you use iPhone devices? Looking for apps to create your cartoon photos? Try any of the applications listed below.

1.Clip2Comic; Caricature Maker

This application enables you to use existing photos to create their cartoon versions. At the same time, it also allows you to use the phone’s camera, take a picture, and convert it into a cartoon. With the live preview feature, you can see how pictures will look like once you record or capture them.

Clip2Comic offers eight art filters, sketch, toon, and comics. The photo editing tools help you enhance your photos or crop them as and when needed. On the other hand, deformation tools enable you to make caricatures.

Pros

• You can export high quality images up to 1080p.
• It allows you to choose from a wide variety of sketches, posters, and other cartoon effects.

Cons

• In-app purchases and ads may be irritating for some users.

2.Moments Cartoon Caricature

The caricature tools of this mobile application helps you turn your ordinary pictures into hilarious photos. In addition, this app enables you to participate in different selfie contests. With this app, you can access both the front and back cameras of your mobile device to capture as many pictures as you want.

A rich collection of features to convert your photos into cartoons makes the Moments Cartoon Caricature app stand out in the market. It also allows you to make black and white caricatures. If you need an easy-to-use app to create stunning photos for social media platforms, don’t forget to give Moments Cartoon Caricature a try.

Pros

• It offers a one-click feature to apply cartoon effects to your images.
• You can participate in various selfie contests through this application.
• It enables you to take photos and convert them into cartoons effortlessly.

Cons

• Sometimes, you may find loading issues.

3.Cartoon Sketch Camera Pro

This photo editor features a huge collection of effects to cartoon your photos, including but not limited to Dots, Crosshatch, Swirl, Sketch, Emboss, Cartoon, and Halftone. Once you upload your pictures and cartoon them, you have the option to share your creations on all popular social media platforms. It is just a matter of a single click.

Pros

• You can choose from a range of cartoon effects and filters.
• It enables you to save your creations in the cartoon library.

Cons

• Seeing a lot of ads in the free version may be annoying for you and other users.

4.ToonCamera

This photo editor is specifically designed for iPhone users to take pictures and turn them into cartoons within minutes. You can find a broad collection of pencil effects, ink, stipple, and cartoons in this mobile app. The best thing about this application is that it shows you a real-time preview so that you can understand how your cartoon photos will look like.

Moreover, ToonCamera can customize your photos freely to maximize the visual effects. Along with saving your cartoon photos on the camera roll, you can share them too on different social platforms.

Pros

• When customizing your photos, you can choose from a diverse collection of high quality filters and effects.
• The customer support is highly responsive and cooperative.

Cons

• This app does not run on iPhone devices with a version earlier than 8.1.

5.Sketch Me

Using this application makes it easy to create social media hits. You can achieve high standards with different cartoon effects, like Hatching, Cartoon, and Pastel. You can fine-tune each effect and adjust opacity and edge strength. It will help you highlight specific parts of your pictures.

If you are looking forward to enhancing the colors of your cartoon photos, you can play with different parameters, like saturation, brightness, and contrast. With the Sketch Me app, you can share your creations on digital platforms and via email.

Pros

• A range of cartoon effects, video effects, and filters are available in this app.
• It helps you save the cartoon photos to the Photo Album.

Cons

• Some users have claimed that they struggled when importing pictures from the camera roll.

Part 3. Want to Cartoon Yourself on a Computer? Try Filmora

Filmora is a wonderful photo and video editing tool launched by Wondershare. Along with a huge range of features, it offers a cartoon-style feature to convert your photos and videos into a cartoon. All you need is to drag and drop the effect and put it on the desired photo or video.

Using Filmora is a more powerful tool to create cartoon photos than using mobile apps. However, it all depends on the choice of the user. Let’s look at the steps you need to follow to make cartoon photos with Wondershare Filmora.

Step 1:Download Filmora from the official website and open it.

Step 2:Now, drag and drop the photo/video on the timeline.

Step 3:Enter the “Effects” tab and find “Comic Book.”

Step 4:Drag it on the photo/video clip and change the saturation and brightness to give your photo a cartoon style.

Summing It Up

Posting photos or videos on social platforms is a great way to stay connected with your audience. How about introducing some creativity? Well, you can do this by adding cartoon effects, styles, and filters to your pictures. A couple of mobile applications (Android and iOS) are available to perform this task, as listed in the discussion above.

If you want to turn yourself into a cartoon on a computer, don’t forget to try Wondershare Filmora. It is an amazing utility that allows you to make your photos and videos look creative instantly. For more details on how to turn a picture into a cartoon, ensure you read through the complete article.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

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Liza Brown

chief Editor

Liza Brown

Apr 23, 2024• Proven solutions

Posting your photos or videos on various digital platforms to communicate with your audience helps you increase your followership. Instead of sharing simple photos with different filters, you can do some creative things with them, like introducing cartoon effects.

Nowadays, many mobile applications are available in the market that help you turn yourself into a cartoon. This guide presents top-rated apps for you to convert a photo to cartoon for free.

If you are looking for how to turn a picture into a cartoon, make sure you don’t miss this read. Let’s get into further specifics.

• Part 2. Top 5 iOS Apps to Turn Yourself Into a Cartoon
• Part 3. Want to Cartoon Yourself on a Computer? Try Filmora!
• Conclusion

Part 1. 5 Best Android Applications to Cartoon Yourself

Try using the Android apps below to convert your pictures into cartoons effortlessly.

1.MomentCam

This app comes with a wide selection of emoticons and cartoons to make your experience memorable. Along with elegantly converting your pictures into cartoons, this app also gives rewards to the most creative users.

All you need is to upload the photo you want to cartoon and select the suitable background. Once done, leave the rest on MomentCam. It allows you to choose beard styles, glass, hairstyles, and much more.

Pros

• It offers a wide range of cartoon effects to make your photos creative.
• This app has an active community where you can share your pictures and win prizes.

Cons

• Some users have reported loading issues.
• Every photo you create with the free version comes with a watermark.

2. Cartoon Photo Editor

This application is specifically designed to convert your photos to cartoons. A single click can help you get this job done quickly. It comes with a selfie mode that makes photo editing an easy task for you. The high processing speed of the Cartoon Photo Editor assists you in cartooning yourself within seconds.

Pros

• You can find a range of cartoon animation features incorporated into this Android application.
• It enables you to create a cartoon photo with the selfie camera.

Cons

• The display of too many advertisements may be awkward for users.

3.Painnt

It is listed among the few leading Android apps that help you turn yourself into a cartoon. Whether you want to adjust the brightness, saturation, transparency, or other parameters of your images, Painnt will become your go-to photo editor. Plus, this app features a creative community where you can find like-minded people and artwork of other users.

Pros

• It holds more than 1000 filters and cartoon effects.
• You can customize cartoon filters by adjusting various parameters, like brightness and more.
• This app launches regular updates to offer more effects and filters.

Cons

• Some users have reported bugs in the desktop version of this application.

4. Prisma Photo Editor

You must have heard this name, as it was the most popular photo-editing app on the market a few years back. Though Prisma is not as popular as it was in the past, it still features some amazing filters and cartoon effects. It is known for giving your photo a cartoonish look as if it is designed by seasoned photo artists.

The best thing about this application is that it introduces new filters and effects regularly to ensure you have enough ideas to create your cartoon photo. With this app, you can save your photos in both HD and SD quality.

Pros

• It offers over 300 filters to turn your photos to cartoons.
• This app releases new cartoon effects every other day.

Cons

• It crashes sometimes on Android and iPhone devices.

5.Cartoon Yourself

With this photo-editing application, you can turn yourself into a cartoon very easily. Though it does not allow you to take pictures, it makes it super easy for you to create cartoon photos from your existing images.

Choose the desired picture by hitting the “Add a Photo” button and click on the “Apply Effect” button. Doing this will help you explore a rich collection of cartoon effects and stickers within the app. Once your cartoon photo is created, this app allows you to share it on various social media platforms.

It also comes with basic photo editing features, including but not limited to rotating, mirroring, or cropping pictures.

Pros

• The user interface is super simple for every user, including beginners.
• It helps you introduce unmatchable cartoon effects to your photos.

Cons

• The free version carries limited effects and filters.

Part 2. Top 5 iOS Apps to Turn Yourself Into a Cartoon

Do you use iPhone devices? Looking for apps to create your cartoon photos? Try any of the applications listed below.

1.Clip2Comic; Caricature Maker

This application enables you to use existing photos to create their cartoon versions. At the same time, it also allows you to use the phone’s camera, take a picture, and convert it into a cartoon. With the live preview feature, you can see how pictures will look like once you record or capture them.

Clip2Comic offers eight art filters, sketch, toon, and comics. The photo editing tools help you enhance your photos or crop them as and when needed. On the other hand, deformation tools enable you to make caricatures.

Pros

• You can export high quality images up to 1080p.
• It allows you to choose from a wide variety of sketches, posters, and other cartoon effects.

Cons

• In-app purchases and ads may be irritating for some users.

2.Moments Cartoon Caricature

The caricature tools of this mobile application helps you turn your ordinary pictures into hilarious photos. In addition, this app enables you to participate in different selfie contests. With this app, you can access both the front and back cameras of your mobile device to capture as many pictures as you want.

A rich collection of features to convert your photos into cartoons makes the Moments Cartoon Caricature app stand out in the market. It also allows you to make black and white caricatures. If you need an easy-to-use app to create stunning photos for social media platforms, don’t forget to give Moments Cartoon Caricature a try.

Pros

• It offers a one-click feature to apply cartoon effects to your images.
• You can participate in various selfie contests through this application.
• It enables you to take photos and convert them into cartoons effortlessly.

Cons

• Sometimes, you may find loading issues.

3.Cartoon Sketch Camera Pro

This photo editor features a huge collection of effects to cartoon your photos, including but not limited to Dots, Crosshatch, Swirl, Sketch, Emboss, Cartoon, and Halftone. Once you upload your pictures and cartoon them, you have the option to share your creations on all popular social media platforms. It is just a matter of a single click.

Pros

• You can choose from a range of cartoon effects and filters.
• It enables you to save your creations in the cartoon library.

Cons

• Seeing a lot of ads in the free version may be annoying for you and other users.

4.ToonCamera

This photo editor is specifically designed for iPhone users to take pictures and turn them into cartoons within minutes. You can find a broad collection of pencil effects, ink, stipple, and cartoons in this mobile app. The best thing about this application is that it shows you a real-time preview so that you can understand how your cartoon photos will look like.

Moreover, ToonCamera can customize your photos freely to maximize the visual effects. Along with saving your cartoon photos on the camera roll, you can share them too on different social platforms.

Pros

• When customizing your photos, you can choose from a diverse collection of high quality filters and effects.
• The customer support is highly responsive and cooperative.

Cons

• This app does not run on iPhone devices with a version earlier than 8.1.

5.Sketch Me

Using this application makes it easy to create social media hits. You can achieve high standards with different cartoon effects, like Hatching, Cartoon, and Pastel. You can fine-tune each effect and adjust opacity and edge strength. It will help you highlight specific parts of your pictures.

If you are looking forward to enhancing the colors of your cartoon photos, you can play with different parameters, like saturation, brightness, and contrast. With the Sketch Me app, you can share your creations on digital platforms and via email.

Pros

• A range of cartoon effects, video effects, and filters are available in this app.
• It helps you save the cartoon photos to the Photo Album.

Cons

• Some users have claimed that they struggled when importing pictures from the camera roll.

Part 3. Want to Cartoon Yourself on a Computer? Try Filmora

Filmora is a wonderful photo and video editing tool launched by Wondershare. Along with a huge range of features, it offers a cartoon-style feature to convert your photos and videos into a cartoon. All you need is to drag and drop the effect and put it on the desired photo or video.

Using Filmora is a more powerful tool to create cartoon photos than using mobile apps. However, it all depends on the choice of the user. Let’s look at the steps you need to follow to make cartoon photos with Wondershare Filmora.

Step 1:Download Filmora from the official website and open it.

Step 2:Now, drag and drop the photo/video on the timeline.

Step 3:Enter the “Effects” tab and find “Comic Book.”

Step 4:Drag it on the photo/video clip and change the saturation and brightness to give your photo a cartoon style.

Summing It Up

Posting photos or videos on social platforms is a great way to stay connected with your audience. How about introducing some creativity? Well, you can do this by adding cartoon effects, styles, and filters to your pictures. A couple of mobile applications (Android and iOS) are available to perform this task, as listed in the discussion above.

If you want to turn yourself into a cartoon on a computer, don’t forget to try Wondershare Filmora. It is an amazing utility that allows you to make your photos and videos look creative instantly. For more details on how to turn a picture into a cartoon, ensure you read through the complete article.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

×

CommentSuccessful

Thank you for your comment. We will review it within few days.

You May Also Like

How to Convert Digital Videos into Cartoons?

in this article, we are going to take you through some of the best currently available software and we are going to show you how you can turn a video into a captivating cartoon.

by Liza Brown Apr 01, 2024 11:19 AM

How to Cartoon Yourself on Desktop/Phone/Online

If you would like to find out how to cartoon yourself, you’re at the right place because in this article we’re going to show you several different methods you can use to turn your self-portraits and a

by Liza Brown Apr 01, 2024 11:19 AM

10 Best PC and Online Cartoon Video Makers Easily [Easy to Use]

Despite the aforementioned restrictions, cartoon video makers still offer a sea of possibilities to their users, so let’s dive into the magical world of animated video.

by Liza Brown Apr 01, 2024 11:19 AM

Liza Brown

chief Editor

How Do You Get the Bokeh Effect App? Here Are some of the Best Bokeh Apps for the iPhone and Android

Best Bokeh Effects Apps in 2024

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s no secret that DSLR cameras can help you achieve this blurred effect, but now there are dozens of apps that allow you to get the same outcome without spending hundreds on a new camera. This article will provide you with the 10 best Bokeh apps for iPhones and Androids, based on our own testing, so that you can start editing right away.

• Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect?
• Part 2: Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect
• Part 3: What is the Bokeh Effect?

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Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect and Why Should I Be Using it?

The word “Bokeh”or “boke” refers to the Japanese concept of “blur.” It is, in its simplest form, a style of photography where one object is the primary focus, and everything else is strategically blurred.

Using the Bokeh effect is an excellent way to separate the focal point of your photo from non-focal points. It not only serves the purpose of highlighting the focus of the image, but can also help when you’re looking to get rid of an unpleasant or unwanted background. The blurred background is meant to keep your focal point at the absolute center of your audience’s attention.

Part 2: Top 10 Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect for iOS and Android

As mentioned, there are other ways to achieve the Bokeh effect without an expensive and often fidget DSLR camera. The following apps have been deemed the best based on a variety of characteristics which will be mentioned below.

1. Focos -iOS - FREE

The Focos app for iPhones is a free resource that uses computational photography and light-field camera settings to help you achieve the perfect blur. It offers users the option to apply the Bokeh effect to both the background and foreground of your image, with a variety of options for adjusting size and transparency.

To create the Bokeh effect in Focos:

1. Download App via App Store and allow it access to your camera and camera roll;
2. Import the image you wish you use, or take a photo using the app’s camera;
3. Adjust your focal point and transparency of the blur using their sliding bar feature;

1. To add more Bokeh effects, select the star Effect feature in the bottom right of the screen.

1. Once you’re happy with the effect, this app allows you to save to your camera roll or share to other apps, including Instagram.

2. Photo Editor Pro - Android - FREE

Photo Editor Pro is a free application that allows users to achieve the Bokeh effect with 4 different camera modes. Users can also adjust the transparency of the bokeh effect chosen.

To create the Bokeh effect in Photo Editor Pro:

1. Download the app and allow access to camera and camera roll；
2. Select your desired image either via camera or camera roll；
3. Choose between a variety of backgrounds and blending tools and adjust using the apps adjustable features, and download to camera roll or upload to a third-party app.

3. Auto Blur Background - Android - FREE

The Auto Blur Background app for iOS and Android is another free resource for creating an image with the Bokeh effect. The app allows users to select the size and desired amount of blur for your background, giving the user a lot of control over the outcome of their photo. It enables users to add overlays in addition to the bokeh effect to enhance the overall outcome.

To create the Bokeh effect in Auto Blur Background app:

1. Import or take your photo on the Auto Blur Background application;
2. Edit as desired using a variety of tools offered at the bottom of your screen, and add bokeh effect to the video;
3. To export, select the Share icon in the bottom right hand corner;
4. From this step you can either import directly to Instagram, or export to camera roll. If exported to camera roll, open Instagram app and add a new story, select photo from camera roll and hit add to story!

4. SnapSeed- iOS & Android - FREE

SnapSeed is one of the ultimate editing apps to help you achieve the Bokeh effect on iOS and Android devices. This app, owned by Google, provides an array of advanced editing tools to help improve your photography and editing capabilities.

To create the Bokeh effect in SnapSeed:

1. Download the app in the app store and allow access to camera and camera roll;
2. Import or take desired image and choose between a variety of filters;

1. After selecting your filter, choose Tools and select the Lens Blur Option , and adjust your blur strength accordingly**;**

1. Export and save to camera roll or upload to a third-party site.

5. AfterFocus -iOS & Android - $0.99

AfterFocus helps users achieve the Bokeh effect by letting you define the focal area and adjusting the blur of the surrounding regions.

To create the Bokeh effect in AfterFocus:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once you’ve selected your image, the app will prompt you to select whether you want to manually select the focus area or if you want their software to detect it for you;
3. Several blurring tools will appear, use the focus selector tool to select the regions in which you’d like your image to be focused;
4. Then use the background selector tool to select the background of your photo, and choose between lens, motion and zoom blur

6. Real Bokeh -iOS & Android - $2.99

Real Bokeh allows users on both the iPhone and Android to add Bokeh light features to their photos. It includes 36 Bokeh shapes, 33 light leak effects, 23 image filters and much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in Real Bokeh:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Choose between different filters, shapes and effects to add to your image;
3. Adjust the transparency of your bokeh effect on the sliding bar provided by the app, and export to camera roll or to a third party site.

7. Bokeh Lens -iOS - $0.99

This app, designed for the iPhone, is a magnifying glass for photos, allowing users to create their own Bokeh effect without the use of a DSLR camera. The Bokeh level on this app is also customizable, making it great if you’re looking to get detailed.

To create the Bokeh effect in Bokeh Lens:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Using the image below, follow the focus area tools, adjustable bokeh level and more to achieve your perfect photo, and then export to camera roll or third party app

8. Blur Photo - iOS & Android - FREE

Blur photo uses a one click method to achieve auto blurred backgrounds to help you achieve the Bokeh effect. It also allows you to manually adjust the settings to your own liking. Users can increase or decrease the blur effect, add filters to photos, and add emojis and text.

To create the Bokeh effect in Blur Photo:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. You are given a variety of image sizing options, once completed, select Blur, from here you are able to adjust the size and amount of blur and your image is blurred by using your finger to glide over desired areas;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

9. PhotoDirector -iOS & Android - FREE

PhotoDirector is an app available on the iPhone and Android that offers extensive editing options, including the Bokeh effect. You can add animated overlays, animated decorations, sky placement, photo retouching, and much, much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in PhotoDirector:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll) ;
2. To find and utilize the Bokeh effect, click the Live button, from there, choose where you want the image to focus, which Bokeh effects you want and how animated you want them to be;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

10. Tadaa SLR - iOS - $3.99

Although this app is the most expensive on the list, it also offers some of the best depth-of-field and bokeh effects. It is ultra-precise and easy to navigate.

To create the Bokeh effect in Tadaa SLR:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once image is imported, select the Mask tool, which you can use to select the portion of the image you’d like to keep in focus;
3. You may then adjust the aperture, range, gloss and highlights via the modification tools provided at the bottom of the screen.
4. Adjust to your liking and export!

Part 3: Creating the Bokeh Effect Using the Portrait Mode Function on Your iPhone

If using a third-party app seems like too much effort, or you don’t find the app that achieves the exact blur to focus ratio you’re looking for, consider using the Portrait Mode feature available on newer iPhone models.

Portrait mode is a camera function that allows users to create the depth of field effect we know as Bokeh. When used, the focal image will be crisp and sharp, while the background will be blurred nicely so as to not cause a distraction to the focal point.

To achieve the Bokeh effect through Portrait Mode, you must:

1. Open up your camera app and along the bottom of your screen find and select Portrait, and select from a variety of portrait mode options, including Natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, stage light mono, high key light mono;

1. Portrait mode will then allow you to choose your focal point, and do the rest of the work when it comes to blurring the background to create the Bokeh effect;
2. The different modes offered will allow users to achieve different types of blur.

Note: If you want to add the bokeh effect to video on the desktop computer, you should try Wondershare Filmora , which provides tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear effects for creating the bokeh effect, as well as some bokeh effect overlay. For more details, you can check how to add bokeh effects to the video with Filmora.

Takeaway

Using the Bokeh effect can add a layer to your photography that takes it to the next level. While there are a variety of tools you can use to achieve this, I have covered the 10 best apps for iOS and Android users to accomplish Bokeh. And if third-party apps aren’t for you, don’t forget that iPhone user can also use Portrait Mode to achieve a great Bokeh outcome.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s no secret that DSLR cameras can help you achieve this blurred effect, but now there are dozens of apps that allow you to get the same outcome without spending hundreds on a new camera. This article will provide you with the 10 best Bokeh apps for iPhones and Androids, based on our own testing, so that you can start editing right away.

• Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect?
• Part 2: Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect
• Part 3: What is the Bokeh Effect?

---

Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect and Why Should I Be Using it?

The word “Bokeh”or “boke” refers to the Japanese concept of “blur.” It is, in its simplest form, a style of photography where one object is the primary focus, and everything else is strategically blurred.

Using the Bokeh effect is an excellent way to separate the focal point of your photo from non-focal points. It not only serves the purpose of highlighting the focus of the image, but can also help when you’re looking to get rid of an unpleasant or unwanted background. The blurred background is meant to keep your focal point at the absolute center of your audience’s attention.

Part 2: Top 10 Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect for iOS and Android

As mentioned, there are other ways to achieve the Bokeh effect without an expensive and often fidget DSLR camera. The following apps have been deemed the best based on a variety of characteristics which will be mentioned below.

1. Focos -iOS - FREE

The Focos app for iPhones is a free resource that uses computational photography and light-field camera settings to help you achieve the perfect blur. It offers users the option to apply the Bokeh effect to both the background and foreground of your image, with a variety of options for adjusting size and transparency.

To create the Bokeh effect in Focos:

1. Download App via App Store and allow it access to your camera and camera roll;
2. Import the image you wish you use, or take a photo using the app’s camera;
3. Adjust your focal point and transparency of the blur using their sliding bar feature;

1. To add more Bokeh effects, select the star Effect feature in the bottom right of the screen.

1. Once you’re happy with the effect, this app allows you to save to your camera roll or share to other apps, including Instagram.

2. Photo Editor Pro - Android - FREE

Photo Editor Pro is a free application that allows users to achieve the Bokeh effect with 4 different camera modes. Users can also adjust the transparency of the bokeh effect chosen.

To create the Bokeh effect in Photo Editor Pro:

1. Download the app and allow access to camera and camera roll；
2. Select your desired image either via camera or camera roll；
3. Choose between a variety of backgrounds and blending tools and adjust using the apps adjustable features, and download to camera roll or upload to a third-party app.

3. Auto Blur Background - Android - FREE

The Auto Blur Background app for iOS and Android is another free resource for creating an image with the Bokeh effect. The app allows users to select the size and desired amount of blur for your background, giving the user a lot of control over the outcome of their photo. It enables users to add overlays in addition to the bokeh effect to enhance the overall outcome.

To create the Bokeh effect in Auto Blur Background app:

1. Import or take your photo on the Auto Blur Background application;
2. Edit as desired using a variety of tools offered at the bottom of your screen, and add bokeh effect to the video;
3. To export, select the Share icon in the bottom right hand corner;
4. From this step you can either import directly to Instagram, or export to camera roll. If exported to camera roll, open Instagram app and add a new story, select photo from camera roll and hit add to story!

4. SnapSeed- iOS & Android - FREE

SnapSeed is one of the ultimate editing apps to help you achieve the Bokeh effect on iOS and Android devices. This app, owned by Google, provides an array of advanced editing tools to help improve your photography and editing capabilities.

To create the Bokeh effect in SnapSeed:

1. Download the app in the app store and allow access to camera and camera roll;
2. Import or take desired image and choose between a variety of filters;

1. After selecting your filter, choose Tools and select the Lens Blur Option , and adjust your blur strength accordingly**;**

1. Export and save to camera roll or upload to a third-party site.

5. AfterFocus -iOS & Android - $0.99

AfterFocus helps users achieve the Bokeh effect by letting you define the focal area and adjusting the blur of the surrounding regions.

To create the Bokeh effect in AfterFocus:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once you’ve selected your image, the app will prompt you to select whether you want to manually select the focus area or if you want their software to detect it for you;
3. Several blurring tools will appear, use the focus selector tool to select the regions in which you’d like your image to be focused;
4. Then use the background selector tool to select the background of your photo, and choose between lens, motion and zoom blur

6. Real Bokeh -iOS & Android - $2.99

Real Bokeh allows users on both the iPhone and Android to add Bokeh light features to their photos. It includes 36 Bokeh shapes, 33 light leak effects, 23 image filters and much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in Real Bokeh:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Choose between different filters, shapes and effects to add to your image;
3. Adjust the transparency of your bokeh effect on the sliding bar provided by the app, and export to camera roll or to a third party site.

7. Bokeh Lens -iOS - $0.99

This app, designed for the iPhone, is a magnifying glass for photos, allowing users to create their own Bokeh effect without the use of a DSLR camera. The Bokeh level on this app is also customizable, making it great if you’re looking to get detailed.

To create the Bokeh effect in Bokeh Lens:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Using the image below, follow the focus area tools, adjustable bokeh level and more to achieve your perfect photo, and then export to camera roll or third party app

8. Blur Photo - iOS & Android - FREE

Blur photo uses a one click method to achieve auto blurred backgrounds to help you achieve the Bokeh effect. It also allows you to manually adjust the settings to your own liking. Users can increase or decrease the blur effect, add filters to photos, and add emojis and text.

To create the Bokeh effect in Blur Photo:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. You are given a variety of image sizing options, once completed, select Blur, from here you are able to adjust the size and amount of blur and your image is blurred by using your finger to glide over desired areas;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

9. PhotoDirector -iOS & Android - FREE

PhotoDirector is an app available on the iPhone and Android that offers extensive editing options, including the Bokeh effect. You can add animated overlays, animated decorations, sky placement, photo retouching, and much, much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in PhotoDirector:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll) ;
2. To find and utilize the Bokeh effect, click the Live button, from there, choose where you want the image to focus, which Bokeh effects you want and how animated you want them to be;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

10. Tadaa SLR - iOS - $3.99

Although this app is the most expensive on the list, it also offers some of the best depth-of-field and bokeh effects. It is ultra-precise and easy to navigate.

To create the Bokeh effect in Tadaa SLR:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once image is imported, select the Mask tool, which you can use to select the portion of the image you’d like to keep in focus;
3. You may then adjust the aperture, range, gloss and highlights via the modification tools provided at the bottom of the screen.
4. Adjust to your liking and export!

Part 3: Creating the Bokeh Effect Using the Portrait Mode Function on Your iPhone

If using a third-party app seems like too much effort, or you don’t find the app that achieves the exact blur to focus ratio you’re looking for, consider using the Portrait Mode feature available on newer iPhone models.

Portrait mode is a camera function that allows users to create the depth of field effect we know as Bokeh. When used, the focal image will be crisp and sharp, while the background will be blurred nicely so as to not cause a distraction to the focal point.

To achieve the Bokeh effect through Portrait Mode, you must:

1. Open up your camera app and along the bottom of your screen find and select Portrait, and select from a variety of portrait mode options, including Natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, stage light mono, high key light mono;

1. Portrait mode will then allow you to choose your focal point, and do the rest of the work when it comes to blurring the background to create the Bokeh effect;
2. The different modes offered will allow users to achieve different types of blur.

Note: If you want to add the bokeh effect to video on the desktop computer, you should try Wondershare Filmora , which provides tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear effects for creating the bokeh effect, as well as some bokeh effect overlay. For more details, you can check how to add bokeh effects to the video with Filmora.

Takeaway

Using the Bokeh effect can add a layer to your photography that takes it to the next level. While there are a variety of tools you can use to achieve this, I have covered the 10 best apps for iOS and Android users to accomplish Bokeh. And if third-party apps aren’t for you, don’t forget that iPhone user can also use Portrait Mode to achieve a great Bokeh outcome.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s no secret that DSLR cameras can help you achieve this blurred effect, but now there are dozens of apps that allow you to get the same outcome without spending hundreds on a new camera. This article will provide you with the 10 best Bokeh apps for iPhones and Androids, based on our own testing, so that you can start editing right away.

• Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect?
• Part 2: Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect
• Part 3: What is the Bokeh Effect?

---

Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect and Why Should I Be Using it?

The word “Bokeh”or “boke” refers to the Japanese concept of “blur.” It is, in its simplest form, a style of photography where one object is the primary focus, and everything else is strategically blurred.

Using the Bokeh effect is an excellent way to separate the focal point of your photo from non-focal points. It not only serves the purpose of highlighting the focus of the image, but can also help when you’re looking to get rid of an unpleasant or unwanted background. The blurred background is meant to keep your focal point at the absolute center of your audience’s attention.

Part 2: Top 10 Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect for iOS and Android

As mentioned, there are other ways to achieve the Bokeh effect without an expensive and often fidget DSLR camera. The following apps have been deemed the best based on a variety of characteristics which will be mentioned below.

1. Focos -iOS - FREE

The Focos app for iPhones is a free resource that uses computational photography and light-field camera settings to help you achieve the perfect blur. It offers users the option to apply the Bokeh effect to both the background and foreground of your image, with a variety of options for adjusting size and transparency.

To create the Bokeh effect in Focos:

1. Download App via App Store and allow it access to your camera and camera roll;
2. Import the image you wish you use, or take a photo using the app’s camera;
3. Adjust your focal point and transparency of the blur using their sliding bar feature;

1. To add more Bokeh effects, select the star Effect feature in the bottom right of the screen.

1. Once you’re happy with the effect, this app allows you to save to your camera roll or share to other apps, including Instagram.

2. Photo Editor Pro - Android - FREE

Photo Editor Pro is a free application that allows users to achieve the Bokeh effect with 4 different camera modes. Users can also adjust the transparency of the bokeh effect chosen.

To create the Bokeh effect in Photo Editor Pro:

1. Download the app and allow access to camera and camera roll；
2. Select your desired image either via camera or camera roll；
3. Choose between a variety of backgrounds and blending tools and adjust using the apps adjustable features, and download to camera roll or upload to a third-party app.

3. Auto Blur Background - Android - FREE

The Auto Blur Background app for iOS and Android is another free resource for creating an image with the Bokeh effect. The app allows users to select the size and desired amount of blur for your background, giving the user a lot of control over the outcome of their photo. It enables users to add overlays in addition to the bokeh effect to enhance the overall outcome.

To create the Bokeh effect in Auto Blur Background app:

1. Import or take your photo on the Auto Blur Background application;
2. Edit as desired using a variety of tools offered at the bottom of your screen, and add bokeh effect to the video;
3. To export, select the Share icon in the bottom right hand corner;
4. From this step you can either import directly to Instagram, or export to camera roll. If exported to camera roll, open Instagram app and add a new story, select photo from camera roll and hit add to story!

4. SnapSeed- iOS & Android - FREE

SnapSeed is one of the ultimate editing apps to help you achieve the Bokeh effect on iOS and Android devices. This app, owned by Google, provides an array of advanced editing tools to help improve your photography and editing capabilities.

To create the Bokeh effect in SnapSeed:

1. Download the app in the app store and allow access to camera and camera roll;
2. Import or take desired image and choose between a variety of filters;

1. After selecting your filter, choose Tools and select the Lens Blur Option , and adjust your blur strength accordingly**;**

1. Export and save to camera roll or upload to a third-party site.

5. AfterFocus -iOS & Android - $0.99

AfterFocus helps users achieve the Bokeh effect by letting you define the focal area and adjusting the blur of the surrounding regions.

To create the Bokeh effect in AfterFocus:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once you’ve selected your image, the app will prompt you to select whether you want to manually select the focus area or if you want their software to detect it for you;
3. Several blurring tools will appear, use the focus selector tool to select the regions in which you’d like your image to be focused;
4. Then use the background selector tool to select the background of your photo, and choose between lens, motion and zoom blur

6. Real Bokeh -iOS & Android - $2.99

Real Bokeh allows users on both the iPhone and Android to add Bokeh light features to their photos. It includes 36 Bokeh shapes, 33 light leak effects, 23 image filters and much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in Real Bokeh:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Choose between different filters, shapes and effects to add to your image;
3. Adjust the transparency of your bokeh effect on the sliding bar provided by the app, and export to camera roll or to a third party site.

7. Bokeh Lens -iOS - $0.99

This app, designed for the iPhone, is a magnifying glass for photos, allowing users to create their own Bokeh effect without the use of a DSLR camera. The Bokeh level on this app is also customizable, making it great if you’re looking to get detailed.

To create the Bokeh effect in Bokeh Lens:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Using the image below, follow the focus area tools, adjustable bokeh level and more to achieve your perfect photo, and then export to camera roll or third party app

8. Blur Photo - iOS & Android - FREE

Blur photo uses a one click method to achieve auto blurred backgrounds to help you achieve the Bokeh effect. It also allows you to manually adjust the settings to your own liking. Users can increase or decrease the blur effect, add filters to photos, and add emojis and text.

To create the Bokeh effect in Blur Photo:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. You are given a variety of image sizing options, once completed, select Blur, from here you are able to adjust the size and amount of blur and your image is blurred by using your finger to glide over desired areas;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

9. PhotoDirector -iOS & Android - FREE

PhotoDirector is an app available on the iPhone and Android that offers extensive editing options, including the Bokeh effect. You can add animated overlays, animated decorations, sky placement, photo retouching, and much, much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in PhotoDirector:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll) ;
2. To find and utilize the Bokeh effect, click the Live button, from there, choose where you want the image to focus, which Bokeh effects you want and how animated you want them to be;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

10. Tadaa SLR - iOS - $3.99

Although this app is the most expensive on the list, it also offers some of the best depth-of-field and bokeh effects. It is ultra-precise and easy to navigate.

To create the Bokeh effect in Tadaa SLR:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once image is imported, select the Mask tool, which you can use to select the portion of the image you’d like to keep in focus;
3. You may then adjust the aperture, range, gloss and highlights via the modification tools provided at the bottom of the screen.
4. Adjust to your liking and export!

Part 3: Creating the Bokeh Effect Using the Portrait Mode Function on Your iPhone

If using a third-party app seems like too much effort, or you don’t find the app that achieves the exact blur to focus ratio you’re looking for, consider using the Portrait Mode feature available on newer iPhone models.

Portrait mode is a camera function that allows users to create the depth of field effect we know as Bokeh. When used, the focal image will be crisp and sharp, while the background will be blurred nicely so as to not cause a distraction to the focal point.

To achieve the Bokeh effect through Portrait Mode, you must:

1. Open up your camera app and along the bottom of your screen find and select Portrait, and select from a variety of portrait mode options, including Natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, stage light mono, high key light mono;

1. Portrait mode will then allow you to choose your focal point, and do the rest of the work when it comes to blurring the background to create the Bokeh effect;
2. The different modes offered will allow users to achieve different types of blur.

Note: If you want to add the bokeh effect to video on the desktop computer, you should try Wondershare Filmora , which provides tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear effects for creating the bokeh effect, as well as some bokeh effect overlay. For more details, you can check how to add bokeh effects to the video with Filmora.

Takeaway

Using the Bokeh effect can add a layer to your photography that takes it to the next level. While there are a variety of tools you can use to achieve this, I have covered the 10 best apps for iOS and Android users to accomplish Bokeh. And if third-party apps aren’t for you, don’t forget that iPhone user can also use Portrait Mode to achieve a great Bokeh outcome.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s no secret that DSLR cameras can help you achieve this blurred effect, but now there are dozens of apps that allow you to get the same outcome without spending hundreds on a new camera. This article will provide you with the 10 best Bokeh apps for iPhones and Androids, based on our own testing, so that you can start editing right away.

• Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect?
• Part 2: Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect
• Part 3: What is the Bokeh Effect?

---

Part 1: What is the Bokeh Effect and Why Should I Be Using it?

The word “Bokeh”or “boke” refers to the Japanese concept of “blur.” It is, in its simplest form, a style of photography where one object is the primary focus, and everything else is strategically blurred.

Using the Bokeh effect is an excellent way to separate the focal point of your photo from non-focal points. It not only serves the purpose of highlighting the focus of the image, but can also help when you’re looking to get rid of an unpleasant or unwanted background. The blurred background is meant to keep your focal point at the absolute center of your audience’s attention.

Part 2: Top 10 Best Apps to Achieve the Bokeh Effect for iOS and Android

As mentioned, there are other ways to achieve the Bokeh effect without an expensive and often fidget DSLR camera. The following apps have been deemed the best based on a variety of characteristics which will be mentioned below.

1. Focos -iOS - FREE

The Focos app for iPhones is a free resource that uses computational photography and light-field camera settings to help you achieve the perfect blur. It offers users the option to apply the Bokeh effect to both the background and foreground of your image, with a variety of options for adjusting size and transparency.

To create the Bokeh effect in Focos:

1. Download App via App Store and allow it access to your camera and camera roll;
2. Import the image you wish you use, or take a photo using the app’s camera;
3. Adjust your focal point and transparency of the blur using their sliding bar feature;

1. To add more Bokeh effects, select the star Effect feature in the bottom right of the screen.

1. Once you’re happy with the effect, this app allows you to save to your camera roll or share to other apps, including Instagram.

2. Photo Editor Pro - Android - FREE

Photo Editor Pro is a free application that allows users to achieve the Bokeh effect with 4 different camera modes. Users can also adjust the transparency of the bokeh effect chosen.

To create the Bokeh effect in Photo Editor Pro:

1. Download the app and allow access to camera and camera roll；
2. Select your desired image either via camera or camera roll；
3. Choose between a variety of backgrounds and blending tools and adjust using the apps adjustable features, and download to camera roll or upload to a third-party app.

3. Auto Blur Background - Android - FREE

The Auto Blur Background app for iOS and Android is another free resource for creating an image with the Bokeh effect. The app allows users to select the size and desired amount of blur for your background, giving the user a lot of control over the outcome of their photo. It enables users to add overlays in addition to the bokeh effect to enhance the overall outcome.

To create the Bokeh effect in Auto Blur Background app:

1. Import or take your photo on the Auto Blur Background application;
2. Edit as desired using a variety of tools offered at the bottom of your screen, and add bokeh effect to the video;
3. To export, select the Share icon in the bottom right hand corner;
4. From this step you can either import directly to Instagram, or export to camera roll. If exported to camera roll, open Instagram app and add a new story, select photo from camera roll and hit add to story!

4. SnapSeed- iOS & Android - FREE

SnapSeed is one of the ultimate editing apps to help you achieve the Bokeh effect on iOS and Android devices. This app, owned by Google, provides an array of advanced editing tools to help improve your photography and editing capabilities.

To create the Bokeh effect in SnapSeed:

1. Download the app in the app store and allow access to camera and camera roll;
2. Import or take desired image and choose between a variety of filters;

1. After selecting your filter, choose Tools and select the Lens Blur Option , and adjust your blur strength accordingly**;**

1. Export and save to camera roll or upload to a third-party site.

5. AfterFocus -iOS & Android - $0.99

AfterFocus helps users achieve the Bokeh effect by letting you define the focal area and adjusting the blur of the surrounding regions.

To create the Bokeh effect in AfterFocus:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once you’ve selected your image, the app will prompt you to select whether you want to manually select the focus area or if you want their software to detect it for you;
3. Several blurring tools will appear, use the focus selector tool to select the regions in which you’d like your image to be focused;
4. Then use the background selector tool to select the background of your photo, and choose between lens, motion and zoom blur

6. Real Bokeh -iOS & Android - $2.99

Real Bokeh allows users on both the iPhone and Android to add Bokeh light features to their photos. It includes 36 Bokeh shapes, 33 light leak effects, 23 image filters and much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in Real Bokeh:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Choose between different filters, shapes and effects to add to your image;
3. Adjust the transparency of your bokeh effect on the sliding bar provided by the app, and export to camera roll or to a third party site.

7. Bokeh Lens -iOS - $0.99

This app, designed for the iPhone, is a magnifying glass for photos, allowing users to create their own Bokeh effect without the use of a DSLR camera. The Bokeh level on this app is also customizable, making it great if you’re looking to get detailed.

To create the Bokeh effect in Bokeh Lens:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Using the image below, follow the focus area tools, adjustable bokeh level and more to achieve your perfect photo, and then export to camera roll or third party app

8. Blur Photo - iOS & Android - FREE

Blur photo uses a one click method to achieve auto blurred backgrounds to help you achieve the Bokeh effect. It also allows you to manually adjust the settings to your own liking. Users can increase or decrease the blur effect, add filters to photos, and add emojis and text.

To create the Bokeh effect in Blur Photo:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. You are given a variety of image sizing options, once completed, select Blur, from here you are able to adjust the size and amount of blur and your image is blurred by using your finger to glide over desired areas;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

9. PhotoDirector -iOS & Android - FREE

PhotoDirector is an app available on the iPhone and Android that offers extensive editing options, including the Bokeh effect. You can add animated overlays, animated decorations, sky placement, photo retouching, and much, much more.

To create the Bokeh effect in PhotoDirector:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll) ;
2. To find and utilize the Bokeh effect, click the Live button, from there, choose where you want the image to focus, which Bokeh effects you want and how animated you want them to be;
3. Upon completion, export and save to camera roll or third-party app.

10. Tadaa SLR - iOS - $3.99

Although this app is the most expensive on the list, it also offers some of the best depth-of-field and bokeh effects. It is ultra-precise and easy to navigate.

To create the Bokeh effect in Tadaa SLR:

1. Download the app and allow the app access to your camera and camera roll, and then select the image given your options (camera, camera roll);
2. Once image is imported, select the Mask tool, which you can use to select the portion of the image you’d like to keep in focus;
3. You may then adjust the aperture, range, gloss and highlights via the modification tools provided at the bottom of the screen.
4. Adjust to your liking and export!

Part 3: Creating the Bokeh Effect Using the Portrait Mode Function on Your iPhone

If using a third-party app seems like too much effort, or you don’t find the app that achieves the exact blur to focus ratio you’re looking for, consider using the Portrait Mode feature available on newer iPhone models.

Portrait mode is a camera function that allows users to create the depth of field effect we know as Bokeh. When used, the focal image will be crisp and sharp, while the background will be blurred nicely so as to not cause a distraction to the focal point.

To achieve the Bokeh effect through Portrait Mode, you must:

1. Open up your camera app and along the bottom of your screen find and select Portrait, and select from a variety of portrait mode options, including Natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, stage light mono, high key light mono;

1. Portrait mode will then allow you to choose your focal point, and do the rest of the work when it comes to blurring the background to create the Bokeh effect;
2. The different modes offered will allow users to achieve different types of blur.

Note: If you want to add the bokeh effect to video on the desktop computer, you should try Wondershare Filmora , which provides tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear effects for creating the bokeh effect, as well as some bokeh effect overlay. For more details, you can check how to add bokeh effects to the video with Filmora.

Takeaway

Using the Bokeh effect can add a layer to your photography that takes it to the next level. While there are a variety of tools you can use to achieve this, I have covered the 10 best apps for iOS and Android users to accomplish Bokeh. And if third-party apps aren’t for you, don’t forget that iPhone user can also use Portrait Mode to achieve a great Bokeh outcome.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Final Cut Pro X: The Art of Freeze Frames and Slow Motion Storytelling

Final Cut Pro X: Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

Three things happen at once:

• The duration of the clip changes
• The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
• The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

• Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
• Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
• Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
• Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

• Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
• Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
• Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

Three things happen at once:

• The duration of the clip changes
• The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
• The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

• Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
• Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
• Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
• Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

• Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
• Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
• Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

Three things happen at once:

• The duration of the clip changes
• The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
• The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

• Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
• Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
• Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
• Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

• Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
• Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
• Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

Three things happen at once:

• The duration of the clip changes
• The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
• The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

• Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
• Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
• Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
• Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

• Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
• Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
• Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Also read: