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The bokeh effect refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photo, specially achieved by using a wide aperture and creating a shallow depth of field. It results in a soft, blurred background with smooth, round, and pleasingly rendered highlights or shapes.
▲ Bokeh background with heart shape
Derived from the Japanese word for “blur,” Bokeh Effect creates a stunning eye-catching effect for your photos. Professional photographers use complex manipulations and expert knowledge to create this dreamy aesthetic. But if you’re not a pro or don’t have time to learn how to do it, an app with the 'Bokeh effect' is ideal for you!
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How to achieve Bokeh Effect
There are few techniques to apply the 'Bokeh Effect' to your photos:
▲ Bokeh Background with circle shape
- Use a wide aperture: Choose a lens with a low f-number (e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8)
- Select a suitable lens: Prime lenses (fixed focal length lenses) with wide maximum apertures tend to create more pronounced bokeh.
- Get closer to the subject
- Increase the distance between subject and background.
- Consider the background elements
- Use YouCam Perfect app > Blur tool
Here we want to show you step-by-step, how you can achieve the Bokeh Effect in your photos.
How to Add Bokeh Effect to Photos
YouCam Perfect makes it easy to create the ideal bokeh effect with its seamless editing capabilities. Its many bokeh shapes let you customize your effects with adjustable sliders and various tools to enhance your images. To get your own bokeh effect with YouCam Perfect, follow these steps:
- Download YouCam Perfect free for iOS or Android.
- Choose the photo you want to edit from your phone’s gallery.
- Go to Edit and select Tools.
- Choose the Blur effect to explore the many options for creating your own bokeh effect.
- Select from four different bokeh styles and four shapes, and apply your favorite to your photo.
- Save and share!
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*Adjust the size of images ONLY. Please go to Strapi to edit the materials info.
Customize Your Bokeh Effect Shapes
With YouCam Perfect, you can choose from four different bokeh shapes and styles.
▲ Choose the style of your Bokeh Background
Start by choosing whether you want to use a circle, ellipse, or rectangle frame for your bokeh image. If you want something more unique, try the brush option to manually select your focus area. After that, choose from these four bokeh shapes to add to your bokeh background:
- Circle
- Shine
- Heart
- Star
Each one adds a different vibe to your photo, so explore them all to find the best one for your snaps!
5 Best Free Bokeh Effect Apps for iPhone & Android
Here are the 5 best free bokeh effect apps in 2023:
1. YouCam Perfect - Bokeh Effect tool
▲ Bokeh Background
Best for: YouCam Perfect is best for people who want to create quick, professional-level edits for social media while having access to many other photo editing tools.
Rating: 4.8 and 4.4
YouCam Perfect’s blur effect offers a versatile way to add personality to your photos. With it, you can create a beautiful bokeh effect that blurs your background and puts the viewer’s eyes on your chosen focal point. Using the Blur effect, YouCam Perfect can help you create professional-looking photos in just a few taps!
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*Adjust the size of images ONLY. Please go to Strapi to edit the materials info.
More Posts About Bokeh Effect:
2. Focos - Bokeh Effect tool
Best for: Focos works well for taking live photos with the bokeh effect using advanced features.
Rating: 4.8
Available on: iOS and Android
Focos brings bokeh to you with specialized features to create this unique effect. You can take bokeh photos live or edit them later to create pro-level bokeh images. Using AI and AR features, Focos lets you adjust color, brightness, 3D space, and more that normally only work with more expensive and advanced equipment.
3. AfterFocus - Bokeh Effect tool
Best for: AfterFocus works well for creating customizable focal points using its manual blur.
Rating: 3.9
Available on: iOS and Android
AfterFocus lets you create realistic, natural bokeh effects just like you would with a DSLR camera. It allows you to blur around even the most complex shapes to create a beautiful image that brings your chosen object into perfect focus. The app automatically locates the area you want to change, or you can manually select what you want to blur.
4. Real Bokeh - Bokeh Effect tool
Best for: Real Bokeh is best for applying multiple bokeh shapes and styles to your photo.
Rating: 4.1
Available on: iOS and Android
Real Bokeh is anything but generic with 36 bokeh shapes and 33 lens flare effects. You can add several bokeh shapes to a single photo and change their size from small to large. With 28 bokeh colors, you’ll never get bored with exploring this app’s features in your snaps!Best for: Real Bokeh is best for applying multiple bokeh shapes and styles to your photo.
5. FabFocus - Bokeh Effect tool
Best for: FabFocus works best for adding creative bokeh effects with refined tools.
Rating: 4.7
Available on: iOS only
With FabFocus, you can customize your bokeh effects however you like. The app lets you adjust your background blur and change your bokeh shapes to everything from hearts to stars and more. It even lets you adjust your background and foreground quality separately, so the whole photo gives the exact impression you want.
Download YouCam Perfect: The Best Bokeh Effect App to Add Bokeh to Photo
YouCam Perfect makes it easy to create your own customizable bokeh effect in your photos. Download the app for iOS or Android to see how bokeh can transform your snaps in just a few taps!
Shared Materials by Strapi
*Adjust the size of images ONLY. Please go to Strapi to edit the materials info.
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Bokeh Effect FAQs
What is a bokeh effect?
Bokeh comes from the Japanese word for blur. It creates a stylized background blur for your photos using various shapes to bring the focus toward your chosen object.
What is the best bokeh app?
Different bokeh apps work for various purposes, and each of these five has something unique to offer:
We recommend YouCam Perfect as the go-to bokeh app for its easy-to-use blur tools and overall versatility.
How do I get the bokeh effect on my phone?
YouCam Perfect is available free for iOS and Android. Download the app to access customizable bokeh effects on your mobile device.
How do you get the best bokeh effect?
The best bokeh effect depends on how you want your photo to look and where you want to arrange your focus. With YouCam Perfect, you can customize your bokeh using the Blur tool’s slider, shapes, and styles until it looks just right.
How do I add bokeh to a photo?
With YouCam Perfect, go to Edit and choose the Blur tool. Then, apply your favorite bokeh shapes and styles to your photo!
- Download a bokeh effect app
- Add bokeh to your photo
- Choose a bokeh shaper
- Save the photo!
Use the Bokeh Effect to Make a Bokeh Background!
Shared Materials by Strapi
*Adjust the size of images ONLY. Please go to Strapi to edit the materials info.
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