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How to Blur Background in Lightroom Effortlessly

Jack

By Jack Lin

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Blur Background in Lightroom

How to blur the background in Lightroom? There are various tools available for an average user of Lightroom Classic CC.

This is because they mostly use a professional DSLR camera having lenses to create a shallow field depth. Many telephoto lenses create pictures with smooth, flat blurry backgrounds.

However, it is not always possible as wide-angle and mid-range lenses have a deep field depth. That’s why they are not a good option if you like to blur the background of a picture or highlight the subject by focusing on it.

Irrespective of what camera, smartphone, or lens you use, adding blurriness is possible. Here, we are going to discuss some of the effective ways to blur backgrounds using Adobe Lightroom.

Keep reading if you are wondering how to blur the background in Lightroom using your smartphone. In this article, learn about different methods to blur the background in Lightroom on both smartphones and PCs.


Part 1: How to Blur Background in Lightroom on Your PC

Today, we live in an age where everyone can click a beautiful picture. However, it is still equally challenging to regulate all segments of your shot as when the camera first came into being.

Adobe launched Lightroom Classic CC in October 2017. Since then, it has become the best editing tool for all photography enthusiasts in such a relatively short time.

So, Lightroom comes to everyone’s mind if they need to add blurriness to the background of their digital pictures. Also, it won’t be wrong to say that adding blur background in Lightroom is as simple as kid’s play. Plus, the tool is pretty fun and creative.

It is remarkably easy if you are wondering how to blur the background in Lightroom. Within a few simple steps, you can perform this task.

Now, check out how you can blur the background in Lightroom differently using your PC.

1. Import your Picture into the Photo Editor

Before you start blurring the background of your picture, you need to import your picture into Lightroom. You must tap the ‘Import’ tab on the screen’s left side. Also, you can use the tool to access the pictures on your camera.

Import your Picture into the Photo Editor

This photo editor allows users to edit RAW files. This feature is pretty useful if you like to create large image files.

Such files contain all the content that your camera can capture. Now, select the ‘Develop Module’ option and look for the icon of ‘Adjustment Brush’ in its toolbar.

Adjustment Brush

After clicking on this brush option, you will come across various sliders. These sliders can control values like Noise, Sharpness, Clarity, or others.

The tool lets you produce a mask over your original picture to which you can add the blur effect. Next, tap on the ‘New’ option to create a fresh mask. This will blur the background in Lightroom.

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2. Paint Over Your Picture

Paint Over Your Picture

After creating the new mask, mark the checkbox against ‘Show Selected Mask Overlay.’ This is to ensure that the real photo stays unaltered by the alterations you will make.

Here, you can use options like Feather, Flow, and Size. Using these options, you can regulate how big and intense your brush strokes are.

Now, adjust the brush’s size according to the area you like to paint. In this way, you can precisely define the picture’s surface you like to blur the background in Lightroom.

After you are done with the brush and mark features, begin painting. Now, you need to paint over the parts of your picture to which you like to add blurriness.

Now, the painted areas will be highlighted in red. As a result, you can vividly see if you have covered the parts that you like to keep focused on.

3. Blur Background in Lightroom

After you have marked the areas that you like to blue, adjust the features like Sharpness and Clarity.

Now, set the values by moving these sliders to -100. This ensures that you apply adequate blur effects. However, every picture is different. So, you should not make this a rule.

Moreover, Lightroom Classic CC offers various color correction features, so users can easily fine-tune the level of Blues, Greens, and Reds in their pictures.

This photo editor from Adobe is an incredible tool for photo editors and photographers. So, go for this tool if you like to completely control the procedure of adding a blurred background in Lightroom to your photos.

4. Export your Pictures

Press the ‘Done’ tab when you are done with the Develop Module. Now, you need to go back to the Library Mode of this editor.

Look for the picture that you have just edited. Once found, tap on the tab ‘Export’ to export the picture to your computer.

The tool provides powerful tools to organize and name the created pictures. With Lightroom, you can even create your photo archive.

Users, who have been employing this photo editor for a while, will not have difficulty adding blur backgrounds in Lightroom.


Part 2: Different Ways to Blur Background in Lightroom on Your Smartphone

So, how to blur the background in Lightroom on your smartphone? Find here. Blurring a picture’s background is an effective and great way of drawing focus on the main subject.

When you do not have editing experience, it becomes important to know how to blur the background in Lightroom.

Gladly, it is easy to blur the background in Lightroom on your smartphone. Let’s see how one can employ Lightroom to accomplish this task.

Lightroom Mobile

This is a mobile application available for both Android and iOS devices. However, the mobile version of Lightroom is not as rich in features as its desktop version.

Lightroom Mobile is a good option for users who like to perform light editing on their smartphones.

How to Blur Background in Lightroom Using Lightroom Mobile

Lightroom Mobile features a user-friendly interface on both Android and iOS platforms. This application provides all editing features on the screen’s bottom. Here, your pictures take up the screen’s main portion.

One can download Lightroom Mobile for free. However, you must create a new Adobe account to use this editing tool.

Or users can simply sign in using their Google or Facebook accounts. It is significant to mention that its advanced features are not available in its free version.

How to Blur Background in Lightroom Mobile

Recently, Lightroom’s mobile version has been added to blur the background. Android and iOS users can now add this amazing blur effect to the pictures.

Now, let’s see how to blur the background in Lightroom Mobile. Please note that all of these methods work on iOS and Android devices.

Method 1: Apply Radial Filters

Go through the following instructions to blur the background in Lightroom through radial filters:

1: Open Lightroom on your smartphone.

2: Now, load the picture that you like to edit.

3: Choose the ‘Radial filters’ option from the given menu. This option is translucent and in the shape of a red circle.

How to Blur Background in Lightroom Using Apply Radial Filters

4: Next, position this filter on your picture. Ensure that it covers the person or object that you want to keep focused on.

5: After that, reshape and resize the filter as you like. Dragging any of the four dots can edit the size and shape of this filter.

6: Click on ‘Detail’ present on the screen.

7: Lastly, set the sharpness at -100.

Method 2: Apply Graduated Filters

Another way to blur the background in Lightroom is to apply graduated filters to your pictures.

Using this tool, users can focus on the picture’s part that they like to blur instead of the one they like to keep in focus.

Here are steps on how to blur the background in Lightroom using the graduated filter:

1: Open Lightroom on your smartphone.

2: Choose the picture that you like to blur.

3: From the given menu, choose this graduated filter.

4: Now, position this filter to cover the picture’s part that you like to blur.

Apply Graduated Filters

5: Click on ‘Detail’ present on the screen.

6: Next, you need to set the sharpness value at -100.

So, this is how to blur the background in Lightroom. If you are not happy with the results, increase the blur amount. To do this, you have to access the mask features.

After that, click on the ‘Duplicate Mask’ option. Keep on repeating this step until you are completely satisfied.

Method 3: Use Brushes

So, this is the third method you can use to blur the background in Lightroom Mobile. Here, you can employ a brush.

Using a brush, users must choose the image portions they want to blur. To check out how to blur the background using a brush, follow the steps given below:

1: Firstly, open Lightroom Mobile.

2: Choose the picture that you like to edit.

3: Choose the brush that you want to employ.

4: Now, begin brushing your picture. You can spot the transparent overlay in red over the surface painted by your brush. If you brush over the part you do not want to, use ‘Eraser’ for correction.

How to Blur Background in Lightroom Using Brushes

5: Once done, tap on ‘Detail’ on the screen.

6: Lastly, set the sharpness value at -100.


FAQs

Q1: Can I blur the background in Lightroom Mobile? Yes, Lightroom Mobile offers similar features and capabilities to the desktop version. You can use the Adjustment Brush tool and other relevant settings to blur the background of your photos.

Q2: Will blurring the background affect the image quality? When done correctly, blurring the background in Lightroom should not significantly affect the overall image quality. However, it’s essential to strike a balance and avoid excessive blurring that may result in loss of detail or an artificial look.

Q3: Can I selectively blur specific parts of the background? Yes, Lightroom allows you to create precise masks and apply adjustments selectively. You can use the Adjustment Brush tool or other masking techniques to blur specific areas while keeping other parts sharp.

Q4: Are there any alternative software options for blurring the background? Yes, besides Lightroom, there are other photo editing software options available, such as Adobe Photoshop and various standalone apps, that offer similar background blurring capabilities.

Q5: Can I apply the background blur effect to existing photos in my Lightroom catalog? Yes, you can apply the background blur effect to any image in your Lightroom catalog, regardless of when it was imported. Simply open the image in the Develop module and follow the steps outlined in this article.

Conclusion

Blurring the background in Lightroom is a simple and effective technique to elevate your photography. By using Lightroom’s powerful tools and following the step-by-step process outlined in this article, you can create stunning images with beautifully blurred backgrounds. Remember to experiment, practice, and develop your own style to truly make your photos stand out.

Jack
Jack

10 years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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