Bokeh — from the Japanese word for “blur” — describes the way a lens renders out-of-focus light: bright points swell into soft glowing discs, and backgrounds dissolve into overlapping circles of color. Fast prime lenses are prized (and priced) largely for beautiful bokeh. This effect recreates it digitally: tap your subject, and the background blurs while its highlights bloom into luminous orbs.
The Light bloom slider is what separates bokeh from ordinary blur — it amplifies bright spots before blurring so they glow like real out-of-focus lights. City lights, string lights, sun through leaves, candles and reflections all transform beautifully. Everything runs in your browser: free, private, no signup, full-resolution export.
How to add the bokeh effect to a photo
Tips for the best bokeh look
- Photos with visible light sources in the background — street lights, fairy lights, sun through foliage — produce the most magical orbs.
- Push Light bloom high (60–85) for night scenes; keep it moderate for daylight so highlights don’t blow out.
- Combine a tight Focus size with strong blur for the classic “85mm portrait lens” look.
Bokeh effect — FAQ
What is the difference between bokeh and background blur?
Background blur softens everything equally. Bokeh specifically describes how out-of-focus light behaves — bright points blooming into discs. This tool adds both: the blur plus the highlight bloom that makes it look like real lens optics.
Which photos get the best bokeh?
Anything with small bright lights or strong highlights behind the subject: evening streets, Christmas lights, sunlit water, backlit leaves. A flat, evenly lit background will blur nicely but produce fewer glowing orbs.
Is this the same as portrait mode on phones?
It is the same idea — synthetic depth of field — with the advantage that you can apply it to any photo after the fact and control exactly how strong the blur and the light bloom are.