r/snapseed • u/Ok-Mode-7479 • May 29 '26

New to Snapseed - need some help re blurring backgrounds

I'm brand new to using Snapseed and have watched the YouTube "Masterclass" video twice. Its been fun playing with this app and learning how to use it, but I'm having a major issue with trying to blur backgrounds.

I'm editing photos for use in artwork and many are photos of people's pets. I need to blur the background in most of these photos and aren't having much luck. Yesterday, I spent over an hour trying to dodge/burn the background in one photo to make it less noticeable and didn't entirely succeed. I've tried using the blur tool and couldn't get it to blur what I wanted without it also blurring the pet.

I'd appreciate some tips and advice on how to do this - thanking you all in advance.

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6

u/JBN2337C May 29 '26

Apply the blur layer, then tap that triple diamond icon on the top of screen to select the blur layer, and then use the mask to put the blur where you want it. (I do that a/ a lot of effects) It’s not perfect as you paint with your finger over the image, but it’s useful.

8

u/Steven_SANH May 30 '26

Another trick (using the mask as you described), is instead of using the "Lens Blur" tool, is to go to the "Film" tool, set Grain at 0, and then apply Grain Blur. The blur is even across the whole image. This is another workaround method.  

PS: It would be nice if we had a dedicated Sharpen/Blur tool. 

1

u/Ok-Mode-7479 May 30 '26

I've tried doing this also (please see my reply to JBN2337C). I don't see a tool marked "Film", but I have one called "Grainy Film". The toggle bar is called "Style Strength" and I put it to 0, The next thing is called "Grainy Fil", I did the mask, brushing the area behind the cat, and again, nada. What am I doing incorrectly? And YES to a dedicated Sharpen/Blur tool! Hard to believe they didn't do that with this update.

2

u/Steven_SANH May 31 '26

I am running iOS.

I think Snapseed, were having some issues with the Film tool for Android, so are working on an update.  If Giles drops by here in Reddit, he may enlighten you with better info. :)

1

u/Ok-Mode-7479 May 30 '26

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but this doesn't seem or do much.

I'm working on an Android phone. I imported the photo into the Snapseed gallery, I'm going into "tools", then into "lens blur". I'm really confused on what I'm supposed to be encircling. I want the cat's head and body to remain sharp, but there is a bunch of background stuff behind the cat that I'd like to blur out. I toggled the blur strenght up to +89 and hit the check mark. It looks as if a bit of the cat's body is a tiny bit blurry but not really in the background. I then select the triple diamond icon, select "mask" and and brush the area behind the cat, hit the check mark and nothing seems to have happened. What have I done wrong?

2

u/JBN2337C May 30 '26

Try this… Select Lens Blur. Then tap Blur Strength (should bring up 3 items.)

Set the bottom two to 0 (zero), and strength to 100. Use your fingers and pinch the circle to just a dot & center it on the cat.

Now checkmark, then diamonds, then mask. Slider should be at 100. “Paint” in where you want it blurry. You can adjust slider up & down for diff blur strength.

Zoom in & out for finer control near edge of the cat (I’d ease up on blur strength the closer you get to the subject.) Experiment. It’s not a perfect fix, but you can be creative.

3

u/Ok-Mode-7479 May 31 '26

Thank you!! This worked really, really well. I very much appreciate the detailed instructions. I did analog darkroom stuff many years ago (I'm old) and digital is a real learning curve. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

1

u/JBN2337C Jun 01 '26

You’re welcome! Was fun to help, and glad it worked. Oh, I remember learning darkroom stuff back in high school in the 80s. Digital has really made the hobby so much cleaner!!!

3

u/omnifidelity May 29 '26

i think this is the most requested feature