Your handset may or may not offer an in-built portrait bokeh mode to blur out the background in your photos, but Instagram certainly will. The popular app has rolled out a new Focus option in its camera UI.
Focus will be compatible with the iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and select Android devices which were released after 2015. To get started, you’ll have to open up Instagram’s camera and swipe till you find “Focus” next to “Superzoom.”
Instagram will start its magic once there’s someone in the shot, putting them in focus while softly blurring the background clutter behind them. You can take selfies or regular photos this way. Even videos can be captured in Focus mode, something which most smartphones don’t offer.
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We’re not sure how well that would work though, given that videos are in motion and maintaining focus without messy background blurs is a challenge. In any case, you can add stickers, filters, and text to the video or image before sending it on its way to a friend on Instagram Direct or including it as part of a Story.
Instagram’s also making a big change to its sticker skills with the introduction of a new @mention sticker in iOS. It basically allows you to tag anyone directly on your photo or video. To utilize it, you’ll have to click an image, open up the sticker window, tap on @mention, start typing the name of the account, and then select it from the list which appears.
You can download the latest version of Instagram via the App Store or Play Store.