Additional Techniques

Sample Images Coming Soon

🌫 Blur Background / Depth

Icon: Droplet or portrait icon
Use: Focus on subject, simulate DSLR look
Apple: If shot in Portrait Mode > Edit > Depth slider
Android: Portrait Mode > Edit > Blur

🧲 Lasso / Select Area

Icon: Dotted loop
Use: Manually select an area to edit
Apple: Not native
Android (Samsung):

• Found under Draw or Object Eraser options

• Allows precise selections for deletion or copy-paste

✨ Enhance Details

Icon: Triangle with sparkles, sharp edges, or grid lines
Use:

• Sharpen: Makes textures and edges more defined (good for eyes, fabrics, landscapes).

• Reduce Clarity: Softens the image for a dreamy or glowy effect.

• Apple: Edit > Adjust > Sharpness / Definition

• Android (Samsung): Edit > Adjust > Details / Sharpen / Clarity

🎯 Blur Background (Selective Blur)

Icon: Droplet or subject icon with a blurred backdrop
Use: Simulate shallow depth of field, making the subject pop.

• Apple:

  • Available in Portrait Mode photos only

  • Edit > Depth slider or use Portrait Lighting options

• Android (Samsung):

  • If photo was taken in Portrait mode: Edit > Adjust background blur

  • Some Android phones have Selective Focus mode with adjustable blur

🩹 Use Healing or Clone Tools

Icon: Bandage, patch, or sparkly wand
Use: Remove blemishes, people, or distractions by blending with nearby pixels.

• Apple: Not built-in — use Snapseed (Healing tool) or Retouch apps

• Android (Samsung):

  • Samsung Gallery > Edit > More > Object Eraser

  • Google Photos (Pixel): Magic Eraser

🧵 Adjust Texture

Icon: Grid, mesh, or stacked layers
Use: Refine surface texture — increase to reveal details, reduce for smoother look.

• Apple: Edit > Adjust > Definition

• Android (Samsung): Edit > Adjust > Texture / Clarity / Details

📉 Noise Reduction

Icon: Dotted square or grain icon
Use: Smooth out graininess in low-light or high ISO photos.

• Apple: Not built-in — use Lightroom Mobile, Snapseed, or Darkroom

• Android (Samsung): Not built-in — use Snapseed > Details > Structure or Lightroom Mobile

🖼 Add Frames or Borders

Icon: Picture frame or square within a square
Use: Add clean borders or decorative frames to finish off your image.

• Apple: Not available natively — use apps like Canva, Picsart, or Instagram's border tools

• Android (Samsung): Not built-in — try Snapseed > Frames, Picsart, or Canva

🔍 Use Selective Adjustments

Icon: Pinpoint tool or mask icon
Use: Target edits to specific areas, like brightening only a face or darkening a sky.

• Apple: Not available natively — use Snapseed > Selective tool or Lightroom Mobile

• Android (Samsung): Not native — use Snapseed or Lightroom for mask-style edits

🌅 Apply HDR Effects

Icon: “HDR” or landscape with sun
Use: Boost detail in bright and dark areas for a vivid, balanced photo.

• Apple: Built-in for HDR photos, auto-applies. No manual HDR editing in Photos app.

• Android (Samsung): HDR is captured in-camera. Manual adjustment requires third-party apps like Snapseed or Lightroom

🔮 Use Lens Distortion or Fisheye

Icon: Bulging circle, warped lines, or wide-angle symbol
Use: Create fun visual distortions — bend lines, add fisheye or wide-angle effects.

• Apple: Not built-in — use apps like Fisheye Lens, Snapseed (Perspective Tool), or Instagram camera effects

• Android (Samsung):

  • No native fisheye, but Snapseed > Perspective lets you simulate lens warps

  • Camera filters in Samsung/Google apps may offer lens-style effects

Return to the Edits and Effects Home Page