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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteA variable aperture changes the physical opening in a lens as the photo is taken. Software portrait blur instead estimates the subject and background from image data, then simulates background blur. One changes how the camera captures light and depth of field; the other adds an effect through image processing.
How the two methods create blur
| What changes | Variable aperture | Software portrait blur |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | A physical opening in the lens changes size. The f-number describes that opening: a smaller number, such as f/2 rather than f/5.6, means a wider opening. | Image processing identifies or estimates the subject and background, then applies simulated blur to the image. |
| When it happens | As the camera captures the image. | During image processing; some phones also let you adjust the effect after capture. |
| Light | A wider opening lets more light reach the sensor. | Does not physically widen the lens opening to create the blur effect. |
| Depth of field | Aperture contributes to optical depth of field: a wider opening can produce a shallower in-focus region. | Creates the appearance of a shallower depth of field through processing rather than by changing the optical image at capture. |
Aperture is only one influence on the photographed result. Focus distance, focal length, sensor format, and the distance between subject and background also matter. So a wider aperture does not by itself guarantee a particular blur or exposure.
How portrait mode estimates what to blur
Portrait mode has to distinguish the subject from what is behind it. The precise method varies by device and camera view; there is no single software pipeline used by every phone.
In a technical explanation of the Pixel 2 published on October 18, 2017, Google Product Manager Isaac Reynolds described the rear-camera process: a neural-network segmentation mask identified the person, while a depth map derived from the phone’s Dual Pixel data estimated distance. Reynolds wrote, “Then we blur the image based on the combination of the depth map and the segmentation mask.” That description applies to this historical Pixel 2 implementation, not to every current phone.
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- 50 millimeter focal length and maximum aperture of f/1.8
- Great for portraits, action, and nighttime photography; Angle of view (horizontal, vertical, diagonal): 40º, 27º,46º
- Minimum focusing distance of 1.15 feet (0.35 meter) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x
- Stepping motor (STM) delivers near silent, continuous move Servo AF for movies and smooth AF for stills
- 80 millimetre effective focal length on APS C cameras, 50 millimetre on full frame cameras. Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
Google said the Pixel 2 selfie camera used segmentation without producing the same kind of depth map as its rear camera. An earlier Google Camera feature, Lens Blur, used a different historical approach: it asked the photographer to sweep the camera upward and used multiple views to reconstruct depth. These examples illustrate that software blur can be built in different ways; they do not describe current iPhone Portrait mode.
Can you change the blur after taking the photo?
Sometimes. A software portrait effect may retain depth information that lets you adjust blur or focus after capture, but support depends on the phone, model, operating system, and photo. Apple’s iPhone guide documents Depth Control in Camera and Photos for supported models; the controls are not identical across all iPhones. Check your model’s current guide and the editing options shown for the specific image.
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- EF Mount; Aperture Range: f/4-45; DC Autofocus Motor; 4.9' Minimum Focus Distance; 58mm Filter Thread Diameter
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A physical aperture setting, by contrast, affects the capture itself. Editing afterward cannot retroactively change how much light passed through the lens or recreate the original optical capture with a different aperture.
Which approach suits the shot?
Choose aperture control when capture conditions matter
If you want to control how much light enters a camera lens and influence optical depth of field as you take the picture, an adjustable-aperture lens is relevant. The effect depends on the rest of the camera setup as well as the aperture.
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Choose portrait processing when you want a convenient simulated effect
If you want a portrait look on a phone, software blur can provide it without requiring a physically adjustable aperture. On supported devices, post-capture controls may let you change blur or focus. This is a practical difference in control, not a universal verdict about which method produces better-looking pictures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Tips for a more reliable portrait
Google’s Pixel 2 guidance from 2017 offers practical setup advice for that camera:
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- Compact, lightweight and high-image quality RF tele zoom lens, with a versatile zoom range of 100-400mm
- Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 Stops of shake correction
- Up to 6 stops of shake correction when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS)
- Minimum focusing distance of 2.89 feet at 200mm and maximum magnification of 0.41x at 400mm
- High speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with Canon’s Nano USM
- Frame the person close enough that their head, or head and shoulders, fill the frame.
- For a group where everyone should be sharp, place people at similar distances from the camera.
- Leave space between the subject and background when you want stronger separation.
- For a close-up, tap to focus and stay beyond the camera’s minimum focusing distance.
These are manufacturer tips for a historical Pixel model, not a guarantee of identical behavior on other cameras. Neither method has a universal image-quality advantage: the result depends on the lens or phone, the processing, the scene, and how the photograph is framed.
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- High image quality and bright f/2.8 aperture zoom RF L lens
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- A control ring for direct setting changes
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