Google has unveiled ‘Lens Blur’, a new feature for its Google Camera app that lets you take prettily-blurred photographs.
Available on all Android smartphones or tablets running on KitKat 4.4 or higher, the feature lets you focus on the subject while blurring the background to achieve a dreamy ‘bokeh’ effect, also known as shallow depth of field.
It utilizes algorithms to simulate a larger lens and aperture, much like that of a normal DSLR camera.
To use, move the camera upwards to capture multiple images. The software then re-renders the photo using a 3D model to gauge the depth of objects and blurs them accordingly.
It also helpfully allows you to change the focus after a photo is taken by tapping on the desired subject.
Aside from ‘Lens Blur’, Google Camera also includes a viewfinder that displays the entire picture on your gadget’s screen to ensure there are no “dropped pixels” before taking a shot.
Read more about ‘Lens Blur’ at Google’s blog post.
What do you think of this new feature?
[via Engadget, images via Google Research Blog]