Two different ways to soften an image

BGBG has a background blur slider and a separate Blur tool. Background blur softens the backdrop. The Blur tool applies blocky pixelation to rectangles you select on the foreground screenshot or photo.

Use pixelation when you want to make a particular area less detailed while keeping the rest of the composition sharp. You can add multiple areas and adjust them individually.

Select an area

  1. Open your project and choose the Blur tool.
  2. Drag a rectangle over the part of the foreground image you want to pixelate. Start the drag inside the image.
  3. Alternatively, tap Add area. Use the width, height, and position sliders to place it without drawing.
  4. Adjust Block size. Larger blocks remove more visible detail. This setting applies to all selected areas in the project.

The rectangular outlines help you see what you are editing. They are editing controls and do not appear in the PNG. Switch back to Background or Layout to inspect the composition without those outlines.

Fine-tune or remove a rectangle

If you added more than one rectangle, select an Area button to choose the one to edit. Its sliders change its size and location. Choose Remove selected area to remove just that rectangle, or Clear all areas to start over.

The regions follow the foreground when you reposition or resize it. If you use Same image as the background, the pixelated version is used there too. Pixelation also appears in project thumbnails and PNG exports. Replacing the foreground image clears its selected areas.

Check the finished image before sharing

Export the PNG and inspect it at a readable size. Look at the entire image, including repeated text, small labels, and the background. The preview is useful for composing, but the exported file is the version you will share.

Your original stays in the editable project

BGBG keeps the imported original as part of the local project so you can adjust or remove effects later. Pixelating the export does not erase information from that source or from the original image in Photos or Files.

Share the finished PNG when you want to share your composition. Deleting a BGBG project removes that editable project; it does not delete the original from your photo library or copies you have already exported.

For help choosing the frame around your image, read the background guide. For output dimensions, see framing and export sizes.