# Blur Background

> To blur the background of a photo with AI, upload the photo to Kenerate's Image Studio and describe the blur: "blur the background with a soft bokeh, keep the person sharp and unchanged". GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst redraws the background as soft colour and keeps the subject in focus. Our two tests on one photo gave a light bokeh and a strong one, with the subject unchanged in both. A blur edit costs 11.7 credits, and a new account starts with 25 free credits.

URL: https://kenerateai.com/blur-background
Publisher: Kenerate AI (https://kenerateai.com)
Last updated: 30 October 2026

## Key facts
- Blur edits made: 2 (light bokeh · strong bokeh)
- Subject kept sharp: Yes, in both
- Model: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (OpenAI)
- Cost per blur: 11.7 credits from a photo
- Blur level: Set in the prompt: soft, light or strong bokeh
- Watch out for: Fine edges like hair can shift a little
- Free start: 25 credits on sign-up
- Watermark: None

## Steps
1. Upload your photo — In /app/image, add a clear photo as a reference. Sign in free for starter credits.
2. Pick GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst — It kept the subject sharp in both of our tests.
3. Describe the blur — Say what to keep sharp, and the blur level: soft, light or strong bokeh.
4. Download — Regenerate if an edge looks off, then download with no watermark.

## In depth

### What a background blur does
A background blur keeps the subject in focus and softens everything behind it. A camera does this with a wide aperture and a long lens; a phone does it with depth data. An AI edit does it by redrawing the background as soft colour and leaving the subject as it was.
The result works for portraits, headshots, product shots and social posts, where the background should not compete with the subject.

### How the prompt sets the blur
Kenerate's blur is set by the words. Write three parts:
- What to keep: “keep the person sharp and unchanged”, “keep the bottle in focus”.
- The blur level: “soft natural bokeh” for light, “strong bokeh, shallow depth of field” for heavy.
- What stays the same: “same pose, face, clothing and lighting on the subject”.

### Blur versus a cut-out
A blur keeps the whole photo and changes only the background. A cut-out removes the background entirely, so you can drop the subject onto a new scene. Use the blur when the real background matters and you just want it out of focus; use the Remove BG tool when you want the subject alone.

### What we got
One stock photo, two edits, both on GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst:
- Light bokeh: the old town and the sky stay recognisable as soft shapes; the subject is sharp.
- Strong bokeh: the city dissolves into warm colour blobs; the face, camera and jacket are unchanged.

## FAQ
Q: How do I blur the background of a photo?
A: Upload the photo in Kenerate's Image Studio, pick GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and describe the blur: “blur the background with a soft bokeh, keep the person sharp and unchanged”. Our test photo came back with the city behind a soft, even blur and the subject unchanged.

Q: Is there a free background blur tool?
A: Yes, to start. A new Kenerate account gets 25 credits on sign-up, enough for two blur edits at 11.7 credits each on GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. After that, credits come in one-time packs with no subscription, and downloads carry no watermark. Other blur tools are free too, usually with a daily limit.

Q: Can I control how strong the blur is?
A: Yes, with words rather than a slider. “Soft natural bokeh” gives a light blur where the background stays recognisable. “Strong bokeh, shallow depth of field” dissolves it into colour. Our two tests show the difference.

Q: Will the subject stay sharp?
A: In both of our tests, yes: the face, clothing and pose stayed as they were. Ask for “keep the person sharp and unchanged” to make the edit leave the subject alone.

Q: Is it the same as a portrait mode blur?
A: It gives the same look — a sharp subject on a blurred background — but it is made from the prompt, not from depth data in a phone's camera. A prompt edit can shift fine edges like loose hair a little, so check them on the download.

Q: Can I blur the background of a product photo?
A: Yes. Describe the product to keep in focus and the surface behind it: “keep the bottle sharp and unchanged, blur the kitchen behind it with a soft bokeh”. Add a reference photo of the product so the label and shape stay the same.

Q: Does the blur tool change the person?
A: Only if the prompt allows it. Our prompts say “same pose, face, clothing and lighting on the subject”, and both tests kept the subject as it was. Avoid asking for other changes in the same edit.

Q: How much does a background blur cost?
A: 11.7 credits for one photo on GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst at 1K. Each extra reference photo adds 4.5 credits. Credits are one-time packs that never expire.

Q: Can I blur the background of a video?
A: Not on this page. This tool edits still images. For video, use the video tools on Kenerate AI or a video editor.

## Related pages
- AI image editor: https://kenerateai.com/ai-image-editor
- AI background generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-background-generator
- Unblur image: https://kenerateai.com/unblur-image
- AI profile picture generator: https://kenerateai.com/ai-profile-picture-generator
- Magic portraits AI: https://kenerateai.com/magic-portraits-ai

## Sources
- Kenerate Image Studio: https://kenerateai.com/app/image
- Pollo AI — Blur Background: https://pollo.ai/blur-background
- NoteGPT — AI blur background: https://notegpt.io/ai-blur-background