What a background blur does

Optical background blur depends on aperture, focal length, focus distance, and the distances in the scene. Cutout Lab uses a simpler effect: it places the cutout over a uniformly blurred copy of the full original photo. It does not estimate a depth map or recreate the way a lens treats objects at different distances.

Using the original keeps its colors and setting, but the blurred layer also contains the original subject. Around an imperfect mask, that can leave a soft echo of the subject outside the sharp outline. The effect is useful for reducing clutter, not proof of an optically realistic portrait.

Steps in Cutout Lab

The blur is applied in your browser, so changing it does not send the image anywhere again.

  1. Upload the photo and let the background removal finish.
  2. In Background, choose Blur the original background, the swatch with a droplet icon.
  3. Check the preview in Cutout view, then in Compare to see the change.
  4. Inspect the export preview after any size or position change. Download JPG or WebP for a sharing copy, or PNG for lossless storage of the composed pixels. Keep a separate transparent PNG if you may change the background later.

Where the effect looks convincing

An isolated subject against a distant scene is a reasonable candidate because a uniform blur may be less conspicuous there. Compare the result rather than predicting it from distance alone: lens settings and focus also determine real blur, and a sharp background with several depth layers may still look artificial when blurred equally.

It looks less natural when the subject touches the background: a person leaning on a wall, a product standing on a table, or feet on the ground. A real camera keeps the surface near the subject sharp and blurs it gradually with distance. A uniform blur behind the whole subject makes the contact area look cut out.

Edges that give it away

A retained strip of background stays sharp around the cutout. Check shoulders, hair, and spaces between arms and body against a solid color first. Erase a confirmed leftover, then return to Blur. A broad soft halo that remains may come from the blurred subject underneath; more erasing will not remove that underlying layer.

Moving or resizing the cutout can also break alignment with the subject in the blurred original. If you see a second head or shoulder shape, return to Original framing and compare. For a substantially different composition, use a separate background photo or an editor that can remove the subject from the underlying scene.

When to use a different background

If the original background is distracting even when blurred, for example bright signs, other people, or strong colors, a solid color, gradient, or your own background photo can work better. Blur keeps the mood of the scene; replacement changes it.