How to use the Pixel 7 Pro Cinematic Blur for beautiful videos with an artistic flair

Jack Wallen shows you how easy it is to use the new Cinematic Blur effect for videos with the Pixel 7 Pro.

I’ve been using the Pixel 7 Pro for about a week now and I’m blown away by how good this device is. On every level, the Pixel 7 Pro is an improvement over an already outstanding Pixel 6 Pro.

But one feature that makes the Pixel 7 Pro stand out for me is the cinematic blur effect added to the camera. With this feature, you can create remarkable videos with beautiful background blur and even “rack focus,” meaning you can effortlessly shift focus between foreground and background subjects.

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When I first received the Pixel 7 Pro, I have to admit that I was skeptical about the quality of the videos this feature would produce. It only took a few quick tests before I realized that Google had nailed it. Cinematic Blur is fast, accurate, and incredibly easy to use.

One thing to keep in mind is this: while the Pixel 7 Pro is capable of producing incredible videos with background blur, it doesn’t quite match the quality of a real cinema camera. I compared the results between my Pixel 7 Pro and my Z-Cam E2-F6 cinema camera and there is a big difference between the two. For those who want to create beautiful videos to share on social media, with friends and family, or even for your business, the Pixel 7 Pro could easily become a pocket-sized workhorse.

While you won’t be using the Pixel 7 Pro to film your next movie or sitcom, you’re certainly using it for more than you might think. With this little information, let’s see how to use the new camera effect on the Pixel 7 Pro.

What you need to use the movie blur feature

The only way to get this feature is to have a Pixel 7 Pro. If you’re a fan of making movies with a phone, you might consider this feature the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for you to drop the coin for this new device. Trust me: it’s worth every penny.

How to use the Pixel 7 Pro’s cinematic blur

Using the Cinematic Blur effect is quite simple. Open the Camera app on your Pixel 7 Pro and swipe right on the mode selection bar until you see Cinematic. Tap on this entry (Figure A) to switch to Cinematic Blur mode.

Figure A

Tap the capture button, then tap a subject you want to focus on. The camera does just that, blurring either the background or the foreground depending on where the subject is in focus.

Then, while filming, you can tap another subject to either shift the focus from background to foreground or from foreground to background (Figure B).

Figure B

You can switch between the focal points as you wish during the video. You can also adjust color temperature with the left vertical slider or brightness with the right vertical slider. The Pixel 7 Pro will make focus shifts quickly and accurately. When you’re done filming, tap the stop button and the Pixel 7 Pro will render the video for you to view and share.

And that’s all you need to use the Cinematic Blur effect on the Pixel 7 Pro. This feature will blow your mind and help you create beautiful videos with smooth focus racking and blurring.

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