TiltShift Generator

This is one of those apps I consider to be more entertainment than a true photographic tool. It simulates the effect of the tilt function of a tilt-shift lens. It creates the effect of turning reality into a scale model by blurring everything but the main subject.

When a lens is tilted, it alters the depth of field, creating an extremely narrow plane of sharp focus. The effect is similar to that of photographing a scale model, in which close-focusing results in narrow depth of field. As the distance from the lens increases, the depth of field increases as well. Tilting the lens creates a narrow depth of field where it would not normally exist.

The effect can be simulated in post processing by masking out the objects in a given focal plane, and blurring everything else. TiltShift generator allows you to create masks of different shapes and sizes, and blurs the image around them, simulating the simulation. Although it does not create its masks based on the focal planes within the image, the results can be quite effective in certain images.

The app also allows you to adjust the brightness, saturation and contrast of the image during processing. It’s fun, and depending on the image its effect can be quite engaging. Since there are no known Tilt-Shift lenses for the iPhone, it does add a sort of functionality to it.