Thanks to the latest technology in both photography and screen resolution, we can view digital images with more sharpness and clarity than ever before. In this age of high definition, does it still make sense to use blurred images in web design?
Actually, yes, it does—if you know how to use them. That’s where we come in.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how you can actually improve your web design with the proper use of blurred images. Blurring can direct your audience’s focus and add flair to well-shot but emotionless photos. This collection of image blurring techniques can give your website images the creative, inspired edge they’ve been missing.
Read on to learn the best way to use blurry photos on your site.
Use Blurred Images to Emphasize Text
Perhaps the best use for blurred images is making text stand out, like in a hero image or an advertisement. Placing a sharp, detailed photo behind the text takes attention away from it and could make it hard to read.
On the other hand, if you use a blurry photo behind the text, the text becomes the only thing you can focus on. Besides that, it definitely emphasizes the text better than your normal website background would. And it looks far better than a monochrome text box.
Plus, you can choose an image relevant to the text without distracting from it. Just take any stock image and use a blur tool to defocus it.
Try Different Blur Effects
In the above example, the image was simply defocused. But there are many other effects you can try as well.
For example, a “frosted glass” effect will make it look as though the image is seen through a frosted-over window. There are many other effects, like the Gaussian blur, radial blur, and motion blur, all of which give a very different feel to the same image.
Localized Blurring
You can also achieve this same effect by blurring only a part of the image. That is, instead of blurring the entire image, try blurring only the part behind the text. This way, you can have your text stand out and showcase the relevant image that demonstrates what the text is talking about.
Or you can blur the parts of the image that are closest to the camera and those that are farthest away. this gives the images a tilt-shift effect that makes them look more three-dimensional. It also focuses the attention on the central part of the image that should be the focus anyway.
From Blah Images to Blurred Images
There’s nothing wrong with sharp, clearly focused images. Used right, they are an exact demonstration of the content of your text.
But, if you add a little blur now and then, you can aim the viewer’s focus where you want it. Try the tips above to spice up your web design with blurred images.
If you need more web design advice, we’ve got it! Check out more great tips like these on our web development blog.
