Drag and drop or click to upload a JPG, PNG, or WEBP file. The tilt-shift effect is applied immediately at the default settings so you can see the result right away.
Tilt-Shift Effect
Make any photo look like a miniature scale model. Control the focus position and blur strength to create the classic tilt-shift look — free, no signup, no watermark.
How to Apply a Tilt-Shift Effect to a Photo
Use the Focus Position slider to move the sharp band up or down the frame. Adjust Blur Strength to control how strongly the out-of-focus areas are blurred.
Click Download to save the result as a lossless PNG at the original pixel dimensions.
How the tilt-shift effect works
Real tilt-shift photography uses a lens that can be physically tilted to change the plane of focus, keeping only a thin slice of the scene sharp while everything else falls into blur. The tool recreates this digitally using the browser canvas API. Two versions of the image are generated — one sharp (with a slight saturation and contrast boost typical of the miniature look) and one blurred. For each row of pixels, the tool calculates how far that row is from the selected focus band and blends between the sharp and blurred versions using a smooth gradient. Rows inside the focus band are fully sharp. Rows further from the band are progressively blended toward the blurred version using a smoothstep curve to avoid harsh transitions.
What photos work best
The tilt-shift miniature effect is most convincing on photos taken from an elevated angle looking slightly downward — aerial shots of cities, stadiums, harbours, roads, and crowds. The elevated perspective mimics how a person would look down at a scale model. Landscape photos with a clear horizon and street-level urban shots also work well. Eye-level portraits and close-ups tend to produce a more subtle result since the depth separation is less obvious.
Focus position tips
For a landscape or cityscape, placing the focus band around 40–60% (the middle of the frame) typically works best, keeping the main subject sharp while blurring the sky above and foreground below. For a photo of a road or street receding into the distance, try placing the focus band lower (30–40%) to keep the near ground sharp. Experiment — the preview updates instantly so you can dial in the exact position.
Common uses
Travel photography — make city and landscape shots look like detailed dioramas. Architecture — building and aerial shots take on a model-like quality with tilt-shift. Social media — the miniature effect creates a distinctive, eye-catching look in feeds. Video thumbnails — tilt-shift stills are popular as preview images for aerial and travel content. Creative projects — use for posters, zines, and editorial layouts to add a surreal, crafted feel.