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SteveD812
SteveD812
Inspiring
October 6, 2022
Answered

Blur effect lost when editing on iPhone

  • October 6, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 7043 views

I am creating social media graphics that need to be updated on-the-go (like sporting event updates). Since Adobe has yet to add the "shadow" effect which has been widely requested, I have resorted to duplicating a layer and using the duotone filter and blur function to "create" a shadow.  Although it's extra steps, this works well and looks good when I use Express on my desktop Chrome browser.

 

The problem occurs when I attempt to edit the project using the Adobe Express app on my iPhone. When opened, the blurred image completely changes to a solid shape with hard edges. Trying to adjust the blur effect in the iphone app does not change it.

 

If I close the app and reopen, the project returns to its orginal appearance. However, I need to be able to export the graphics from my phone and cannot do that without any shadows I have created appearing as solid blobs.

 

What gives?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer SteveD812

Hi @SteveD812,

 

Thank you for being patient.

I have passed the information on to our engineers to investigate it further.

 

A suggested workaround from one of the engineers would be to permanently save the image with the background removed. Then save that image to your phone, re-add it to your project on the Adobe Express app, and apply the desired effects.

 

I hope this workaround works for you, and I will get back to you as soon as there is an update.

 

Many thanks,

~Lyn 🙂


That's the workaround that I am currently using. If I have a graphic that requires a drop shadow, I have to create it in the desktop app and save it as a JPG. I can then import it as an imaged layer in a new project and then add additional elements that don't require shadows. That will work for now. But honestly, it would be just as easy (and I would have more design tools at my disposal) to do the same thing in Photoshop and bring that image in to AE.

 

I know this has been requested in this forum and on the AE Insiders Facebook group, but wouldn't the most simple fix be to include the drop shadow layer tool from Photoshop in AE? It would be nice to have that capability for any layer, including text, with the opportunity to control size, spread, angle and opacity. Just a thought...

1 reply

Lyn_D
Lyn_D
Inspiring
October 13, 2022

Hi @SteveD812, 

 

Thank you for reaching out.

Would it be possible that you can share the device make/model & OS details, the Adobe Express app version, and a screen recording of the workflow with us?

Are multiple images affected or a specific one? 

Have you tried reinstalling the app and restarting the device?

 

If No, give it a try and check if that makes a difference.

 

We're looking forward to hearing from you with updated information.

 

Best,

~Lyn

 

SteveD812
SteveD812Author
Inspiring
February 7, 2023

Any support at all? This post is almost four months old...

The problem continues and it is very frustrating, to the point I am going to begin looking at other software options. I have reinstalled the app multiple times. I have tried exporting projects in different formats, no change. It doesn't matter if the blurred item is an imported image or a stock image, it happens to any image on which I have used the background removal tool.

SteveD812
SteveD812Author
Inspiring
February 9, 2023

Hi @SteveD812,

 

I appreciate you taking the time to test and reply.

 

I've recreated your steps and realized that the blurred effect never went missing. It is only harder to detect as the display on your mobile phone is much more precise than on your laptop or monitor because pixels are packed closer together as the display sizes decrease. 

 

72PPI is commonly used for online pages as it decreases file sizes and saves loading time since a screen will only show at 72 PPI (Pixels per inch). As a result, a low-resolution image is presented to its full effect and appears very clear. If this image were to be viewed on a mobile phone with 300PPI, you'd be able to indicate visible changes, which is, in your case, the blurredness.

 

The so-called magic number is around 300 PPI. When designing a project on the Adobe Express Desktop version, every project is set automatically to the view of 42% to be more user-friendly. Considering that someone might be working on a smaller display.

 

Ideally, it would be best to occasionally swap the screen view to 300% to get a more accurate picture of the image.

 

Kindly retest this for me on your desktop, but before you retest this, view your image at 300% and check if you can spot a difference.

 

Please set your page view back to 42% if you haven't already, and then follow your usual steps with a difference in that you select the blurred intensity between 25 - 30,  as the blurred power is always pre-set to 5. (I prefer the intensity setting to 30, which shouldn't be lower than 25.) 🙂  Please note that depending on your display size, you might have to scroll further down to change the intensity number.

 

I hope that this resolves your issue. If it does, kindly remember to "Like," mark the response as the "Correct Answer," and copy and share this link to other platforms to help other users or community members who might stumble across the same issue locate the answer faster. 

 

We appreciate your contributions to the Adobe Express community and are always here to help.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Many thanks

~Lyn 🙂


Lyn,

I do not believe this issue has anything to do with page view. It is a problem with how the blur tool performs in the application. When I employ a blur effect in a project while working in the desktop platform, I am able to create the desired effect. When I then try to open the same project in the mobile app, the blur effect initially is shown in the thumbnail image in the project menu. When I click on it to edit, the blur effect immediately switches to a solid blob (the edges may be slightly feathered, but is it still solid). Once it has done this, it does not go back to the original look in the mobile app.


Attached are two JPG images of the project I edited yesterday. The first one shows a manufactured drop shadow on the left side of the player in front. This JPG was exported from the desktop application yesterday after you messaged me about the problem being resolved. I was able to successfully produce the desired image that I could then use.


The second image is a JPG generated by the mobile app of the SAME project. I did nothing to it, other than open it in the mobile app and export it to my camera roll on my phone.


There is a clear difference in the two images with respect to the blurred shadow effect that cannot be explained away by page view size. Nothing else in the image is different in appearance other than the drop shadow that I created using the blur tool. Prior to yesterday, the problem occurred in both the desktop AND mobile apps. Now, it is just the mobile app.

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