How to Use Change Focus in PhotoDirector
Refocus an existing photo on your subject or the background using its depth map.
Updated Oct. 24, 2026 · 3 min read
In a hurry? Use the Change Focus quick guide instead.
PhotoDirector's Change Focus calculates how far each part of a photo is from the camera, then blurs everything outside the distance you choose. You can keep the people sharp against a soft background, or keep the background sharp behind softened people. Use it when a photo is sharp from front to back and you want to draw attention to one part of the scene.
- In PhotoDirector, open Guided & GenAI > Edit > Blur / Focus > Change Focus.
- Drag in a photo, or click Import Photo and choose where it comes from.
- Wait while "Calculating depth..." shows on the photo.
- Click the part of the photo you want sharp.
- Drag Blur degree to set how soft the rest gets.
- To keep the background sharp instead, click it, or drag Focus distance to Far.
- Click Export at the top to save the photo.
Steps to Use Change Focus
Step 1: Open Change Focus
From the PhotoDirector launcher, choose Guided & GenAI.
Click Edit in the rail on the left, then choose Change Focus under Blur / Focus.
Step 2: Import a Photo
A Change Focus window opens and asks for a photo, so drag one into it. Or click Import Photo in the middle of the window and choose a source: From Local Drive, From Library, or From My Creations.
Step 3: Wait for the Depth Map
As soon as the photo opens, PhotoDirector works out how far each part of the scene is from the camera. While it runs, "Calculating depth..." shows in the middle of the photo. Wait until the message is gone before you click, because the focus you set follows that depth map.
Step 4: Click What Should Stay Sharp
Click the part of the photo you want in focus. In this example, clicking the couple keeps them sharp and blurs the street and buildings behind them. The Focus distance slider at the top of the panel on the left stays at Near.
Or drag the Focus distance slider between Near and Far to move the sharp area through the scene.
Step 5: Set the Blur Degree
Drag Blur degree, below Focus distance, to set how soft the out-of-focus area gets. It starts at 30. This example uses 81, so the buildings and the Eiffel Tower turn into a soft backdrop. Lower it for a subtler effect.
Step 6: Focus on the Background Instead
To shift the focus to the background, click the buildings behind the couple. Focus distance moves to Far, so the street and buildings come back into focus and the couple blurs. Click the couple again to return the focus to the foreground.
If a soft halo shows around the edges of the blurred people, lower Blur degree. This example uses 54 for the far focus.
Step 7: Compare and Export the Photo
To check the change, click the side-by-side view button, the second icon at the bottom left of the canvas. The original and your edit appear next to each other, labeled Before and After.
When the focus looks right, click Export at the top of the window to save the result as a new photo.
The Result
The exported photo keeps the couple sharp against a soft Paris street. It came out at 1920 x 1080, the same size as the original.
We tested these steps in PhotoDirector 365 version 18.0.10 on Windows.
Don't have PhotoDirector yet? Choose what stays sharp in a photo you have already taken, and let the rest fall out of focus.
Download PhotoDirector Free →FAQ About Change Focus
PhotoDirector is working out how far each part of the photo is from the camera. The focus you set follows that depth map, so wait until the message is gone before you click the photo.
Yes. Click the background, or drag Focus distance to Far. In the example above, the buildings and the Eiffel Tower stay sharp and the couple in front blurs.
Change Focus decides what to blur from the depth of the scene, so you only choose a distance. To place the blur yourself with a circle, a band, or a brush, use Blur Tools, just above Change Focus under Blur / Focus. The Blur and Grain Effects tutorial shows how.
