Bokehlike

Bokehlike is a term used to describe a visual quality in images where the background blur resembles the traditional bokeh produced by a camera lens. While true bokeh arises from the optical properties of a lens and sensor, bokehlike refers more broadly to the aesthetic of out-of-focus areas and how smoothly highlights render, often emphasizing circular or soft-edged light discs.

The appearance of bokehlike blur depends on several factors. In optical terms, aperture shape, focal length, and the distance between subject and background influence the smoothness and contour of the blur. A wider aperture and longer focal length typically produce more pronounced, rounded bokeh discs, while lens aberrations can add character to the blur. Sensor size and pixel density also affect how clearly the blur is rendered relative to the foreground.

Photographers achieve bokehlike effects through conventional techniques, such as selecting a fast lens, increasing subject-background separation, and using shallow depth of field. In addition, modern smartphones and cameras offer computational methods, including portrait modes and depth-aware rendering, that simulate bokehlike blur when optical bokeh is limited or unavailable.

In practice, bokehlike blur is often evaluated for naturalness and contrast with the subject, avoiding artifacts like haloing or overly uniform discs. While it can closely mimic true bokeh, the term highlights the intentional replication of that aesthetic, whether achieved optically or computationally.