iOS 17 Enables Cinematic Mode Video Editing in Third-Party Apps

As outlined in a WWDC 2023 video, iOS 17 includes a new Cinematic API that enables developers to support Cinematic mode video playback and editing in third-party apps.

Cinematic Mode iPhone Feature
"The Cinematic framework enables you to add professional-level editing and playback features to movies, recorded with the Camera app's Cinematic mode, to your apps," says Apple's developer documentation. "These are the same features used in applications such as Final Cut Pro, Photos, and iMovie. For example, this enables your apps to change focus distance and aperture in movies, creating a bokeh effect, even after recording."

Apple offers Cinematic mode in the Camera app on iPhone 13 models and newer. Inspired by professional Hollywood films, the feature allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field and automatic focus changes between subjects.

Cinematic mode uses a technique called "rack focus" to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another. It does this by locking the focus on the subject in a scene and blurring the background to achieve depth of field. If you subsequently move the camera to center on a new subject, or a new subject enters the scene, Cinematic mode automatically switches the focal point to this new subject and blurs out the background.

For more details, read How to Shoot Video in Cinematic Mode on iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.

Related Roundups: WWDC 2024, iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Top Rated Comments

Apple Fan 2008 Avatar
11 months ago
Apple seems to be opening things up more, hope this trend continues.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
11 months ago

Remember the big to-do they made about Cinematic Mode in the keynote when the iPhone 13 was introduced? I wonder how many people have used it.
It's a neat feature that I'm glad is available, but one I seldom use.
1) I honestly forget about it and 2) that feature doesn't work so well from the soccer pitch sidelines. ?
But when I have used it, in more controlled settings (where subjects offer the depth of field for the feature to work properly), it's pretty sweet. Especially for a built-in feature of a camera on a phone.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Expos of 1969 Avatar
11 months ago
Remember the big to-do they made about Cinematic Mode in the keynote when the iPhone 13 was introduced? I wonder how many people have used it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HorstBockman Avatar
11 months ago
Focus/bokeh can be adjusted after the fact in "post", which means video recorded in Cinematic mode is in focus across the frame (to the extent possible). Selective blurring is then done computationally and reversibly.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
11 months ago

Focus/bokeh can be adjusted after the fact in "post", which means video recorded in Cinematic mode is in focus across the frame (to the extent possible). Selective blurring is then done computationally and reversibly.
But it's still kind of hacky and error-prone. Unlike "low-tech" bokeh which just involves focusing the light, this requires a ton of intepretation from the device. And it can easily get it wrong with stuff like frizzy hair in the foreground. It all looks impressive on a phone screen, but if you start getting in and looking a little closer it can get messy.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Awesome Avatar
11 months ago

But it's still kind of hacky and error-prone. Unlike "low-tech" bokeh which just involves focusing the light, this requires a ton of intepretation from the device. And it can easily get it wrong with stuff like frizzy hair in the foreground. It all looks impressive on a phone screen, but if you start getting in and looking a little closer it can get messy.
True, but it's something that will only get better as the algorithms and networks improve, and overall it's just insanely impressive that you're even able to simulate this effect on a literal phone you carry in your pocket with a tiny little lens. The editing it in post is the cherry on top.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Silicon AI Optimized Feature Siri

Apple Releases Open Source AI Models That Run On-Device

Wednesday April 24, 2024 3:39 pm PDT by
Apple today released several open source large language models (LLMs) that are designed to run on-device rather than through cloud servers. Called OpenELM (Open-source Efficient Language Models), the LLMs are available on the Hugging Face Hub, a community for sharing AI code. As outlined in a white paper [PDF], there are eight total OpenELM models, four of which were pre-trained using the...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Rumored to Add These 10 New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday April 24, 2024 2:05 pm PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, so the software update is a little over six weeks away from being announced. Below, we recap rumored features and changes planned for the iPhone with iOS 18. iOS 18 will reportedly be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, with new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features, a more customizable Home Screen, and much more....
maxresdefault

Apple Announces 'Let Loose' Event on May 7 Amid Rumors of New iPads

Tuesday April 23, 2024 7:11 am PDT by
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of "Let Loose" and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Apple Vision Pro Dual Loop Band Orange Feature 2

Apple Cuts Vision Pro Shipments as Demand Falls 'Sharply Beyond Expectations'

Tuesday April 23, 2024 9:44 am PDT by
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has "fallen sharply beyond expectations." As a...
iPad And Calculator App Feature 1

Apple Finally Plans to Release a Calculator App for iPad Later This Year

Tuesday April 23, 2024 9:08 am PDT by
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple's annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider...
macbook pro purple february

Best Buy Introduces Record Low Prices on Apple's M3 MacBook Pro for Members

Thursday April 25, 2024 7:41 am PDT by
Best Buy is discounting a collection of M3 MacBook Pro computers today, this time focusing on the 14-inch version of the laptop. Every deal in this sale requires you to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, although non-members can still get solid second-best prices on these MacBook Pro models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a...