Layer blur softens the layer’s own content, and Background blur, blurs what’s behind it. Both come in three styles — Uniform, Linear Progressive, and Radial Progressive — so you can control not just the intensity, but the shape and direction of the blur.
Layer blur
Layer blur applies a blur to the layer’s content — useful for creating soft, out-of-focus effects or adding visual depth.
To apply it, click 
next to Effects in the Inspector and choose Layer Blur. Then click the 
icon next to its name to open the blur panel and use the blur slider or input field to set the intensity. See Blur styles for details on each style options.
Background blur
Background blur replicates the blurs behind overlays and panes in macOS and iOS. Unlike Layer blur, it doesn’t affect the layer itself — it blurs everything behind it.
To apply it, click next to Effects in the Inspector and choose Background Blur. Then click the 
icon next to its name to open the blur panel, where you can adjust two settings:
- Blur: use the slider or input field to set the blur intensity.
- Saturation: adjusts the vibrancy of the blurred content. Reducing it desaturates, and increasing it makes colors more vivid. Double-click the slider to reset it to its default value.
Blur everything behind a layer to create depth and separation
If you have any fill styles on this layer, they’ll need to be transparent to see the blur. A transparent color fill is also a great way to tint it.
Blur styles
Both effects come in three styles: Uniform, Linear Progressive, and Radial Progressive.
- Uniform Blur
: affects the entire layer. You can control the intensity of the blur using the slider, or the input field in the panel.
Blur an entire layer with a single slider
- Linear Progressive Blur
: the blur increases (or decreases) gradually across the layer. Click the effect name in the Inspector to show the stops on the canvas — drag them to adjust the direction, or click along the line to add new stops.
Use 
to invert the blur and 
to rotate its direction by 90°.
Fade blur gradually across a layer by dragging the stops on the canvas
- Radial Progressive Blur
: the blur radiates outward from a central point. Click the effect name in the Inspector to show the stops on the canvas — drag them to adjust the size and position, or click along the line to add new stops.
Use to invert the blur and to rotate its direction by 90°.
Pull focus to the centre by blurring outward from a point
