Did you know that you can transform regular 2D photos into images with a 3D effect? The Spatial Scenes feature adds depth to your image, allowing you to tilt your iPhone or iPad to view different perspectives. This function can be activated both in the Photos app and on the lock screen.
Thanks to the parallax effect, the photo on your lock screen comes to life with subtle motion elements. This applies to all photos in your library, regardless of whether they were taken with an iPhone.
How Spatial Scenes Work in Photos
The technology behind spatial scenes is extremely sophisticated. Apple uses smart machine learning to automatically analyze your 2D photo and split it into different layers: the foreground, the middle and the background. Your iPhone or iPad’s gyroscope and accelerometer register the movements of your device, after which the software shifts these layers at different speeds.
This parallax effect ensures that the foreground remains still while the background moves, creating a special depth effect. This process is very subtle; you don’t have to tilt your device far; small movements are enough to show the 3D effect. This feels much more natural than the interactions of previous iOS versions.
Activate spatial scenes in photos
- Open an image in the Photos app
- If necessary, tap the photo again to show the buttons
- Tap the Spatial Scenes symbol (hexagon with mountain landscape) at the top right
- The spatial scene is activated
The photo is immediately converted into a 3D display that you can experience by tilting your device. Swipe left or right on the screen to view multiple photos with this 3D effect.
Spatial scenes for lock screen
Instead of regular backgrounds or simple Live Photos, you can also enable spatial scenes on the lock screen of your iPhone or iPad. These dynamic 3D wallpapers respond to your movements as soon as you pick up the device.
- Go to the Lock screen of your iPhone or iPad
- Place your finger on the lock screen and wait a few moments
- Tap the plus button to create a new one or edit an existing one
- Choose a photo as background
- Tap the hexagon with mountain landscape (crossed out = disabled)
- Adjust the background if necessary
You can set an individual photo as the wallpaper for this effect, or you can select an album or multiple photos and enable the effect for the entire content.
Difference between Spatial Scenes and Spatial Photos
Spatial scenes use AI to analyze photos and add depth information, working on almost any photo. Spatial Photos uses your iPhone’s dual cameras to capture real depth information as you take the photo. This makes Spatial Photos more detailed on the Apple Vision Pro because they contain real depth information instead of an estimate. On your iPhone, Spatial Photos look normal; the 3D effect is only visible on the Vision Pro.