AVFoundation - Adding blur background to video

Question

I am working on a video editing app in Swift . In my case my output video looks like as following

I am trying to fill the black portion with blur effect exactly like this

I searched but didn't get any working solution. Any assistance would be a great help.

Answer 1

Swift 4 - Adding blur background to video

1. Single video support ❤️
1. Multiple videos merging support ❤️
2. Support any canvas in any ratio ❤️
3. Save final video to camera roll ❤️
5. Manage all video orientations ❤️

May be I'm late for this answer but still I didn't find any solution for this requirement. So sharing my work: 👍👍

⭐ Download Sample Code Here ⭐

Step to add a blur background to videos:

1. Merge all videos without audio
   a) Need a rendered area size.
   b) Need to calculate the scale and position for video with in this area. For aspectFill property.
2. Add blur effect to merged video
3. Place one by one video at the center of blurred video

Merge Videos

func mergeVideos(_ videos: Array<AVURLAsset>, inArea area:CGSize, completion: @escaping (_ error: Error?, _ url:URL?) -> Swift.Void) {

    // Create AVMutableComposition Object.This object will hold our multiple AVMutableCompositionTrack.
    let mixComposition = AVMutableComposition()

    var instructionLayers : Array<AVMutableVideoCompositionLayerInstruction> = []

    for asset in videos {

        // Here we are creating the AVMutableCompositionTrack. See how we are adding a new track to our AVMutableComposition.
        let track = mixComposition.addMutableTrack(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video, preferredTrackID: kCMPersistentTrackID_Invalid)

        // Now we set the length of the track equal to the length of the asset and add the asset to out newly created track at kCMTimeZero for first track and lastAssetTime for current track so video plays from the start of the track to end.
        if let videoTrack = asset.tracks(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video).first {


            /// Hide time for this video's layer
            let opacityStartTime: CMTime = CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(0, asset.duration.timescale)
            let opacityEndTime: CMTime = CMTimeAdd(mixComposition.duration, asset.duration)
            let hideAfter: CMTime = CMTimeAdd(opacityStartTime, opacityEndTime)


            let timeRange = CMTimeRangeMake(kCMTimeZero, asset.duration)
            try? track?.insertTimeRange(timeRange, of: videoTrack, at: mixComposition.duration)


            /// Layer instrcution
            let layerInstruction = AVMutableVideoCompositionLayerInstruction(assetTrack: track!)
            layerInstruction.setOpacity(0.0, at: hideAfter)

            /// Add logic for aspectFit in given area
            let properties = scaleAndPositionInAspectFillMode(forTrack: videoTrack, inArea: area)


            /// Checking for orientation
            let videoOrientation: UIImageOrientation = self.getVideoOrientation(forTrack: videoTrack)
            let assetSize = self.assetSize(forTrack: videoTrack)

            if (videoOrientation == .down) {
                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: -CGFloat(Double.pi/2.0))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.height
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = 0
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = -(assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = assetSize.height - (assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else if (videoOrientation == .left) {

                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: -CGFloat(Double.pi))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.height
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.width
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = assetSize.width - (assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = assetSize.height - (assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else if (videoOrientation == .right) {
                /// No need to rotate
                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: properties.position.x, y: properties.position.y)

                let finalTransform  = scaleTransform.concatenating(translationTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else {
                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: CGFloat(Double.pi/2.0))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = 0
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.width
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = assetSize.width - (assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = -(assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }

            instructionLayers.append(layerInstruction)
        }
    }


    let mainInstruction = AVMutableVideoCompositionInstruction()
    mainInstruction.timeRange = CMTimeRangeMake(kCMTimeZero, mixComposition.duration)
    mainInstruction.layerInstructions = instructionLayers

    let mainCompositionInst = AVMutableVideoComposition()
    mainCompositionInst.instructions = [mainInstruction]
    mainCompositionInst.frameDuration = CMTimeMake(1, 30)
    mainCompositionInst.renderSize = area

    //let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/Users/enacteservices/Desktop/final_video.mov")
    let url = self.videoOutputURL
    try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: url)

    let exporter = AVAssetExportSession(asset: mixComposition, presetName: AVAssetExportPresetHighestQuality)
    exporter?.outputURL = url
    exporter?.outputFileType = .mp4
    exporter?.videoComposition = mainCompositionInst
    exporter?.shouldOptimizeForNetworkUse = true
    exporter?.exportAsynchronously(completionHandler: {
        if let anError = exporter?.error {
            completion(anError, nil)
        }
        else if exporter?.status == AVAssetExportSessionStatus.completed {
            completion(nil, url)
        }
    })
}

Adding Blur Effect

func addBlurEffect(toVideo asset:AVURLAsset, completion: @escaping (_ error: Error?, _ url:URL?) -> Swift.Void) {

        let filter = CIFilter(name: "CIGaussianBlur")
        let composition = AVVideoComposition(asset: asset, applyingCIFiltersWithHandler: { request in
            // Clamp to avoid blurring transparent pixels at the image edges
            let source: CIImage? = request.sourceImage.clampedToExtent()
            filter?.setValue(source, forKey: kCIInputImageKey)

            filter?.setValue(10.0, forKey: kCIInputRadiusKey)

            // Crop the blurred output to the bounds of the original image
            let output: CIImage? = filter?.outputImage?.cropped(to: request.sourceImage.extent)

            // Provide the filter output to the composition
            if let anOutput = output {
                request.finish(with: anOutput, context: nil)
            }
        })

        //let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/Users/enacteservices/Desktop/final_video.mov")
        let url = self.videoOutputURL
        // Remove any prevouis videos at that path
        try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: url)

        let exporter = AVAssetExportSession(asset: asset, presetName: AVAssetExportPresetHighestQuality)

        // assign all instruction for the video processing (in this case the transformation for cropping the video
        exporter?.videoComposition = composition
        exporter?.outputFileType = .mp4
        exporter?.outputURL = url
        exporter?.exportAsynchronously(completionHandler: {
            if let anError = exporter?.error {
                completion(anError, nil)
            }
            else if exporter?.status == AVAssetExportSessionStatus.completed {
                completion(nil, url)
            }
        })
}

Place one by one video at the center of blurred video
This will be your final video URL.

func addAllVideosAtCenterOfBlur(videos: Array<AVURLAsset>, blurVideo: AVURLAsset, completion: @escaping (_ error: Error?, _ url:URL?) -> Swift.Void) {


    // Create AVMutableComposition Object.This object will hold our multiple AVMutableCompositionTrack.
    let mixComposition = AVMutableComposition()

    var instructionLayers : Array<AVMutableVideoCompositionLayerInstruction> = []


    // Add blur video first
    let blurVideoTrack = mixComposition.addMutableTrack(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video, preferredTrackID: kCMPersistentTrackID_Invalid)
    // Blur layer instruction
    if let videoTrack = blurVideo.tracks(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video).first {
        let timeRange = CMTimeRangeMake(kCMTimeZero, blurVideo.duration)
        try? blurVideoTrack?.insertTimeRange(timeRange, of: videoTrack, at: kCMTimeZero)
    }

    /// Add other videos at center of the blur video
    var startAt = kCMTimeZero
    for asset in videos {

        /// Time Range of asset
        let timeRange = CMTimeRangeMake(kCMTimeZero, asset.duration)

        // Here we are creating the AVMutableCompositionTrack. See how we are adding a new track to our AVMutableComposition.
        let track = mixComposition.addMutableTrack(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video, preferredTrackID: kCMPersistentTrackID_Invalid)

        // Now we set the length of the track equal to the length of the asset and add the asset to out newly created track at kCMTimeZero for first track and lastAssetTime for current track so video plays from the start of the track to end.
        if let videoTrack = asset.tracks(withMediaType: AVMediaType.video).first {

            /// Hide time for this video's layer
            let opacityStartTime: CMTime = CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(0, asset.duration.timescale)
            let opacityEndTime: CMTime = CMTimeAdd(startAt, asset.duration)
            let hideAfter: CMTime = CMTimeAdd(opacityStartTime, opacityEndTime)

            /// Adding video track
            try? track?.insertTimeRange(timeRange, of: videoTrack, at: startAt)

            /// Layer instrcution
            let layerInstruction = AVMutableVideoCompositionLayerInstruction(assetTrack: track!)
            layerInstruction.setOpacity(0.0, at: hideAfter)

            /// Add logic for aspectFit in given area
            let properties = scaleAndPositionInAspectFitMode(forTrack: videoTrack, inArea: size)

            /// Checking for orientation
            let videoOrientation: UIImageOrientation = self.getVideoOrientation(forTrack: videoTrack)
            let assetSize = self.assetSize(forTrack: videoTrack)

            if (videoOrientation == .down) {
                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: -CGFloat(Double.pi/2.0))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.height
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = 0
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = -(assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = assetSize.height - (assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else if (videoOrientation == .left) {

                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: -CGFloat(Double.pi))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.height
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.width
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = assetSize.width - (assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = assetSize.height - (assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else if (videoOrientation == .right) {
                /// No need to rotate
                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: properties.position.x, y: properties.position.y)

                let finalTransform  = scaleTransform.concatenating(translationTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }
            else {
                /// Rotate
                let defaultTransfrom = asset.preferredTransform
                let rotateTransform = CGAffineTransform(rotationAngle: CGFloat(Double.pi/2.0))

                // Scale
                let scaleTransform = CGAffineTransform(scaleX: properties.scale.width, y: properties.scale.height)

                // Translate
                var ytranslation: CGFloat = 0
                var xtranslation: CGFloat = assetSize.width
                if properties.position.y == 0 {
                    xtranslation = assetSize.width - (assetSize.width - ((size.width/size.height) * assetSize.height))/2.0
                }
                else {
                    ytranslation = -(assetSize.height - ((size.height/size.width) * assetSize.width))/2.0
                }
                let translationTransform = CGAffineTransform(translationX: xtranslation, y: ytranslation)

                // Final transformation - Concatination
                let finalTransform = defaultTransfrom.concatenating(rotateTransform).concatenating(translationTransform).concatenating(scaleTransform)
                layerInstruction.setTransform(finalTransform, at: kCMTimeZero)
            }

            instructionLayers.append(layerInstruction)
        }

        /// Adding audio
        if let audioTrack = asset.tracks(withMediaType: AVMediaType.audio).first {
            let aTrack = mixComposition.addMutableTrack(withMediaType: AVMediaType.audio, preferredTrackID: kCMPersistentTrackID_Invalid)
            try? aTrack?.insertTimeRange(timeRange, of: audioTrack, at: startAt)
        }

        // Increase the startAt time
        startAt = CMTimeAdd(startAt, asset.duration)
    }


    /// Blur layer instruction
    let layerInstruction = AVMutableVideoCompositionLayerInstruction(assetTrack: blurVideoTrack!)
    instructionLayers.append(layerInstruction)

    let mainInstruction = AVMutableVideoCompositionInstruction()
    mainInstruction.timeRange = CMTimeRangeMake(kCMTimeZero, blurVideo.duration)
    mainInstruction.layerInstructions = instructionLayers

    let mainCompositionInst = AVMutableVideoComposition()
    mainCompositionInst.instructions = [mainInstruction]
    mainCompositionInst.frameDuration = CMTimeMake(1, 30)
    mainCompositionInst.renderSize = size

    //let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/Users/enacteservices/Desktop/final_video.mov")
    let url = self.videoOutputURL
    try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: url)

    let exporter = AVAssetExportSession(asset: mixComposition, presetName: AVAssetExportPresetHighestQuality)
    exporter?.outputURL = url
    exporter?.outputFileType = .mp4
    exporter?.videoComposition = mainCompositionInst
    exporter?.shouldOptimizeForNetworkUse = true
    exporter?.exportAsynchronously(completionHandler: {
        if let anError = exporter?.error {
            completion(anError, nil)
        }
        else if exporter?.status == AVAssetExportSessionStatus.completed {
            completion(nil, url)
        }
    })
}

For helping methods used in above code please download the attached sample code.
Also I'm looking forward from you if there is any shorter way to do this. Because I have to export the video 3 times to achieve this.

Answer 2

Starting from iOS 9.0 You can use AVAsynchronousCIImageFilteringRequest

see docs for more info

Or You can use AVVideoCompositing see example of usage

Answer 3

You can add blur on video using AVVideoComposition, it's Tested.

-(void)applyBlurOnAsset:(AVAsset *)asset Completion:(void(^)(BOOL success, NSError* error, NSURL* videoUrl))completion{
CIFilter *filter = [CIFilter filterWithName:@"CIGaussianBlur"];
AVVideoComposition *composition = [AVVideoComposition videoCompositionWithAsset: asset
                                                   applyingCIFiltersWithHandler:^(AVAsynchronousCIImageFilteringRequest *request){
                                                       // Clamp to avoid blurring transparent pixels at the image edges
                                                       CIImage *source = [request.sourceImage imageByClampingToExtent];
                                                       [filter setValue:source forKey:kCIInputImageKey];

                                                       [filter setValue:[NSNumber numberWithDouble:10.0] forKey:kCIInputRadiusKey];

                                                       // Crop the blurred output to the bounds of the original image
                                                       CIImage *output = [filter.outputImage imageByCroppingToRect:request.sourceImage.extent];

                                                       // Provide the filter output to the composition
                                                       [request finishWithImage:output context:nil];
                                                   }];


NSURL *outputUrl = [[NSURL alloc] initWithString:@"Your Output path"];

//Remove any prevouis videos at that path
[[NSFileManager defaultManager]  removeItemAtURL:outputUrl error:nil];

AVAssetExportSession *exporter = [[AVAssetExportSession alloc] initWithAsset:asset presetName:AVAssetExportPreset960x540] ;

// assign all instruction for the video processing (in this case the transformation for cropping the video
exporter.videoComposition = composition;
exporter.outputFileType = AVFileTypeMPEG4;

if (outputUrl){

    exporter.outputURL = outputUrl;
    [exporter exportAsynchronouslyWithCompletionHandler:^{

        switch ([exporter status]) {
            case AVAssetExportSessionStatusFailed:
                NSLog(@"crop Export failed: %@", [[exporter error] localizedDescription]);
                if (completion){
                    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
                        completion(NO,[exporter error],nil);
                    });
                    return;
                }
                break;
            case AVAssetExportSessionStatusCancelled:
                NSLog(@"crop Export canceled");
                if (completion){
                    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
                        completion(NO,nil,nil);
                    });
                    return;
                }
                break;
            default:
                break;
        }

        if (completion){
            dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
                completion(YES,nil,outputUrl);
            });
        }

    }];
}

}

Answer 4

Have you tryied this?

let blurEffect = UIBlurEffect(style: .light)
var blurredView = UIVisualEffectView(effect: blurEffect)
blurredView.frame = view.bounds // Set the frame around 
// add the blurredView on top of what you want blurred
view.addSubview(blurredView)

Here's a link to documentation