Instagram introduces new focus mode for stories and mention stickers

Instagram has announced two new features for its platform globally - Focus and Mention Stickers. The Focus feature allows users to take portrait shots from the front and the rear cameras of the smartphones and adds a Bokeh effect to the images that were taken.

"When you take a photo or video of someone in the Focus format, their face will stay focused while the background blurs, giving the photo that polished look - something you'll want to share with friends,"

said Instagram in a statement.

To use the focus feature, the users will have to open the Stories tab, where they will find a new Focus button adjacent to the Superzoom button in the Record tab. When pressed the application will try to detect a face. When it does find a face the app will automatically blur out the background. You can then simply click a photo or record a video whatever your heart desires. The focus feature has been made available to the Apple iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and select Android smartphones.

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The @mention stickers feature will in beginning be only available for iOS users. However, the company has said that it will soon make its way to Android also. Mentions for some time now has been available to Instagram users, however, @mention stickers are said to take that to a newer level.

To use this new feature the users will have to open the stickers tray after they take a photo or record a video. Then they will have to tap the @mention sticker and type the name of the person they want to mention. After selecting the name, the mention sticker will be added to the media which can then be resized and positioned.