Create 3D Parallax Wallpapers for iPhone & iPad

Creating the 3D Parallax Wallpaper Effect on iOS Devices

If you are an iPhone or iPad user, you may have observed a three-dimensional effect on certain wallpapers, giving the impression that your home screen icons are floating above the background. It’s possible to replicate this effect with nearly any image, and no specialized software is required.

This type of wallpaper is commonly known as a parallax wallpaper. However, Apple’s iOS operating system labels it as a “perspective” wallpaper. Regardless of the terminology, the visual outcome is a perceived depth or 3D appearance. Parallax wallpapers achieve this by slightly magnifying an image.

This magnification ensures a portion of the image extends beyond the visible screen area. Consequently, as the user shifts their viewing angle, the wallpaper appears to subtly “move,” creating the illusion of three dimensions.

Optimizing Wallpapers for the Parallax Effect

While any wallpaper can be used, the most visually appealing results are achieved when the image isn’t precisely the same resolution as your device’s screen. Zooming into the image is part of the process, and a higher resolution source image will yield a sharper final product.

It’s crucial to recognize that each iOS device possesses a unique screen size and, therefore, specific wallpaper dimensions to fully realize the parallax effect. The following outlines the recommended image sizes for various Apple iOS devices:

iPhone

• iPhone 4s:
  • Screen: 960 x 640
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 1196 x 740
• iPhone 5, 5C & 5S, and iPod Touch 5th generation:
  • Screen: 1136 x 640
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 1392 x 744
• iPhone 6 and 6s:
  • Screen: 1334 x 750
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 1608 x 852
• iPhone 6 Plus and 6s Plus:
  • Screen: 1920 x 1080 (downsampled from 2208 x 1242)
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 2662 x 2662

iPad

• iPad 2nd gen & iPad mini:
  • Screen: 1024 x 768
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 1262 x 1262
• iPad 3rd & 4th gen; iPad Air; iPad mini with Retina display:
  • Screen: 2048 x 1536
  • Parallax Wallpaper: 2524 x 2524

Once you have identified the correct dimensions for your device, you can proceed to resize your chosen image to meet these specifications. Begin by selecting an image you wish to use as your background.

Images with a higher original resolution generally produce the best results. Fortunately, modern smartphone cameras typically capture images with sufficient megapixel counts.

A useful resource for finding wallpapers is Google Images. Utilize the "Search Tools" feature and select a size larger than the "Parallax Wallpaper" dimensions specified for your device.

Resizing and Cropping Your Image

After locating a suitable image, cropping is the next step. This process can be easily accomplished on a Mac using the Preview application, or on a Windows PC with software like Photoshop or any other photo editor.

For example, to fit an image onto an iPhone 6s, a resolution of 1608 x 852 is required. If the original photo is 3024 x 4032, it must be resized and then cropped to achieve the desired dimensions.

Cropping becomes straightforward when the primary subject of the photo comfortably fits within the cropped area.

Save the resized image as a new file to avoid overwriting the original.

Transferring the Wallpaper to Your Device

The next step involves transferring the new wallpaper to your iPhone or iPad. On a Mac, AirDrop provides a convenient method, or you can sync it via iCloud through the Photos app.

For Windows users, the Photos app on the iCloud website is recommended. Log in to your iCloud account and navigate to the Photos section. Click "Upload" to add your new parallax wallpaper.

Once uploaded, the wallpaper will synchronize with your iOS device, allowing you to set it as your home and/or lock screen.

Finally, ensure you select "Perspective" rather than "Still" when setting the wallpaper.

If all steps have been followed correctly, your new background image should now exhibit the desired 3D parallax effect. Remember that starting with a higher resolution image is key to achieving optimal results. Increasing the size of a low-resolution image will likely result in a blurry or pixelated appearance.

Experiment with different images to discover which ones work best for you. Manual resizing and cropping often yield the most satisfying outcome, so don’t hesitate to practice and refine your technique.