Nano Banana 2 Prompts for Creating Blurred Depth-of-Field Backgrounds to Isolate the Speaker

Creating professional-looking images often hinges on the ability to separate a subject from their surroundings. In photography, this is achieved through a shallow depth of field, resulting in a pleasing background blur known as bokeh. When using AI image generation tools like Nano Banana 2, replicating this optical effect requires precise language. The goal is to direct the model to render a sharp foreground while softening the background elements, ensuring the viewer's eye remains fixed on the main content.

Nano Banana 2 operates as an advanced text-to-image and image-to-image workflow engine. It allows users to input detailed instructions that describe desired visual outcomes. However, it is important to understand that prompt instructions describe desired outcomes; they do not guarantee identity, label, object or typography preservation. This means that while you can ask for a specific person or object, the AI might interpret the details creatively. To achieve a consistent blurred background, you must be explicit about lighting, lens characteristics, and focal points.

The following sections provide five materially different usable prompts designed to create these effects. These examples are labeled as examples to illustrate how varying the context changes the output. Each prompt includes adjustments for specific scenarios, helping you adapt the technique whether you are creating a corporate headshot, a lifestyle product shot, or a creative portrait.

Prompt Structure for Professional Headshots

For business contexts, the priority is clarity and professionalism. You want the subject to look crisp while the office environment dissolves into a soft wash of color.

Example Prompt: A professional headshot of a woman in a navy blazer, standing in a modern office lobby. Use a shallow depth of field with a strong bokeh effect on the background. The background should feature blurred glass windows and out-of-focus architectural lines. Sharp focus on the face and shoulders. Cinematic lighting, 85mm lens simulation.

When this helps: This structure is ideal when you need to convey authority and trust without distracting environmental details. It works best for LinkedIn profiles or company websites.

Adjustments: If the background still appears too busy, add keywords like heavy blur, smooth gradient background, or minimalist setting. Conversely, if the blur is too strong, specify moderate bokeh or slightly visible background details to maintain context.

Prompt Structure for Product Photography

When isolating a speaker or a product, the background must support the item without competing for attention. The blur here serves to highlight texture and form.

Example Prompt: Close-up of a sleek wireless microphone on a wooden desk. The background is a warm, sunlit living room with heavy depth-of-field blur. Create circular bokeh highlights from distant lamps. The microphone is razor-sharp while the furniture behind it is completely indistinguishable. High-resolution, commercial photography style.

When this helps: Use this approach for e-commerce listings or tech reviews where the product is the hero. The blurred background suggests a real-world setting without cluttering the frame.

Adjustments: To change the mood, swap warm, sunlit for cool, studio-lit or dark moody atmosphere. If the circular bokeh is too distinct, request oval-shaped bokeh or linear light streaks to match different lens types.

Prompt Structure for Creative Portraits

Artistic portraits often benefit from dramatic separation between the subject and a chaotic or colorful environment. The blur acts as a filter that simplifies complex scenes.

Example Prompt: Portrait of a young artist holding a paintbrush, wearing a colorful smock. Background is a vibrant, crowded art gallery with many paintings. Apply extreme depth of field blur to turn the gallery into a mosaic of colors. Focus strictly on the artist's eyes and hands. Dreamy aesthetic, soft edges.

When this helps: This is perfect for editorial content, blog headers, or social media posts where emotion and color are more important than environmental realism.

Adjustments: For a more natural look, reduce the intensity by adding natural lens blur instead of extreme depth of field. If the colors bleed too much, specify controlled color bleeding or defined shape retention in the background.

Prompt Structure for Outdoor and Nature Settings

Outdoor shoots often struggle with busy foliage or crowds. A strong bokeh effect can transform a messy park into a serene backdrop.

Example Prompt: A speaker giving a presentation outdoors in a park. The background consists of green trees and sunlight filtering through leaves. Render the background with a creamy, smooth bokeh effect. The speaker is in sharp focus. Golden hour lighting, telephoto lens look, no sharp background objects.

When this helps: Ideal for outdoor event coverage or nature-themed branding where the environment provides context but shouldn't distract.

Adjustments: If the green tones dominate too much, add desaturated background or muted earth tones. To enhance the feeling of distance, include long focal length or compressed perspective in the prompt.

Prompt Structure for Abstract and Minimalist Designs

Sometimes the goal is to remove all context entirely, leaving only the subject against an abstract wash of color.

Example Prompt: Minimalist illustration of a person speaking into a microphone. Background is a solid field of soft pastel gradients with subtle, large bokeh circles. No identifiable shapes or objects in the background. Clean lines, vector-style sharpness on the subject, soft airbrushed background.

When this helps: This works well for presentation slides, infographics, or app interfaces where a clean, distraction-free look is required.

Adjustments: To make it more dynamic, introduce geometric bokeh patterns or irregular light shapes. For a softer feel, use watercolor wash background or diffused light glow.

Choosing the Right Model for Blur Effects

While Nano Banana 2 offers powerful capabilities, selecting the correct model variant can influence the quality of the blur. Google documents Nano Banana 2 as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image (gemini-3.1-flash-image), Nano Banana Pro as Gemini 3 Pro Image (gemini-3-pro-image), and Nano Banana 2 Lite as Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image (gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image). These are distinct Google image models with different strengths.

Google describes Nano Banana 2 Lite as focused on speed and cost. It is not optimized for multiple reference inputs or multi-turn sequential editing. Do not recommend it for those workflows without explaining this limitation. For complex depth-of-field tasks requiring high fidelity in the blur transition, the standard Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana Pro models may yield superior results due to their enhanced understanding of lighting and optical physics. Always test your prompt on the intended model to ensure the blur meets your expectations.

By refining your prompts with these specific structures, you can consistently generate images where the background recedes perfectly, keeping the focus exactly where it belongs. Try Nano Banana to start experimenting with these techniques today. Remember that while these prompts provide a strong foundation, the final result depends on the interplay between your description and the model's interpretation. Experimentation is key to mastering the art of digital bokeh."