Created an Android live wallpaper that brings Google Camera’s Lens Blur photos to life with real-time parallax effects using embedded depth maps.
Google Camera’s Lens Blur feature captures not just images but also depth information. This wallpaper app leverages that depth data to create interactive 3D parallax effects as users tilt their device or swipe between home screens.
I extracted the depth map embedded in Lens Blur photos, processed the depth information to create a layered image representation, and implemented real-time rendering with OpenGL ES. The parallax effect uses gyroscope/accelerometer input for device orientation and home screen swipe detection, with smooth interpolation for natural movement. It’s optimized for battery efficiency.
The main challenges were parsing the proprietary depth map format from Google Camera, efficient real-time rendering on battery-constrained devices, memory management for large wallpaper images, and maintaining smooth 60 FPS performance across a range of devices. The wallpaper creates an immersive 3D effect where foreground and background elements move independently based on viewing angle.
To use it: capture an image with Google Camera’s Lens Blur mode, long press on your home screen, select Wallpaper → Lens Blur Live Wallpaper, and choose your Lens Blur image in settings.
Download
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.redlion.lensblurlwp.android