Given the popularity of the iDownloadBlog Wallpapers of the Week collection, it was a given, we needed to address the iOS 16 Lock Screen Depth Effect wallpaper situation. Apple’s incredibly dynamic Lock Screen feature plays creatively with the image subject by carefully hiding the clock behind a primary focal point within the image. However, not all images seem to work. Fear not! Download optimized backgrounds from this iOS 16 Depth Effect wallpaper pack.
iOS 16 Depth Effect wallpapers
When working on this set of 20 images, I went through almost 40 total images, trying to find ones that actually worked with the new iOS 16 Lock Screen feature. Apple does not give a lot of direction for what will-or-will-not work with the iOS 16 Lock Screen Depth Effect. After tinkering for several hours with this many images, the following pro tips will help you find or create your own.
Must read: How to fix the Depth Effect not working with your iPhone Lock Screen wallpaper
Tips for finding compatible wallpapers:
- Strong contrasting colors between the subject and background
- Clear difference in image texture, comparing the subject to the background
- Subject must be in sharp focus
When setting an image that should work, make sure to:
- prevent the subject from covering more than the bottom 25% of the clock space—keep the obfuscating subject at or below the bottom dot on the clock colon
- only set the subject to cover one-to-two of the clock numbers
- turn off widgets
It also seems that vectored, animated images work most readily, but I was really wanting to explore actual photographic images for this specific collection.
I found all of the source files on unsplash.com, which is a license-free photograph repository with an incredible abundance of great images. The photographer is listed below each of the following downloads.
I utilized the Pixelmator Pro iPhone Pro Max template canvas and cropped each photo to ensure the subject hits the Lock Screen clock properly to engage the Depth Effect.
If it does not work for you, try zooming out on the image, when you set it as wallpaper. Each of the following downloads, I personally tested on my iPhone 14 Pro Max after cropping, to ensure the Depth Effect engaged.
Let me know what you think of this download pack!
Catch up with me on Twitter to share your fresh new Lock Screens. Give me a follow @jim_gresham, where I curate the iDB Wallpapers of the Week collection. Send over some of your own favorite backgrounds to be featured on upcoming posts. Follow along for sneak peaks of upcoming posts, mid-week wallpaper downloads, and general Apple banter.