I have used the GPUImage framework for a blur effect similar to that of the Instagram application, where I have made a view for getting a picture from the photo library and
Did it ... the code for the rectangular effect is just in these 2 lines
blurFilter = [[GPUImageGaussianSelectiveBlurFilter alloc] init];
[(GPUImageGaussianSelectiveBlurFilter*)blurFilter setExcludeCircleRadius:80.0/320.0];
[(GPUImageGaussianSelectiveBlurFilter*)blurFilter setExcludeCirclePoint:CGPointMake(0.5f, 0.5f)];
// [(GPUImageGaussianSelectiveBlurFilter*)blurFilter setBlurSize:0.0f]; [(GPUImageGaussianSelectiveBlurFilter*)blurFilter setAspectRatio:0.0f];