How to make a DOF in postproduction

[Josip Zuvan]

How to make a DOF in postproduction

[Huy Vu]

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/2d_depth_of_field/

But really, this technique only works on a few very specific shots that you'll have to plan for. The truth is there's just no easy way to simulate shallow DOF in post. The resultis often not worth the effort.

[triplej96]

Andrews technique is great but if you want to take it a step further and get really great results you would roto.

Basically you would have to roto the entire shot each item a separate roto element not to bad if the camera isn't moving but if its moving it can be tricky. This method can produce some amazing results.

Basiclly you use all of your roto and make "custom" depth mattes which give you a lot of control on whats blurred and how much its blured!

[Matt Grunau]

Three words:

Com-pound Blur!


The compound blur kicks ass because it is based on grayscale to determine the amount each corisponding [pixel] area will blur. Similar to the Lens Blur in Photoshop, this allows you to have areas in the same layer with different blur amounts. Kinda reminds me of sub-patch weights in that regard, but that's a different app and story.

There is a hell of a lot you can do with them, and much that can NOT be achieved going alternate routes without a hell of a lot of work. Check 'em out.

[triplej96]

Hey Matt I believe you can do the same thing with lens blur effect in AE except have even more control. If you build a depth matte with different shades of white and gray.

You can use the lens blur and dial in on what you want in focus and out of focus using the decimal number in the info pallet.

Example if you had a scene with a guy in foreground, basketball hoop in mid ground and buildings in background.

You could roto each element on a solid to creat depth matte. The guy in FG could be a white solid and basketball hoop a light gray and buidlng a dark gray.

Then with lens blur effect you can determine where the blur starts with focal distnace control. Using the info box you place your mouse over the depth matte guy(fg element) It will give you a number say .80.

Type that number in the blur focal disntace. The guy will now be in focus and the rest will blur gradually pretty nice effect.

I'm not to famillar with compound blur maybe that does the same thing or does this eaiser?

Hope that made sense.

[grahamdunn]

Granted it costs money and still requires roto, but the Frischluft blurs are absolutely sick. The "out of focus" bokeh looks really realistic and the "depth of field" allows a depth matte to be used. Once I saw how good the out of focus highlights looked I started blurring everything!

[Matt Grunau]

I'm not to famillar with compound blur maybe that does the same thing or does this eaiser?

Hope that made sense.



It did make sense. Compound blur does essentially the same thing, but renders much faster. I had forgotten that AE had a lens blur. I have used it with a Zdepth matte rendered from Lightwave many times, but all just experimenting and tinkering. I dunno why I forgot about it, especially after referencing Photoshop's. My mind is fading a little in my old age.

Lens blur would be a lot more accurate, so that would be the route to go if needed. I also have an "evaluation" copy of Frischluft blurs I will definately look into.


Great responses guys, man but do I love this forum!

[triplej96]

Cool matt glad I made some sense :). Lens blur is great but does have somewhat long render times.

Frischluft blurs do look great wish I had the plugin.

I love this forum too. Great to see people chime in with informative responses.