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Faking Depth Of Field – Using Masks and Gradients ?
I’ve got some shots where I need to play with the DOF, when I do this in photoshop, I create an alpha channel, draw a gradient, then apply ‘lens blur’ onto the photo using the alpha channel for the area of effect.
It looks really good, and makes a vast improvement to my work, how in poopy pants ville would I go about doing this in AE ?
I already have a good plug in for DOF, but i usally have ZDepth layers for my 3d work, this is just pure HDV footage I want to tart up.
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10 Replies
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Take a look at the Compound Blur effect. Very good for faking depth of field.
JD
John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au -
Will do, how would you set it up?
Have you got a photo you could just show me in an AE file how its done ? -
This is direct from the AE Help menu:
The Compound Blur effect blurs pixels in the selected layer based on the luminance values of a blur layer, also known as a blurring map. The blur layer, which can be any layer that contains pixels of different luminance values, is essentially overlaid on top of the selected layer, and the pixels of both layers are matched, one to one. Where the blur layer is black, no blurring occurs in the same location in the selected layer. The blur layer is used only as a map; it is not visible in the composition.
Blur Layer specifies the layer in the composition to use as the blurring map. Bright values in the blur layer correspond to more blurring of the affected layer, while dark values correspond to less blurring. Maximum Blur specifies the maximum amount, in pixels, that any part of the affected layer can be blurred. Stretch Map to Fit stretches the blur layer to the dimensions of the layer to which it is applied; otherwise, it is centered. Invert Blur inverts the values, so areas that were previously more blurred are less blurred, and vice versa.
Does that help?
JD
John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au -
Yeah I did read that part but what is the trick with a gradient to make use of this ? [where do I put it? – do I make another adjustment layer, if so – is there anything else I should be doing to it?]
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The gradient is just another layer in your comp. Choose that layer as your blur map from within the Compound Blur effect properties. One thing to keep in mind is that if you apply any effects to this gradient layer, you must precompose the layer before those effects will be recognised by the effect.
JD
John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au -
Yo, Im just having one of those dumb moments, its late and all that.
I appreciate you helping a temporarily spasicated guy here, the thing is its just bluring the whole layer.
Its driving me nuts. -
Is the gradient you are using created using the Ramp effect? If so you need to precompose the blur layer with the Ramp effect before you can use it. You may like to take a screen shot including your effect controls panel and email it to me john.dickinson@foxtel.com.au
JD
John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au -
Ok, I’ll try that one instead, I was trying to use Digital Anarchy’s Gradient tool.
Perhaps a screenshot to me may be more ideal?
id_labz@hotmail.comI’ll try and get one to you asap,
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It doesn’t matter what effect you use to get your gradient, as long as you create the gradient in the precomp. You then use that precomp in your main comp where you apply the compound blur effect to your footage and choose the precomp as the blur layer. If you don’t precompose compound blur won’t recognize the gradient effect and you’ll get an all over blur.
JD
John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au -
Ah right, one vital bit of info I wasn’t taking on board there.
Now its working with my proper DOF plug in to.
That was tempory mental meltdown, haha..
Cheers for holding my hand 🙂
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