After Effects – Camera Lens Blur effect

Software:
After Effects CC 2019

Adobe After Effects has a very effective Camera Lens Blur effect that is capable of efficiently faking DOF (Depth Of Field) and Bokeh visual effects for 3D rendered images and animations, and also animate a fake “Focus-Pull”.

The effect will work best on 32 bit float EXR files, and requires a Z depth render element (pass/AOV) to be rendered with the main RGB image, and supplied as the Blur Map layer.

Tip:
If necessary, color correct the Z depth image so that the Black to White range will reflect the wanted focus range, and that the closest depth will be Black, blending into White at the furthest depth.

Example of a Z Depth image:

Radius:
Controls the blurriness

Shape:
Choose the lens iris shape (number of blades) to design the Bokeh effect

Blur Map:
Defines a black & White Depth Layer (Z Depth) where black is the closes point to the camera and white is the furthest.

Blur Focal Distance:
Values of 0.0 to 1.0 will have the black through grey to white areas of the Blur Map remain at focus (sharp)

Highlight > Gain:
Intensify the highlights to create a more dominant Bokeh effect

 

 

Related:
DOF in Arnold for Maya

Arnold for Maya Depth of Field (DOF)

Software:
Maya 2018 | Arnold 5

1. In the camera shape node’s Arnold Attributes:
   Check ‘Enable DOF’.
2. Set ‘Aperture Size’ and ‘Focus Distance’ to control the effect.
   Note:
   The Aperture Size attribute isn’t an f-number aperture like we would expect in photography but a radius in world units.
   Larger Aperture Size values (larger lens Iris opening), and shorter Focus Distances will cause a narrower Depth of Field which will result in the background appearing more blurry.
   DOF is generally more apparent with ‘long lenses’ (shorter focal length).
3. Set other Aperture attributes like the number of blades and aspect ration to further design the appearance of out of focus areas and especially highlights.
   * The optical effect referred by the term ‘Bokeh’ in photography.

 

Related Posts:

Arnold for Maya Motion-Blur

After Effects Camera Lens Blur