Home > Creating DOF (Depth of Field) effects

Wes McDermott

Principal Director, Substance 3D Worldwide Evangelism

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Creating DOF (Depth of Field) effects

Learn how to simulate realistic depth of field in a 3D composition, adding a cinematic blur to foreground or background elements for enhanced visual focus.

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This summary is AI generated

Learning Outcomes:

  • Create depth of field effects in After Effects.
  • Utilize 3D channel extract for depth information.
  • Adjust blur radius for subtle depth effects.

Level: Advanced

Skills you'll gain:

After Effects, 3D, Depth, Blur

Key Insights

  • Nest compositions to organize layers effectively.
  • Use 3D channel extract to generate depth masks.
  • Adjust levels to refine depth map focus.
  • Create solid backgrounds to enhance scenes.
  • Experiment with gradient ramps for background effects.
  • Pre-compose layers to streamline composition management.
  • Apply camera lens blur using depth passes.
  • Fine-tune focal distance for desired depth effect.
  • Subtle adjustments yield more professional results.
  • Explore continuous improvements in After Effects features.

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