Depth of Field

[rezman]

Items, Add, Null
Null, Properties, Geometry, Add Custom Object, Rangefinder

This will show you range to camera.

Camera, Properties, Stereo and DOF, check the Depth of Field box, enter the number that you got for range to camera in the focal distance box.

Make sure to turn on DOF/Mblur preview (the little dropdown in the upper left in the viewport.)

Adjust the Lens F-Stop until you get the look you like.

[GlassDPM]

Items, Add, Null
Null, Properties, Geometry, Add Custom Object, Rangefinder

This will show you range to camera.

Camera, Properties, Stereo and DOF, check the Depth of Field box, enter the number that you got for range to camera in the focal distance box.

Make sure to turn on DOF/Mblur preview (the little dropdown in the upper left in the viewport.)

Adjust the Lens F-Stop until you get the look you like.

I saw this technique described in the user's manual, but what if my scene has camera movements and such. That would require me to envelope a number of distances, no? I was hoping maybe there was a quick lscript or plugin to automatically use that range finder distance for me. (maybe I'm just too lazy, lol)

[aeres]

Load up a null to use as the target.

In you camera DOF distance field, open the envelope. under the modifier tab, load "proximity".

I forgot about the specifics on how to use it, but it's pretty straight forward. Used correctly, the DOF distance will automatically match the distance of the null from the camera.

[bearfoot]

hey.. i may just add that its normally a better practice to do this in post to avoid having to re render should changes be necessary..

thanks a lot

[Skywatcher]

Check this out :

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71751&page=12

It's fast and good !!!

You can render your image with and without DOF at the same time( no need to rerender).
Just output with DP buffernodes.
So no comp problem if the render is not what you want( you still have the normal render).
Just output an extra Z-buffer.
Oh, and just select a null object in the plug. This way you can animate the effect.

[earwax69]

The site is down, I wanted to download that famous Extra buffer nodes.

[PentamiterBeast]

Lets say you create the null, give it some name or other, and have it floating around in the scene...

Click the envelope for the cameras focus distance, create the following expression...

vmag( NullName.wpos(Time)- CameraName.wpos(Time))

and apply it to the channel.

Done.

[GlassDPM]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice. I tried out your ideas, and I honestly am going to use them going forward. For these clips, I just used native Lightwave plugins and options:

http://files.me.com/ngiovinco/hvh1p1.mov
http://files.me.com/ngiovinco/vmfw6d.mov

1. I took the advice, (and tutorial in the users manual), and made a focal distance null, which I parented to the camera and used range finder.
2. I set the depth of field, focal distance envelope>modifiers>add modifier>proximity and set Item to (self), and Target to (nameofnull). Granted I didn't need the range finder applied, but I wanted to double check.

I like this method, because it allowed me to move the null and the focal distance would "automagically" change during my animation. Made life easier for me as a newb.

They are Biochemically based around the RANKL pathway and its associated pathology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankl

It's part of a larger series I'm working on for my podcast and associated lecture content via wound care and limb salvage. http://www.surgery.arizona.edu/vascular-endovascular-surgery/southern-arizona-limb-salvage-alliance & http://diabeticfootonline.blogspot.com/

Thanks for you support guy! I know I don't participate in too many discussions, but I do read this forum alot.
`Nicholas Giovinco
www.drglass.org

[speismonqui]

have u checked this out? William's technique for creating and controlling a depth pass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiwJGWVEnME

same video at newtek site:
ftp://ftp.newtek.com/multimedia/movies/w3dw/Depth.mov

hope this helps

[GlassDPM]

have u checked this out? William's technique for creating and controlling a depth pass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiwJGWVEnME

same video at newtek site:
ftp://ftp.newtek.com/multimedia/movies/w3dw/Depth.mov

hope this helps

That's another pretty cool example. Proton is the man!

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