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How To Create depth of field using layers in a compositor

When using layers you will get more control by creating the depth of field in a compositor rather than Muvizu.

When rendering your layers tick the "depth pass" option. This creates an additional TGA sequence which looks like this…….

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The darker the image the closer it is to the camera.

I use HitFilm as my compositor so I will demonstrate the effect in that.

Add a grade layer and apply a lens blur effect. Set the depth pass layer as a source for your lens blur effect (setting the source channel to Luminance).

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You then get this effect on the layers below......

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Focus is quite subtle in this shot, but you get the idea. There will be something similar in other compositors.

If I don’t need any compositing then I just do everything in Muvizu as it will be a lot quicker !