Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects

by mokong Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:49 pm

Let me share you a tutorial on how to come up a nice Bokeh Effect in Adobe After Effects. I use here a plugin for AE called "Frischluft".

The idea of using DOF in AE was first introduced to me by sir chillrender. Thank you sir chill.

The example below is from my previous render, check it out at this link http://www.cgpinoy.org/t19874-interior-01-updated

1. Open After Effects. On the Projects Tab, Right click> Import> Multiple Files
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 54984379

Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 54984379

2. Select the your rendered image and the zdepth pass.

3. You will have similar as shown. As for my example I did not use the raw render image file but the one which I made post process in Photoshop. For my image I used .psd and .exr for the zdepth, you can use png's or TIFF's according to your preference. Drag the two down as illustrated.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 20144627

Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 20144627

The zdepth pass
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 02afb

The rendered image
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 02bzq

4. Make sure at the composition tab you have the render image (as shown) and not the zdepth pass.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 45866221

Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 45866221

5. Go right click> Effect> Frischluft> Depth of Field (as shown)
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 38082675

6. In the Effect Controls Tab, Go to Show> select iris.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 50404653

7. We need to set up first our iris for the bokeh effect. I use hexagonal, which is facet = 6 and other as shown.
You can adjust according to your preference. After you have set up your iris go back to Show then select normal.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 32278498

Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 32278498

8. In the depth layer select your zdepth pass.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 71474290

9. In the focal point> select depth. You will see a crosshair. Select an area on the scene where you can start your DOF, this according to your preference.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 44650650

Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 44650650

10.I set the following as highlighted, this again according to your preference. In this example I intentionally make the radius big to show the bokeh effect. Highlight intensity, this will make the bokeh effect brighter. You can also use the invert, to invert the effect of DOF.
Depth of Field with Bokeh Effect Tutorial in After Effects 46769953