@Ian-Schwartz I don't think Bokeh is quite the right word to use, Google has various explanations around 'Out of focus' & 'Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape'.

I have an fx called S_RackFocus, the Bokeh effect doesn't work that well on bigger images like faces, it just blurs them, it works better on small points of light where the lens shape - bokeh effect shows...,

PS, I know I've posted pics of Vegas but the same result would be in MMS & agreed with @CubeAce that some sort of masking would have the used to isolate the fx.

@Ian-Schwartz

Hi

. . . . effect of a soft out-of-focus background . . . .

Assuming you do not want highlights such as lights etc reducing to 'circles of confusion',

There are several ways of doing this within MMS

A relatively quick method for an in focus area with the rest blurred:-

Note: the image/video is loaded onto 2 tracks, try various settings and shapes in the Cookie cutter effect.

If you want to mask multiple faces, see this tutorial.

HTH

John EB

@Ian-Schwartz

Hi Ian.

This is something best done in camera with a decent lens. A computer program has no way of identifying what characters or subject matter should be the centre of focus and what is background. Especially if that background or subject matter is moving around. It would need precision masking for each and every frame which could be done with rotor-scoping and A.I once an accurate set of masks have been applied to the first frame for the objects that need to be kept free of the background blur, they could then be tracked and masks changed by the A.I until the objects go out of frame. Even then it will not look natural to my way of thinking. Even doing this to one still frame takes some amount of skill to look convincing in my opinion.

But then again if you want it to look like Crime-watch in reverse then that could be easier to do.

Ray.

It's too late to do it with a "...camera with a decent lens", as the video already exists.

@Ian-Schwartz

Hi

. . . . effect of a soft out-of-focus background . . . .

Assuming you do not want highlights such as lights etc reducing to 'circles of confusion',

There are several ways of doing this within MMS

A relatively quick method for an in focus area with the rest blurred:-

Note: the image/video is loaded onto 2 tracks, try various settings and shapes in the Cookie cutter effect.

If you want to mask multiple faces, see this tutorial.

HTH

John EB

That's brilliant. Thank you for taking the time to create this tutorial.

 

@Ian-Schwartz I don't think Bokeh is quite the right word to use, Google has various explanations around 'Out of focus' & 'Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape'.

I have an fx called S_RackFocus, the Bokeh effect doesn't work that well on bigger images like faces, it just blurs them, it works better on small points of light where the lens shape - bokeh effect shows...,

PS, I know I've posted pics of Vegas but the same result would be in MMS & agreed with @CubeAce that some sort of masking would have the used to isolate the fx.

It was my understanding that Rack Focus involves a transition from focusing on one depth of field to another, e.g. changing the focus from a person standing closer to the camera to a person further from the camera. Is that wrong? I created a video, while standing on the stage, of one of our performers and I have to blur the faces of the audience, as they hadn't signed release forms.

@Ian-Schwartz

Hi

. . . . effect of a soft out-of-focus background . . . .

Assuming you do not want highlights such as lights etc reducing to 'circles of confusion',

There are several ways of doing this within MMS

A relatively quick method for an in focus area with the rest blurred:-

Note: the image/video is loaded onto 2 tracks, try various settings and shapes in the Cookie cutter effect.

If you want to mask multiple faces, see this tutorial.

HTH

John EB

That's brilliant. Thank you for taking the time to create this tutorial.