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A blur filter applied in different amounts to each pixel in the image, according to a depth mask. This effect can be used to simulate a narrow depth-of-field, lens-shaped edge defocusing or tilt-shift effects.

The depth mask defines which pixels in the image will be blurred, as well as the relative amount of blurring that will occur. Brighter pixels in the depth mask correspond to the highest amount of blur. The maximum amount of blur applied by the algorithm is defined by the “Radius” parameter, and it affects white pixels in the depth mask.

Effect Parameters

Presets
Presets contain a snapshot of the plug-in parameters. The Presets control lets you choose among one of the presets built into the plug-in, save current parameter values to a preset file, or load an existing preset file from disk.
A preset file saved to disk via the "Save As" button can be loaded from another instance of the same plug-in by clicking the "Open" button. Presets generated in one host can also be loaded from the same plug-in when used in a different host.

Depth Mask
This parameter displays a preview of the depth mask. The preview is updated when parameters are adjusted and only if the effect is being displayed in the canvas.

Shape
This popup menu lets you select the shape to be used as the depth mask. The available options are:

• Bar – best for simulating tilt-shift and narrow depth-of-field
• Oval – best for simulating lens-shaped edge defocus
• Gradient – best for simulating a narrow depth-of-field
• Custom Mask – when this option is selected, additional parameters become available to let you supply your own media and extract a depth mask from it.

Radius
The maximum radius of the blur effect. This value is used for the brightest (white) pixels in the depth mask. Darker pixels in the depth mask correspond to increasingly smaller radii.

Center
This parameter defines the center of the depth mask.

Angle
This parameter defines the angle of rotation of the depth mask.

Width
This parameter defines the dimension of the shape. This parameter is only available when the current mask shape is “Bar”, “Oval” or “Gradient”.

Sharpness
This parameter defines the sharpness of the depth mask. This parameter is only available when the current mask shape is “Bar” or “Oval”

Aspect Ratio
This parameter controls the aspect ratio of an oval depth mask. Consequently, this parameter is only available when the mask shape is “Oval”.

Invert
This parameter inverts the colors in the depth mask, so that bright areas (corresponding to higher blur radii) become dark.

Custom Mask
This image well lets you supply your own media to be used as a depth mask. The media will be scaled to the size of the frame. It is preferable to use a matte track, but the Depth Blur plug-in gives you options for extracting a shape from regular footage as well.
In Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion, this parameter is available as an image well. You can drag and drop any media currently imported in your project onto the image well to assign it to the parameter:

To clear an image previously assigned to the well in Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express, right-click on the drop area and select the “Clear” option. To clear the image well in Motion simply drag any media away from the drop area. Image wells can be used with video as well as static images.
In After Effects, this parameter is available as a layer selection menu. Select an existing layer to assign its contents to the parameter. You can clear any layer selection by choosing the first option in the layer selection menu.

Smoothing
The amount of blurring applied to the media supplied for the “Custom Mask” parameter. This parameter is only available when the “Shape” parameter is set to “Custom Mask”.

Fitting Method
Controls how the media assigned to the “Custom Mask” parameter is fitted inside the frame.
The available options are explained in this diagram:

Mask Extraction
This parameter lets you pick the algorithm used to extract a depth mask from any media you have assigned to the “Custom Mask” parameter. The available options are:

• Interpret Custom Media as a matte track – this option works best when your custom media is a black and white matte/mask track.
• Select luminance range – this option lets you extract a depth mask from any type of source media by selecting a range of pixels according to their luminance value.

The parameters below are only available when the “Mask Extraction” parameter is set to “Select luminance range”. The source for the extraction happens to be any media that you have currently assigned to the “Custom Mask” parameter.

Source Value, Aperture and Softness
The effect is applied to a given range of pixels, based on their luminance value. Luminance values range from 0 (black) to 1 (white). The "Source Value", "Source Aperture" and "Source Softness" parameters give you precise controls to define this range:

The "Source Luminance" parameter specifies the center of the range of pixels. For example, a value of 0.5 means that the effect is applied to pixels that are 50% bright.

The "Source Aperture" parameter controls the width of this range. For example, a value of 0.5 with aperture of 0.2 means that all pixels between 40% and 60% brightness will be used as the source for the effect. An aperture value of 1.0 means that the effect is applied to the entire image.

It may be desirable to have a smooth transition between the pixels that are within the range and those that fall outside it. The "Source Softness" parameter defines the width of this smooth border. By adding soft borders to the range (one at the start, one at the end) you eliminate the sharp transition. A softness of 1.0 means that the range is smoothed over the entire image.