| Depth
of Field - Controlling the depth channel
in Realsoft3D
Tutorial by Noodles
(aka Helmut). Note: This tutorial is in
Alpha release.
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First,
make a new float type channel and
rename it to myDistance.
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A new
shader for the sphere. Note that only
the Z channel is bound to the input
of the curve object. |
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ok,
now this is one boring scene. Classic
checkerfloor with classic CSG clutterpieces.
A point and a distant light shall
cast some light on the world.
The white sphere is a mapping object
using the myDistance shader
centered to the viewpoint of the
camera. |
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A sideview
of the whole thing. |
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Create
a new output object of type
Window.
Edit the channel bindings so the
myDistance channel writes
into the R, G and B channels of
the render window.
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Now
you can abuse the file renderer's
render button to display your custom
channel on it's own:
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A
second camera object gives the overview.
The shader gives black at the camera
viewpoint, or zero Z distance to
put it the other way round.
At Z=1, or the diameter of the
sphere, the value is 1 (white).
The value increases beyond the sphere
but this is not interesting here.
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Playing
with the gradient allows you to
adjust the sharp zone and the falloff.
The diameter of the sphere corresponds
to X=1 on the curve coord system.
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This
curve leaves everything within the
area of the sphere black, and fades
to white beyond it gradually.
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You
could now render out the channel to
a separate image or use a multichannel
format for that matter to generate
the mythical Z-buffer needed for compositing.
To quickly fake DOF it serves either
to key a blurred version over an original
image, or to use the depth information
to control the strength of a blur or
defocus effect.
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Both
methods can be done in Realsoft3d
itself. I will show the latter here.
In Post Effects, create
a blur effect.
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Duplicate
the Default Effects object
and rename it to "Default Effects
+ myBlur".
Replace the Camera defined DOF
with the newly created myBlur
object.
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Create
a new View Window, set the Effect/Image
to "Default Effects + myBlur" |
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Function
test. The blur post effect obviously
works.
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Set
the Threshold Channel of
the Blur post effect to the
myDistance channel.
The brighter the value in myDistance
the stronger the blur effect is applied.
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Rounding
the curve gives us a smooth transition
from blurred to unblurred image:
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