Vegas Pro 18, Windows 10. I'm looking for a video FX that mimics the camera hunting focus, or appearing to randomly go in and out of focus. Also be able to specify portions of the frame that stay sharp while the rest are blurred. Any suggestions? Thank you!
You'll need a newer version of VEGAS for that... Smart mask would do it in VEGAS 20... who knows, maybe VEGAS 21 will come with even more ways to go about it.
@Carl-Weingarten Hi, you might want an effect that uses a depth map, that just an image, normally B/W that masks the blur/focus effect, I'm looking for a Vegas one that does that, I'm sure I'd seen one?.
You could just use a B/W version of your video - Multiply (mask) & Mask generator if needed
Hi, you might want an effect that uses a depth map
Smart mask is your best bet to do this at this time... but who knows, that may change. ;)
@Carl-Weingarten Hi, you might want an effect that uses a depth map, that just an image, normally B/W that masks the blur/focus effect, I'm looking for a Vegas one that does that, I'm sure I'd seen one?.
@Former user I tried the most simplest version of that (outside of Vegas) 2 layers, depth map on original in focus layer, and out of focus FX layer, and results are poor, because my out of focus man is radiating out from behind the in focus man. also that depth map is not perfect.
Obviously you could focus hunt like the poster wanted instead of a simulated depth of field but technique as I tried not good enough, is this how you would have tried or a different method?
@Former user Hi,yeah not easy on a moving image, I did consider that a direct video mask wouldn't be enough, tracking & masking would be needed to help isolate areas, I think my comment should be simplified to 'a mask that isolates the focus' 😂🤷♂️😂
There's limited info from @Carl-Weingarten reg the video or still image, "the camera hunting focus, or appearing to randomly go in and out of focus. Also be able to specify portions of the frame that stay sharp while the rest are blurred" Throw anything moving like a person into that & there'd be work to be done to any mask.
I copied your man walking towards the camera, i can't get enough contrast between him, his skin & the back wall to create a good enough mask 🤷♂️ I'm trying to keep this all within Vegas,
Obviously this may not be of any use if footage has already been shot, but in a short film I did a few years ago, I shot the viewpoint of a character looking through binoculars, I just shot it initially out of focus, then adjusted focus as if it was the character focusing the binoculars.