How To: Camera Focal Distance and Depth of Field

[Kam]

Have you wondered what Camera Focal Distance and Depth of Field do? Have you tried to use them without success?

Stay a while, and listen.

What is Depth of Field (DoF)?

• DoF is the total area that is in focus, or the distance between the closest object/subject in focus and the furthest object/subject in focus.

What is Focal Distance (FD)?

• This is the distance to the target point (focal point). You can think of this as the origin point of where you are aiming.

How do these two relate?

• You may read "narrow" or "wide" DoF and wonder what this means. These are terms referring to the scale or total area that will be in focus around the FD point.
  
  
  
• Narrow DoF
  
  

• Wide DoF
  
  

When I try this the values don't seem to behave as they should. What is wrong?

• In many occasions the camera focal point, the blue arrow tip in the World Editor, will not be on the target object/subject. This means you must compensate when defining FD and DoF.
  
  
  
• Example focal point on the target
  
  

• Example focal point past the target
  
  

• In this case you will need to account for the ~448 distance the focal point exceeds the target by.

Now that you have a basic grasp let's look at an example for DoF.

• Follow along with this test map
  • Typing "Reset" will reset all values
• Here I am using the example above where the focal point is on the target, 800 units apart
• You will notice I start at -300 DoF, and you can see the effect in the lower corners
  • You can use + or - integers, the effect is identical.
• You will see as I continue decreasing DoF the focus narrows
  
  
  

What about FD?

• Imagine a horizontal line across the screen. As you increase FD this line will move.
• You can see this as the closest Footman leaves focus and eventually the Farm is almost in focus.
  
  

What if you have 0 for either field?

• 0 in either field means there will be no effect
  
  

Test map and tutorial request by Tamplier777

 

[Tamplier]

THank you so much for the research)

 

[Kakerate]

I just noticed these (new?) camera functions the other day, and tried figuring em out with @Saken. Awesome guide!

 

[Kam]

They've been there since Reforged launched. =)

 

[Hermit]

They've been there since Reforged launched. =)

Cool; are they exclusive to Reforged or do they also work in SD mode?

 

[Kam]

They work in both.

 

[Chaosy]

Something needs to be done about the images. Takes way too long to scroll through.

Hidden tags work fine, I think there is also a way to make images smaller until you click on them.

Otherwise good, can see it being used for niche cinematic situations.

 

[Kam]

Updated!

 

[Knecht]

They work in both.

Tried the test map in SD and it didn't work - the triggers do change the numbers but it doesn't affect the SD camera.

 

[Kakerate]

Is there even a reason for it to not work in SD or is it just a "buy reforged KEK" meme?

 

[Kam]

I stand corrected.

We did not intentionally gate triggers to HD. This is probably tied to the HD renderer out of necessity, or SD integration is broken. Apologies for that.