Building manual DOF with blur filters

[Guest]

I know AE CS5.5 has cool new camera blur for the AE cams.  But I'm working in a project that the client wants CS4   So I'm using a 3rd party blur plug-in.

Here's what I've come up. I apply a blur and an expression slider to each 3D layer. I also have 3D null that determines the Camera focus distance. The slider multiplier is there just to give me some manual control if an out of focus layer isn't blurry enough.

Is there a better way to write this?

L = thisComp.layer("Layer1");

O = length( L.toWorld(L.anchorPoint), toWorld([0,0,0]));

C = thisComp.layer("Camera 1").cameraOption.focusDistance;

M = effect("Blur Multiplier")("Slider");

(O + C) * .1 * M

[Dan Ebberts · Accepted solution]

I think I'd do it this way:

C = thisComp.layer("Camera 1");
v1 = toWorld(anchorPoint) - C.toWorld([0,0,0]);
v2 = C.toWorldVec([0,0,1]);
d = Math.abs(dot(v1,v2) - C.cameraOption.focusDistance);
M = effect("Blur Multiplier")("Slider");
d * .1 * M

Dan

[Navarro Parker]

Thanks Dan! I like your vector! Without it, mine only works with Z space moves.