Render: allow to select an entire collection to set the focal point in the Depth of Field settings in the Camera properties #119869

dema · 2024-03-25T11:38:15+01:00

dema commented

2024-03-25 11:38:15 +01:00

First-time contributor

Add the field Focus on Collection in the Depth of Field settings in the Camera properties. This new feature was requested by the community in this post.

Problem

Actually Blender allowed setting a focal point by specifying either the distance from the camera or selecting an object. Selecting an object sets the focal point to its location. However, this method posed challenges with collections representing objects. Collections consist of multiple components, and focusing on a single component could yield undesired effects. The problem could be addressed adding an empty in the desired position and setting the focal point to its location. But this approach is difficult to apply when the object (collection) is animated, because also the empty should be animated properly.

Solution

The new "Focus on Collection" field dynamically sets the focal point to the average location of objects within a collection, accommodating nested collections. This feature ensures the focal point updates with animation, keeping complex objects in focus. This functionality is pivotal for scenes with narrow fields of view, where keeping the entire object in focus is challenging.

The new settings are presented here with an use case similar to the one described here: a pair of glasses is represented as a collection with three objects: lenses, left temple and right temple. The scene has an extremely narrow field of view, so that keeping the entire object in focus is challenging. The first image shows the result when the focal point is set to the "temple" object:

While in the second image it is set to the "glasses" collection:

The short clip below shows how the new Depth of Field settings work:
.
While the .blend file used for the demonstration is available here.

Add the field `Focus on Collection` in the `Depth of Field` settings in the Camera properties. This new feature was requested by the community in [this post](https://blender.community/c/rightclickselect/W8ZE/). ### Problem Actually Blender allowed setting a focal point by specifying either the distance from the camera or selecting an object. Selecting an object sets the focal point to its location. However, this method posed challenges with collections representing objects. Collections consist of multiple components, and focusing on a single component could yield undesired effects. The problem could be addressed adding an empty in the desired position and setting the focal point to its location. But this approach is difficult to apply when the object (collection) is animated, because also the empty should be animated properly. ### Solution The new "Focus on Collection" field dynamically sets the focal point to the average location of objects within a collection, accommodating nested collections. This feature ensures the focal point updates with animation, keeping complex objects in focus. This functionality is pivotal for scenes with narrow fields of view, where keeping the entire object in focus is challenging. The new settings are presented here with an use case similar to the one described [here](https://blender.community/c/rightclickselect/W8ZE/): a pair of glasses is represented as a collection with three objects: lenses, left temple and right temple. The scene has an extremely narrow field of view, so that keeping the entire object in focus is challenging. The first image shows the result when the focal point is set to the "temple" object: ![focus_temple.png](/attachments/6e8fe0c2-2f0a-4015-b8e0-75484127a6d1) While in the second image it is set to the "glasses" collection: ![focus_glasses.png](/attachments/60759c7d-7fba-4687-a455-de2cc505b983) The short clip below shows how the new Depth of Field settings work: <video src="/attachments/340048d4-d580-4020-9ae4-cb81cfc15a29" title="demo.mp4" controls></video>. While the .blend file used for the demonstration is available [here]([demo.blend](/attachments/4b1ea3ec-bb39-4228-bcaa-6694e8b35936)).

demo.mp4

149 KiB

focus_glasses.png

1.0 MiB

focus_temple.png

1.0 MiB

🚀 1

dema added 3 commits 2024-03-25 11:38:26 +01:00

0ccce50f6a render ok

b5e1bce0f9 update depsgraph

80e9147c32 remove extra space

Iliya Katushenock added this to the Render & Cycles project 2024-03-25 12:16:37 +01:00

Iliya Katushenock added the

 @ -1875,2 +1875,4 @@
     build_object(-1, camera->dof.focus_object, DEG_ID_LINKED_INDIRECTLY, false);
   }
   if (camera->dof.focus_collection != nullptr) {
     build_collection(nullptr,camera->dof.focus_collection);

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Render: allow to select an entire collection to set the focal point in the Depth of Field settings in the Camera properties #119869

Problem

Solution

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