ENDA Episode 98→ The time when ENDA shares the importance of depth of field (Part 1)

Let’s start with a definition. Depth of Field (DoF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest points in an image that appear acceptably sharp. Everything inside that slice reads crisp, everything outside it melts into a blur.

Why does a compositor care?

Because every plate we touch carries its own DoF fingerprint. If we’re painting out rigs, adding clean plates, keying, or comping CG, our work must respect that in-camera focus range. Match it…and the shot feels seamless. Miss it…and the eye calls “fake” in a heartbeat.

To control (or mimic) DoF, there are four variables that we need to understand first: focal length, aperture, subject distance, and sensor size. Understanding how each one squeezes or stretches the focus band is essential before we start blurring CG renders or tweaking defocus kernels in Nuke.

But that would be for a future episode.

So… stay tuned!

The journey continues…