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What is dofGUI?

The script creates a graphical user interface in front of your camera to help you setting up your depth-of-field(DOF) quicker and more easily.

The script itself doesn't create DOF it needs a shader like "fastDOF" from Felipe Esquivel or another shader which works on the same principle.

black panel: focus center (1)
grey panel: limit of focus, begin of getting out of focus (2 and 2')
white panel: object complete out of focus (3 and 3')



3' and 2' are not displayed as a panel. You have to imagine the extend of
the different focal areas.

Note: With a real camera you never have a focus area, always just a focal plane. You can simulate this by placing the grey panel on the same position as the black panel.

ATTRIBUTES:

Several attributes will be added to your camera.

Sticky: (default on)
When "on" the panels keep their distance and orientation to the camera all the time. When "off" you can grab the panels and place them where you like and the distance is depending on your camera position.

Size H and Size V: (default 1)
Increases or decreases the panel size horizontal and vertical.

Focus, Focusedge, Outoffocus: (only when sticky mode on)
Controls the distance from panel to camera.

Opacity: (default 0.5)
Controls the transparency of the panels.

MANUAL:

Optional (for RenderMan for Maya, RenderMan Studio, RenderMan Artist Tools only):
*Implement shader fastDOF.slo in Maya or Slim

1. Select a camera
2. Run the script ( pb_dofGUI() )
3. Connect final_focus, final_focusedge & final_outoffocus attributes to your dof shader
   

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Bugs:

• The panels don't update correctly when switching to sticky mode off. You need to switch to another frame and back, then it will work.

References:

• Esquivel, Felipe: fastDOF (Depth-of-Field RenderMan shader)

External links:

• video demonstration of this script (link)
  
• my diploma thesis: "techniques and handling of depth-of-field in computer animation" (german)