Page 581 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 19: Configuring and Aiming Cameras

Note
The Depth of Field effect is applied only to rendered scene objects. It is not applied to any background images. n
The Sample Bias value moves the blurring closer to the focal point (for higher values) or away from the
focal point (for lower values). If you want to highlight the focal point and radically blur the other objects in
the scene, set the Sample Bias to 1.0. A Sample Bias setting of 0 results in a more even blurring.
The Normalize Weights option allows you to control how the various passes are blended. When enabled,
you can avoid streaking along the object edges. The Dither Strength value controls the amount of dither
taking place. Higher Dither Strength values make the image grainier. The Tile Size value also controls dither
by specifying the dither pattern size.
With lots of passes specified, the render time can be fairly steep. To lower the overall rendering time, you
can disable the Anti-alias and filtering computations. These speed up the rendering time at the cost of image
quality.

Tutorial: Applying a Depth of Field effect to a row of
windmills
In the dry plains of Southwest America, the wind blows fiercely. Rows of windmills are lined up in an effort
to harness this energy. For this example, you use the Depth of Field effect to display the windmills.
To apply a Depth of Field effect to a row of windmills, follow these steps:
1. Open the Depth of field windmills.max file from the Chap 19 directory on the DVD.
This file includes a windmill object (created by Viewpoint Datalabs) duplicated multiple times
and positioned in a row.
2. Select Create ➪ Cameras ➪ Target Camera, and drag in the Top viewport from the lower-left cor-
ner to the center of the windmills. In the Left vewpoint, select the camera and move it upward,
and then select the Camera Target and also move it upward to the upper third of the windmill’s
height, so the entire row of windmills can be seen. If the windmills don’t fill the camera view,
adjust the Field of View (FOV) setting.
Tip
You can select both the camera and its target by clicking on the line that connects them. n
3. Select the Perspective viewport, right-click on the viewport title, and select Views ➪ Camera01 (or
just press the C key) to make this viewport the Camera view.
4. With the Camera selected, open the Modify panel, enable the Multi-Pass Effect option, and then
select Depth of Field in the drop-down list.
5. In the Depth of Field Parameters rollout, enable the Use Target Distance option and set the Total
Passes to 15, the Sample Radius to 3.0, and the Sample Bias to 1.0.
6. Select the Camera viewport, and click the Preview button in the Parameters rollout.
This shows the Depth of Field effect in the viewport.
Figure 19.8 shows the resulting Depth of Field effect in the viewport for the row of windmills.

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