Lens Effects’ Dual Focus Lens
Posted on 03. Jun, 2011 by Ashley Robinson in Question of the Week
When Lens Effects v1.1 came out, it brought with it a handful of new features and tools. Included in those new features is Dual Focus Lens…which is quite possibly one of my new favorite LE tools. With just two clicks, I was easily able to select two different focal points in the image (and change them), then quickly blur the background/areas around those points.
I’ve received many questions about this new feature, so let’s take a look at the new lens option and how it works.
The Dual Focus option (accessed from the Effects Menu on the left of the Lens Effects interface) has three adjustment tabs: Dual Focus Adjustments, Focus Area 1 Size and Focus Area 2 Size. Application of this effect is done in the Dual Focus Adjustment tab, then you can refine the focus area sizes in the Focus Area Size tabs.
Dual Focus Adjustments:
Focus Point Button – Set your two focus points here. Click on the focus point button to activate the crosshairs, then click on an object/area in your image to set it as the focus point. To set the second focal point, simply click on the focus point button again to reactivate the crosshairs, and then select the second focus point.
Blur Amount – Increase this slider to apply blur to your image.
Transition – Control the transition between the blur and the two focus points in your image.
Focus Area 1 & 2 Size:
Using the width and height sliders in the Focus Area 1 and 2 tabs, you can adjust the size of your two focus areas. Focus Area 1 controls the first focus point you selected and Focus Area 2 controls the second focus point you selected.
Focus Width – Adjusts the horizontal span of the focus area. A higher value will include more focused area and a smaller value will have less focused area.
Focus Height – Adjusts the vertical span of the focus area. A higher value will include more focused area and a smaller value will have less focused area.
