DOF pass problem

[fa2020]

Hi guys,
As you know, DOF or depth of field can be achieved by checking DOF in the camera settings. We can adjust our desired DOF effect and see its instant effect. By this point, everything is Ok but what if you were to do some post-production too? If you render DOF pass while its corresponding check mark is on in the camera setting, you get DOF pass as a monochromic image while other passes like clown pass are affected too so it would be impossible to do postproduction in Photoshop. How do you want to select your objects through Clown pass while the Clown pass is partly blurred(because of DOF effect)?
If you uncheck DOF in the camera setting you get DOF pass as pure white.
Can anyone help me to solve this issue?
Thanks.

[DriesV]

Firstly, outputting a Depth pass  when rendering actual DoF at the same time does not really make sense. There is not a lot you can do (at least not in Photoshop) with the Depth pass to correct/adjust an image that was rendered with DoF.
Secondly, the Depth pass only appears white in Photoshop, but actually holds distance (from the camera) data in a full-float (32 bit) format. In Photoshop, go to Image > Adjustments > HDR Toning and choose 'Equalize Histogram' for Method. That will get you the greytones you are expecting.

I hope that helps.

Dries

[fa2020]

Firstly, outputting a Depth pass  when rendering actual DoF at the same time does not really make sense. There is not a lot you can do (at least not in Photoshop) with the Depth pass to correct/adjust an image that was rendered with DoF.
Secondly, the Depth pass only appears white in Photoshop, but actually holds distance (from the camera) data in a full-float (32 bit) format. In Photoshop, go to Image > Adjustments > HDR Toning and choose 'Equalize Histogram' for Method. That will get you the greytones you are expecting.

I hope that helps.

Dries

So, I need to try out my desired DoF effect through the real-time render and then uncheck the DoF in the camera setting and render the DoF pass. Am I right?
Thank you for your response

[DriesV]

The camera's Depth of Field option is completely unrelated to the Depth pass. The Depth pass holds the distance of surface points to the camera. Nothing more, nothing less. Changing the Depth of Field properties for the camera has no influence on the Depth pass.

You will always get the best quality by actually rendering out DoF, instead of faking it in post.

Dries

[TGS808]

You will always get the best quality by actually rendering out DoF, instead of faking it in post.

Indeed. The fact that you can see the result of the DoF in real time as you work in KeyShot – specifically placing the focal point and controlling the amount of blur to your desire before committing to a final render – makes me wonder why anyone would want/need to fake it in post. I mean, it's nice that the option is offered but I can't see using it myself. It simply looks better rendered out of KeyShot.

[mattjgerard]

I will usually "fake" my DOF in post, as baking it into the render really removes a lot of flexibility in being able to modify things in photoshop. I know everyone's situations are different, so not saying my way is right. I tend to have a lot of feedback after the final image is submitted for review of little niggling things that can be fixed in PS rather than re-render out an image. I got burned a couple of times by baking the DOF in the keyshot render, and I had to go back and re-render the image.

I know my post effect DOF probably isn't as physically accurate as the built in DOF , but for my workflow and my clients (who are mostly process engineers and tech nerds) its more important to be technically accurate not artfully beautiful. So, I'm very grateful that I there is the depth pass, and yes i will preview the DOF in the live viewer to see how it is working, but i will usually render out a depth pass and do it in PS if needed. My creative director usually has a "need more/less" comment about the amount of DOF on every image anyway, and I know I'd never get it right the first time, so tweaking it in PS is so much faster and less stressful for me

At my old job I used to have a DOF plugin called Frischluft Lens Care for doing stuff in After Effects, and it was the most beautiful DOF ever. MIght look into getting that again.