Camera Lens Blur Made Easy with No After Effects 5.0 Plugin
How to Download and Use Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin
If you are a video editor, you probably know how important it is to create a realistic and cinematic look for your footage. One of the ways to achieve this is by using camera lens blur, which simulates the effect of a shallow depth of field that makes your subject stand out from the background.
camera lens blur no after effects 5.0 plugin download
However, not all camera lens blur effects are created equal. Some are more realistic, faster, and easier to use than others. In this article, we will show you how to download and use Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin, which is one of the best plugins for creating stunning camera lens blur effects in Adobe After Effects.
Introduction
Before we dive into the details of how to download and use Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin, let's first understand what camera lens blur is and why it is useful for video editing.
What is camera lens blur and why it is useful for video editing
Camera lens blur, also known as bokeh, is the effect of blurring the out-of-focus areas of an image or a video. It is caused by the aperture of a camera lens, which determines how much light enters the camera sensor. The smaller the aperture, the more light enters the sensor, but also the more depth of field (the range of distances that appear sharp) there is. The larger the aperture, the less light enters the sensor, but also the less depth of field there is.
Camera lens blur is useful for video editing because it can create a sense of depth, focus, and realism in your footage. It can make your subject pop out from the background, draw attention to a specific part of your scene, or create a dreamy or dramatic mood. It can also hide some imperfections or distractions in your footage, such as noise, grain, or unwanted objects.
What is After Effects and why it is a popular software for video editing
After Effects is a software application developed by Adobe that allows you to create motion graphics, visual effects, animations, and compositing for film, TV, video, and web. It is widely used by professionals and amateurs alike for its powerful features, versatility, and integration with other Adobe products.
After Effects can help you enhance your video editing by adding various effects and filters, such as color correction, distortion, glow, noise reduction, transitions, text animation, 3D layers, expressions, masks, keyframes, tracking, rotoscoping, green screen removal, and more. You can also import and export files from other applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Media Encoder, Audition, Cinema 4D, etc.
What are the limitations of the native Camera Lens Blur effect in After Effects
After Effects has a built-in effect called Camera Lens Blur, which allows you to create camera lens blur effects in your footage. You can find it under the Blur & Sharpen category in the Effects & Presets panel. To use it, you need to apply it to a layer and adjust its settings, such as Blur Radius, Iris Shape, Iris Rotation, Diffraction Fringe, Highlight Gain, Highlight Threshold, etc.
However, the native Camera Lens Blur effect in After Effects has some limitations that can affect the quality and performance of your video editing. Some of these limitations are:
The effect is slow and CPU-intensive, especially when using high values of Blur Radius or Iris Shape. This can cause lagging, crashing, or rendering issues in your project.
The effect does not support GPU acceleration, which means it cannot take advantage of your graphics card to speed up the processing.
The effect does not have a built-in depth map generator, which means you need to create your own depth map layer and link it to the effect using the Blur Map Layer option. This can be tedious and time-consuming, especially if you have multiple layers or complex scenes.
The effect does not have a built-in mask option, which means you need to use a separate mask layer and link it to the effect using the Mask Layer option. This can be inconvenient and inefficient, especially if you want to animate or change the mask over time.
The effect does not have a realistic bokeh simulation, which means it does not account for the optical characteristics of a real camera lens, such as chromatic aberration, vignetting, lens distortion, etc. This can make the effect look artificial or unnatural in some cases.
How Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin can solve these limitations and enhance your video editing experience
Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin is a third-party plugin developed by Frischluft that can help you overcome the limitations of the native Camera Lens Blur effect in After Effects and create stunning camera lens blur effects in your footage. It is compatible with After Effects CS5 and later versions, and it supports both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Some of the features and benefits of using Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin are:
The plugin is fast and GPU-accelerated, which means it can use your graphics card to speed up the processing and rendering of your footage.
The plugin has a built-in depth map generator, which means you do not need to create your own depth map layer. You can simply use the Depth Source option to select the source layer for generating the depth map automatically.
The plugin has a built-in mask option, which means you do not need to use a separate mask layer. You can simply use the Mask Source option to select the source layer for masking the effect.
The plugin has a realistic bokeh simulation, which means it can account for the optical characteristics of a real camera lens, such as chromatic aberration, vignetting, lens distortion, etc. You can also customize these parameters using the Lens Settings option.
The plugin has more options and controls for adjusting the camera lens blur effect, such as Focus Distance, Aperture Size, Aperture Blades, Aperture Rotation, Aperture Aspect Ratio, Aperture Curvature, Bokeh Bias, Bokeh Brightness, Bokeh Threshold, Bokeh Gamma, etc.
How to Download Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin
Now that you know what Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin is and how it can improve your video editing workflow, let's see how you can download and install it on your computer.
Where to find the plugin online and how to check its compatibility with your system
You can find Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin on the official website of Frischluft at http://www.frischluft.com/lenscare/ae.php. On this page, you can see the overview, features, screenshots, tutorials, and reviews of the plugin. You can also download a free trial version of the plugin to test it out before buying it.
To check if the plugin is compatible with your system, you need to make sure that you have After Effects CS5 or later installed on your computer. You also need to check if your graphics card supports OpenGL 2.0 or higher. You can find this information on the website of your graphics card manufacturer or by using a software tool such as GPU-Z.
How to install the plugin on your computer and activate it with a serial number
To install the plugin on your computer, you need to follow these steps:
Download the plugin file from the website of Frischluft. You can choose between the Windows or Mac version depending on your operating system.
Extract the plugin file to a folder on your computer. You should see a file named fl_out_of_focus.aex (for Windows) or fl_out_of_focus.plugin (for Mac).
Copy the plugin file and paste it into the Plug-ins folder of your After Effects installation. The default location of this folder is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects [version]\Support Files\Plug-ins (for Windows) or Applications/Adobe After Effects [version]/Plug-ins (for Mac).
Launch After Effects and check if the plugin is available in the Effects & Presets panel under the Frischluft category.
To activate the plugin with a serial number, you need to follow these steps:
Purchase a license for the plugin from the website of Frischluft. You can choose between a single user license or a site license depending on your needs.
After completing the payment, you will receive an email with your serial number and a download link for the full version of the plugin.
Download the full version of the plugin from the link provided in the email and install it on your computer following the same steps as above.
Launch After Effects and apply the plugin to a layer in your project. You will see a dialog box asking you to enter your serial number.
Enter your serial number and click OK. You will see a confirmation message that your plugin is activated and ready to use.
How to Use Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin
Now that you have downloaded and installed Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin, let's see how you can use it to create amazing camera lens blur effects in your footage.
How to adjust the settings of the plugin to achieve different effects
To adjust the settings of the plugin, you need to follow these steps:
Select the layer that you want to apply the effect to and go to Effect > Frischluft > Out Of Focus. You will see the effect applied to your layer with some default settings.
Open the Effect Controls panel and expand the Out Of Focus effect. You will see several options and parameters that you can tweak to customize the effect.
The most important parameter is the Blur Radius, which determines how much blur is applied to your layer. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more blur there is.
The next parameter is the Depth Source, which determines how the depth map is generated for your layer. You can choose between None, Layer, or Comp Camera. If you choose None, no depth map is used and the effect is applied uniformly to your layer. If you choose Layer, you can select another layer in your project as the source for generating the depth map. If you choose Comp Camera, you can use the camera in your composition as the source for generating the depth map.
The next parameter is the Focus Distance, which determines where the focus point of the effect is. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the closer the focus point is to the camera. The lower the value, the farther the focus point is from the camera.
The next parameter is the Aperture Size, which determines how large the aperture of the virtual camera lens is. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the larger the aperture is. The lower the value, the smaller the aperture is.
The next parameter is the Aperture Blades, which determines how many blades the virtual camera lens has. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more blades there are. The lower the value, the fewer blades there are.
The next parameter is the Aperture Rotation, which determines how much the virtual camera lens is rotated. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more rotation there is. The lower the value, the less rotation there is.
The next parameter is the Aperture Aspect Ratio, which determines how wide or narrow the virtual camera lens is. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the wider the lens is. The lower the value, the narrower the lens is.
The next parameter is the Aperture Curvature, which determines how curved or flat the virtual camera lens is. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more curved the lens is. The lower the value, the flatter the lens is.
The next parameter is the Bokeh Bias, which determines how the bokeh shape is distributed in the blurred areas. You can choose between Center, Edge, or Custom. If you choose Center, the bokeh shape is more concentrated in the center of the blurred areas. If you choose Edge, the bokeh shape is more concentrated in the edge of the blurred areas. If you choose Custom, you can use a curve editor to adjust the bokeh shape distribution manually.
The next parameter is the Bokeh Brightness, which determines how bright or dark the bokeh shape is. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the brighter the bokeh shape is. The lower the value, the darker the bokeh shape is.
The next parameter is the Bokeh Threshold, which determines how much contrast or detail is preserved in the blurred areas. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more contrast or detail is preserved. The lower the value, the less contrast or detail is preserved.
The next parameter is the Bokeh Gamma, which determines how much gamma correction is applied to the blurred areas. You can increase or decrease this value using the slider or by typing a number in the box. The higher the value, the more gamma correction is applied. The lower the value, the less gamma correction is applied.
By adjusting these settings, you can create different effects with the plugin, such as realistic depth of field, artistic bokeh, motion blur, tilt-shift, etc. You can also save your settings as presets and apply them to other layers or projects.
How to use the plugin with depth maps and masks to create realistic depth of field
One of the most common uses of camera lens blur is to create realistic depth of field in your footage. Depth of field is the effect of having some parts of your scene in focus and some parts out of focus, depending on their distance from the camera. To create this effect with the plugin, you need to use depth maps and masks.
A depth map is a grayscale image that represents the distance of each pixel from the camera. The darker the pixel, the closer it is to the camera. The brighter the pixel, the farther it is from the camera. A mask is a black and white image that determines which parts of your layer are affected by the effect. The black pixels are transparent and unaffected by the effect. The white pixels are opaque and affected by the effect.
To use the plugin with depth maps and masks, you need to follow these steps:
Create or import a depth map layer and a mask layer for your footage layer. You can create them manually using tools such as Pen Tool, Shape Tool, Brush Tool, etc. or you can use other effects or filters to generate them automatically.
Select your footage layer and apply the plugin to it. Go to the Effect Controls panel and expand the Out Of Focus effect.
Under the Depth Source option, choose Layer and select your depth map layer from the drop-down menu. You will see that your footage layer is blurred according to the depth map layer.
Under the Mask Source option, choose Layer and select your mask layer from the drop-down menu. You will see that only the parts of your footage layer that are covered by the white pixels of your mask layer are blurred by the effect.
Adjust the settings of the plugin as desired to fine-tune the depth of field effect.
By using depth maps and masks with the plugin, you can create realistic depth of field effects that match your scene and your creative vision.
How to use the plugin with other effects and filters to enhance your video quality
Another way to use camera lens blur is to enhance your video quality by adding some effects and filters that complement or contrast with the blur effect. For example, you can use color correction, distortion, glow, noise reduction, transitions, text animation, 3D layers, expressions, masks, keyframes, tracking, rotoscoping, green screen removal, and more.
To use the plugin with other effects and filters, you need to follow these steps:
Select your footage layer and apply the plugin to it. Go to the Effect Controls panel and expand the Out Of Focus effect. Adjust the settings of the plugin as desired to create the blur effect that you want.
Go to the Effects & Presets panel and browse through the categories of effects and filters that are available in After Effects. You can also use the search box to find a specific effect or filter that you want.
Drag and drop the effect or filter that you want to apply to your footage layer. You will see the effect or filter applied to your layer on top of the plugin effect.
Go to the Effect Controls panel and expand the effect or filter that you applied. Adjust the settings of the effect or filter as desired to customize it.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for any other effects or filters that you want to apply to your footage layer. You can also change the order of the effects or filters by dragging them up or down in the Effect Controls panel.
By using other effects and filters with the plugin, you can enhance your video quality by adding some variety, creativity, and professionalism to your footage.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and use Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin, which is one of the best plugins for creating stunning camera lens blur effects in Adobe After Effects. We have also explained what camera lens blur is and why it is useful for video editing, what are the limitations of the native Camera Lens Blur effect in After Effects, and how Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin can solve these limitations and enhance your video editing experience. We have also provided some tips and tricks for using the plugin effectively and creatively with depth maps, masks, and other effects and filters.
We hope that you have found this article helpful and informative, and that you have learned something new today. If you are interested in trying out Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin for yourself, you can download a free trial version from the website of Frischluft or purchase a license for the full version. You will not regret it, as this plugin can take your video editing to the next level.
Thank you for reading this article and happy video editing!
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin and Lenscare?
A: Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin is a newer version of Lenscare, which is another plugin developed by Frischluft for creating camera lens blur effects in After Effects. The main difference between them is that Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin supports GPU acceleration, which makes it faster and more efficient than Lenscare. Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin also has some additional features and options that are not available in Lenscare, such as Aperture Curvature, Bokeh Bias, Bokeh Brightness, Bokeh Threshold, Bokeh Gamma, etc.
Q: How much does Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin cost?
A: Camera Lens Blur No After Effects 5.0 Plugin costs $199 for a single user license or $999 for a site license. A single user license allows you to