Quick definition:A visual effect that keeps objects at a chosen distance sharp while blurring those that are nearer or farther away, imitating how camera lenses and eyes focus.
Meaning
Depth of field simulates the way a camera lens works. Only one range of distance is in sharp focus, and anything outside that range appears soft, which draws the viewer's eye to the subject and gives scenes a cinematic look. It is an effect borrowed from film and photography.
In games, the effect is calculated by blurring parts of the image according to how far each object is from the camera. It can change as the player moves, aims down sights or looks at different things, and it costs processing power. Different games apply it in different strengths.
Designers use it sparingly. Overuse can make a picture feel muddy or cause discomfort, and some players with motion sensitivity prefer it off. Related effects include motion blur and bokeh, the pleasing shape of blurred lights in the background.
Origin:Depth of field is a term from photography and optics, describing the range of distance in which a scene looks sharp. Computer graphics reproduced the effect to make images look more like film, and games began to use it as hardware became powerful enough to calculate it in real time.
Example:During a conversation scene, the camera focuses on the face of a shopkeeper while the shelves behind him dissolve into a soft blur. When the player aims at a distant tower, the foreground blurs instead. Neil likes the effect but turns it off during fast battles to keep the screen crisp.
Did you know?The effect is often used in cutscenes and photo modes to guide attention, but some players dislike it in fast action games because it can hide detail. Many games offer a setting to reduce it or turn it off. 