🎯 Focus Types: Directing Attention Like a Pro

Great filmmaking isn’t just about where you place the camera—it’s also about what stays in focus. The way you control focus can subtly (or boldly) shift your viewer’s attention and shape how they emotionally engage with your story.

Here are 5 cinematic focus techniques to add storytelling depth to your next AI video:

🔄 Rack Focus

Switch focus between subjects
Change the focus mid-shot to guide the audience from one character or object to another. Often used in dialogue or moments of realization.

🌕 Shallow DOF (Depth of Field)

Blur background, isolate subject
Keep your subject sharp while the rest melts into soft blur. Perfect for portraits, emotion, or isolating the key player in busy scenes.

🏞️ Deep Focus

All sharp, let viewer explore
Everything from foreground to background stays in focus. Great for complex staging and giving viewers room to discover details.

✨ Soft Focus

Dreamy effect – flashbacks
A slight blur across the image. Think romance, nostalgia, memory, or fantasy. Adds a magical, ethereal feel.

🕯️ Split Diopter

Foreground & midground sharp
A stylized effect where two planes of focus are sharp at once—while the rest blurs. Seen in thrillers and De Palma-style shots.

Pro Tip: Use focus to guide the eye, create emotional shifts, or highlight contrast between characters. Mastering these techniques lets you shape not just what we see—but how we feel when we see it.