DaVinci Resolve: Add artificial depth of field with Cinefocus

DaVinci Resolve Try it →Watch full video →The David Shutt · May 2026

Demo summary

The video demonstrates the Cinefocus tool, showing how to adjust focus distance, aperture size, and depth maps to create a background blur effect in post-production.

Step-by-step

Drag the Cinefocus tool onto the clip
Set the Quality setting to Better
Adjust the Focus Distance to target the subjects' faces
Modify the Depth of Field to include the background
Select No Foreground Blur to keep foreground elements sharp
Switch to the Depth Map view to inspect the mask
Adjust Map Levels to refine the focus limits and fix edges
Fine-tune the Aperture Size and Focus Distance in the Result view

Options

Toggle between Result and Depth Map views
Adjust aperture size to control bokeh intensity

Watch out for

The tool can be 'iffy' around the sides of faces and noses
Requires significant tweaking (10-30 minutes) to get the effect looking perfect
High bokeh settings can cause highlights on the nose to get lost

Tips

Use this tool for interviews and talking heads where the subject is facing the camera
It is still better to achieve depth of field in-camera if possible
Use 'No Foreground Blur' to prevent hands or close objects from becoming blurry

Highlights

“It is a bit finicky, but it can save some of your shots, and it can do an amazing job.”

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AI Photo Editor

9:461:45Add artificial depth of field with CinefocusCurrentThe video demonstrates the Cinefocus tool, showing how to adjust focus distance, aperture size, and depth maps to create a background blur effect in post-production.The David Shutt