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Important Terms

There are several terms used in this user guide and in other tutorials for FocalPoint that may not be familiar to all users. This is a brief list and their definitions.

FocusBug: The FocusBug is the main control used in FocalPoint. It appears as a wireframe insect with a body, legs and antennae. You reposition the FocusBug by clicking and dragging its body. You adjust its size and rotation by pulling and rotating its legs. Finally you control the amount and type of blur as well as the feather with the antennae.
 
Sweet-spot: The sweet-spot is the area under the FocusBug that is uneffected (protected) from the blur.  You control the sweet-spot with the FocusBug.
 
Bokeh: The bokeh is the area outside of the sweet-spot that is blurred.

 
Tilt: Photographically, tilt is created by tilting the lens plane of camera to be not perpendicular to the film plane. This is accomplished by using speciality lenses such as tilt-shift lens or view cameras. This technique allows the photographer greater control over the plane of focus and depth of field. In FocalPoint the tilt control allows you vary the feather across the sweet-spot to simulate the tilt effect.

Vignette:  A vignette is a darkening or lightening of the edges of an image. This can help focus the viewers eye.  Traditionally this technique is accomplished using a special lens hood or by burning in the darkroom.
 






 

See also