#dof faq

Hey. Usually the issue here is the depth buffer isn't set up correctly. The main things to check are:

turn off Edge Smoothing in the game's graphics options

open Global Preprocessor Definitions in the ReShade menu and change reshade_depth_input_is_reversed from a 1 to a 0

ensure you're using the ReShade version that has full addon support

If you've done both of those things, please check if other depth effects are working as intended. These include things like MXAO and Adaptive Fog, and other DoF shaders.

If they are working correctly, then it is likely a problem with the specific DoF shader you're using. In that case, check with the creator of it to see if there's an updated version you can download. Otherwise, perhaps try using a different DoF shader if you find one that works.

Do you mean they aren't working?

Any focus simulation tool I have (ADOF, CinematicDOF, FocalDOF) does not blur the background. Here's the video (https://youtu.be/Rj9EXN3Dgyo). Perhaps I missed some critical tools or settings in the setup?

What I have: ReShade 4.9.1 Clear Bloom and Thadched by you Installed AstraiFX, Fubax, FXShaders, Include, OtisFX, PD80, qUNIT, SweetFX-master (updated to latest available versions on GitHub)

Thank you so much! <3

Hi there!

It looks to me like the depth buffer is reversed.

In the ReShade menu, underneath the main shader list, there's a button that says something like 'edit preprocessor definitions'. Go ahead and click on that and a little window will open that should have 4 lines of code.

Find the one that says

reshade_depth_input_is_reversed

You'll probably find it has a 1 after it. Change that 1 to a 0 and press enter. ReShade should reload at this point, but if it doesn't click the reload button at the very bottom of the ReShade menu.

Yep, shader order is really important, especially for MXAO. Always put MXAO right at the very top of the list and leave it there. DoF should come after other depth effects (like MXAO, Adaptive Fog, Rim Light, etc).

My shader order usually goes something like this:

MXAO

SSR

Adaptive Fog

Depth Haze

SMAA

Sharpening

Clarity

Rim Light

Cinematic DoF

Colour grading and light/contrast shaders

Bloom shaders

Deband

Film Grain

i've been trying to test them on my own, but i don't understand reshade at all, so jt doesn't make much difference ):

i also love the cute bokeh look a lot of people have, but have no idea how to get it!

Hi there! I've done a number of DoF tutorials over the years. The first important thing to understand is how focusing works. This from 2 years ago covers the basics in some depth about focal planes and how strong or weak blur will be in front or behind the focus point. Once you've got a good understanding of that, everything else starts to fall into place.

In terms of bokeh (in the sense you mean), it relies on there being points of light in the background. If it's just a plain sky or wall in the distance, there will be no little circles of light in the blur.

You can adjust how bright bokeh is - different DoF shaders use different methods. For example, in Cinematic DoF you want to pay attention to the Highlight settings.

Stronger blur means larger bokeh. Different DoF shaders have different ways of adjusting the strength of the blur. The focusing information above is important for strength of blur, but each shader will also have its own blur strength adjustments independent of focus too.

Hi there anon!

Whenever you're having problems with MXAO or DoF (or any other of what are called 'depth effects') you need to check that the depth buffer is working correctly. There's a little checklist of things you should do:

Make sure Edge Smoothing is turned off in the TS4 graphics menu.

Click on 'Edit global preprocessor definitions' underneath the shader list in the ReShade menu and find this line RESHADE_DEPTH_INPUT_IS_REVERSED and if it has a 1 after it change that 1 to a 0.

Make sure laptop mode is turned off.

Switch between fullscreen and windowed mode (or vice versa).

Try disabling any overlay programs you have (like Origin In-Game, or MSI Afterburner, etc).

If you're still having problems, click on the d3d9 tab at the top of the ReShade menu and try clicking different combinations of the boxes there.

*not sure how to insert pictures here, otherwise i would*

If I'm right about what's happening (I would need screenshots to be certain - you can always message them to me instead of sending an ask) it's likely a focusing issue. If the focus point isn't quite right then where the blur starts can be too close to the subject of your picture, which can distort the edges.

The easiest way to use DoF is to use mouse-driven auto-focus (there are a few people for whom this isn't a good option - specifically if you use SRWE for hotsampling, but if that isn't you don't worry). So enable that if you're not already using it.

Then, with your subject in focus (wherever you point your mouse will be where the focus sits), go and look at the far blur and near blur sections. Depending on which DoF you're using they might be called slightly different things.

[Note: if you're using Cinematic DoF I'll add different instructions at the end because it uses a different system]

You're probably only going to need to adjust far blur - that controls how quickly blur begins behind your subject, and as a result how quickly it gets to its most blurry. Try increasing that number. That will push it back so the blur begins further away from your subject.

In terms of what numbers to put in there, try to visualise the distance between you (the camera) and the horizon (the sky in the distance). Everything in between is at a set distance. Most types of DoF calculate this from 0 (at the camera) to 1000 (at the horizon). Knowing this is most useful if you're using manual focus rather than auto-focus (because you have to set the distance at which everything will be in focus yourself) but it also helps give you an idea of scale for setting the numbers for far blur too.

Remember, the higher the number you choose, the further back the blur will start to kick in, which makes the blur weaker overall, so you might need to also adjust the blur strength if you want to keep the same level of blur.

Cinematic DoF: