# Depth of field in a flat animation

Edit / Edit effect / Motion and finish. Checked 2026-11-13.

A coded scene looks shot on a camera.

- Use when: Interface and product animations built from flat layers.
- Phrase: blur the layers behind and in front of the subject and keep the subject sharp
- Page: https://directorchair.ai/effect/depth-blur-layers
- JSON: https://directorchair.ai/api/effect/depth-blur-layers.json

## Watch out

- It does not need a 3D tool: blurring the layers behind and in front of the subject does it in a 2D template. (practitioner; Director Chair notes on Motion graphics with Claude (Rourke Heath))
- 3D transforms can blur text in a browser renderer; render at double scale or keep text off the depth axis. (practitioner; Director Chair field notes on motion graphics)

## Prompts

### Any chat model

```
Give me an edit brief: where it goes on the timeline, the exact settings, and what to check before export, for a short video about [your product], for [your audience]. The technique is depth of field in a flat animation: a coded scene looks shot on a camera. How it works: blur the layers behind and in front of the subject and keep the subject sharp. It is right for: interface and product animations built from flat layers. It does not need a 3D tool: blurring the layers behind and in front of the subject does it in a 2D template. 3D transforms can blur text in a browser renderer; render at double scale or keep text off the depth axis. Be concrete: numbers, seconds and settings, no theory. Ask me one question first if something you need is missing.
```

## Goes well with

- Shallow depth of field: https://directorchair.ai/focus/shallow-focus
- Bokeh: https://directorchair.ai/focus/bokeh

## Source

Own words from Director Chair notes on Motion graphics with Claude (Rourke Heath) and Director Chair field notes on motion graphics

Text CC BY 4.0, Director Chair (directorchair.ai). Reference clips and their card texts belong to their makers.