Stop Using Expressions, After Effects Has a Built in Feature for Setting Focus Distance

In the past we had the opportunity to look at the many ways that you can set the focus distance of a Camera in After Effects. We have seen specialized camera rigs, overly complicated setups, and of course, expressions — All which can create a way to automatically set the focus distance of a camera in After Effects.

[pullquote]Set your focus distance automatically using features built right into After Effects.[/pullquote]

Dod you know that After Effects has a couple of features that will automatically set your focus distance? It is built right into After Effects. There is no need to use an expression, or a specialized setup.

Here, GrayMachine’s Harry Frank reminds us that there are two menu items in After Effects, that will allow you to easily set the focus distance of a camera, without any hassles at all.

All you have to do is select the camera, and a layer that you want to be in focus, and if you go under the layer menu, and select camera, you can link focus distance to a layer, or set focus distance to a layer in the timeline.

Harry shows the difference between the two and provides a tip for using the Set Focus Distance menu command with a null, so that you can easily animate the focus distance with keyframes.