Tilt-Shift Blur.

Defines the maximum defocus outside the in-focus region. It does not decide where the sharp region lies: Depth of Field builds that map.

TESTLower Strength without changing the map: the focus boundary stays in place while the soft-to-sharp difference shrinks.

Switches Fast Blur (Square Iris) and Lens Blur. The former is simpler and faster; the latter offers more optical defocus and the Lens Iris controls.

TESTCompare the two modes on specular highlights with the same map. A featureless sky will not reveal their differences.

Selects the aperture geometry governing out-of-focus highlights. The Resolve 21 guide describes polygonal shapes from triangle to octagon. The archived inspector PNG has this section collapsed.

TESTInspect tiny practical lights in a heavily defocused region; without bright points, changing the polygon may be hard to see.

Controls the rounding of aperture blades where the chosen iris mode enables it. Rounder edges generally soften the polygonal contour of light discs.

TESTChoose Iris Shape first and confirm whether Blade Curvature is enabled for that aperture in your installed version.

Rotates the iris aperture and polygonal bokeh orientation. It does not rotate the footage, depth map, or Color node.

TESTRotate a blurred point light: the polygon turns while the actual scene composition stays still.

Changes the defocus aspect ratio to approximate anamorphic bokeh. It does not resize the entire picture. Check the setting against bright point lights.

TESTAdjust Anamorphism after setting Blur Strength; its effect is visible in out-of-focus highlights, not in the sharp band.

Controls how bright image regions contribute to the lens-style defocus. Excessive settings can make bright halos feel synthetic.

TESTCheck windows and lamps, then inspect skin and high-contrast boundaries: highlights should not dominate the shot.

Custom makes a map internally. Alpha Input reads an alpha/key connection and Second RGB Input reads a separate RGB image input. External paths must be wired in Resolve; choosing the menu item cannot create a map.

TESTThe dropdown screenshot shows exactly three entries. With an external source, verify the connection and the black/white polarity.

Moves the map coordinate system horizontally. With an unrotated infinite focus band, changing X may have little visible impact; it matters more when Angle is nonzero.

TESTSet a nonzero Angle, then change Center X to see the diagonal focus region shift.

Offsets the depth-map center vertically to align the focus band with the subject or horizon. Its impact is clearest with the generated Custom map.

TESTMove Center Y downward on the Custom map: the band should follow the selected vertical location.

Rotates the focus map relative to the image, useful for streets, stairs, architecture and diagonal perspective lines.

TESTPick a slanted structure and turn Angle until the focus band matches the desired subject plane.

Moves the focus selection along the depth-map value range. Especially useful with a connected depth map or an animated rack-focus treatment.

TESTView Depth Map Preview while changing Focus Sweep: the black in-focus region should migrate through the map values.

Defines the width of the black, unaffected region in the depth map. It changes how much stays sharp, not the maximum blur strength.

TESTKeep Strength fixed while widening In-Focus Range: more of the image should remain sharp.

Shapes the falloff on the near side of focus (Near Blur Range in the manual). It is not simply a second global blur-strength knob.

TESTKeep Blur Strength constant and change Near Blur: the affected-side transition should change without mirroring on the other side.

Independently controls defocus falloff on the far side of focus (Far Blur Range in the guide), allowing a different progression into the background.

TESTCompare unequal Near and Far: the two falloffs should differ; perfect symmetry is not always the visual goal.

Shows the blur-strength map as grayscale rather than the final image. Black represents unaffected/in-focus areas, white the most blurred regions.

TESTUse Preview to inspect the map, then return to the final image: a convincing map can still give poor subject edges.

Controls whether the effect follows the current Color node’s sizing and tracking. Check it when transforms or tracked windows change the framing.

TESTToggle it after actual sizing/tracking in Resolve; the browser lab does not emulate Resolve tracking.

Determines whether alpha participates in the blur. It matters for graphics, keyed elements and transparent edges; on opaque footage the difference may be invisible.

TESTTest on a clip with a transparent edge and check whether compositing introduces a dark fringe.

Mixes the Tilt-Shift Blur result back with the source. It cannot replace Blur Strength or In-Focus Range: dosage and focus geometry solve different problems.

TESTReduce Blend after the map and moving edges are correct; do not use it to disguise a misplaced focus band.