Adjust focus points in Cinematic mode video clips in Motion

When you record in Cinematic mode on iPhone, the Camera app automatically targets the most likely subject of focus in the scene. If another element comes into frame, the camera may automatically switch the focus to that subject. For example, if you’re focusing on one subject and that subject moves away from center (or the camera pans) and another subject comes into view, the camera may automatically focus on the second subject.

Once you’ve enabled Cinematic adjustments in Motion, you can lock the focus on subjects, switch the focus between subjects, or fix the focus on a point in the scene at a specific distance from the camera.

Cinematic mode video stills showing change in focus using Motion’s onscreen controls

Switch the focus in a Cinematic mode video clip

In the Motion Timeline, go to the frame that contains the subject you want focus on (or select an existing focus point in the Timeline).
Tip: To move to the next or previous focus point, choose Mark > Go to > Next Focus Point or Mark > Go to > Previous Focus Point.
In the canvas, click a suggested focus indicator (a white frame).
The current focus indicator (the yellow brackets) switches to the area you clicked. A manual focus point (a yellow dot) is added to the clip’s timebar in the Timeline. The subject you selected remains in focus (if possible) until the end of the clip or until the next focus point in the Timeline.

Lock the focus in a Cinematic mode video clip

In the Motion Timeline, go to the frame that contains the subject you want to lock focus on (or select an existing focus point in the Timeline).
In the canvas, click the current focus indicator (the yellow brackets) or double-click a suggested focus indicator (a white frame).
The indicator you clicked changes to the AF tracking lock (a yellow frame), and a manual focus point (a yellow dot) is added to the clip’s timebar in the Timeline. The focus remains locked on the subject you selected (if possible) until the end of the clip or until the next focus point (a white or yellow dot in the Timeline).
To turn off the AF tracking lock, click the center of the closed yellow frame.
The control reverts to the current focus indicator (yellow brackets).

If you retime a Cinematic mode video clip, you can’t adjust focus points. However, you can still adjust the clip’s depth of field.

Fix the focus at a specific distance from the camera in a Cinematic mode video clip

You can lock the focus on a specific point in the frame at a specific distance from the camera using AF lock. AF lock is useful, for example, when you want to maintain focus on a specific spot in the scene—regardless of the subject’s movement. If you set the AF lock to the scene’s middle ground, a blurred subject in the background can move into focus in the middle ground, then become blurry again moving into the foreground.

In the Timeline in Motion, go to the frame where you want to add a fixed-focus point.
In the canvas, do one of the following:
- Set a fixed-focus point from the current playhead position to the next manual focus point: Move the pointer to the area in the canvas where you want to lock focus, press and hold the mouse button, then release it.
  A small yellow square with long tick marks appears in the canvas and is labeled AF Lock, indicating the depth of the selected point in the scene. A manual focus point (a yellow dot) is added to the clip’s timebar in the Timeline, and subsequent automatic focus points (white dots) are overwritten.
  Focus is maintained at the specified distance from the camera. The focus doesn’t follow a subject, and it remains locked on the area you selected until the next manual focus point (yellow dot) in the Timeline, or until the end of the clip.
- Set a fixed-focus point from the current playhead position to the next manual or automatic focus point: Click the area in the canvas you want to lock the focus on.
  A small yellow square with short tick marks appears in the canvas. A manual focus point (a yellow dot) is added to the clip’s timebar in the Timeline, and no subsequent focus points (white or yellow dots) are overwritten.
  The focus doesn’t follow a subject, and it remains locked on the area you selected until the next manual focus point (yellow dot) or automatic focus point (white dot) in the Timeline, or until the end of the clip.
Note: If the fixed focus point falls outside of the clip’s depth-of-field range, AF lock doesn’t bring the point into focus.

If you retime a Cinematic mode video clip, you can’t adjust focus points. However, you can still adjust depth of field.

Delete a focus point in a Cinematic mode video clip

Click a manual focus point (yellow dot) in the Timeline, then click Delete Focus Point.

Note: Pressing the Delete key when a Cinematic clip is selected deletes the entire clip.

Deleting a manual (yellow) focus point in the Timeline

You cannot delete or modify automatic focus points (white dots in the Timeline). Although automatic focus points may be overwritten when you add manual focus points, they’re restored when the manual focus point is deleted.

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Helpful?

Motion User Guide

Adjust focus points in Cinematic mode video clips in Motion

Switch the focus in a Cinematic mode video clip

Lock the focus in a Cinematic mode video clip

Fix the focus at a specific distance from the camera in a Cinematic mode video clip

Delete a focus point in a Cinematic mode video clip