user9154: Is there any existing filter/effect, that will automatically mask out the unsharp area of my footage?
Let's say I have an object in focus and a lot of depth of field. How do I show only my sharp object?

user6685: As you may know from 3d packages depth information can be represented by a 2d Depth Map:

In therory it's possible to detect the defocused area of an image via depth estimation methods and generating a depth map using this information. The algorithm splits up the image by finding all relevant edges, analizes the gradient values and compare these areas with each other. I doubt that this is accurate enough for every shot, but could work in some cases. One of the latest papers, you can find here:  http://www.sjzhuo.net/defocusEstimation/
AFAIK there is only one available plugin for After Effects at the moment: http://www.yuvsoft.com/stereo-3d-technologies/automatic-depth-estimation/, but since this process is becoming increasingly important for stereoscopic workflows, it's a matter of time when more tools will become available.

9154: <p>Is there any existing filter/effect, that will <strong>automatically</strong> mask out the unsharp area of my footage?</p>

<p>Let's say I have an object in focus and a lot of depth of field. How do I show only my sharp object?</p>
 6685: <p>As you may know from 3d packages <strong>depth information</strong> can be represented by a 2d <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_map" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Depth Map</a>:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ApVl1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ApVl1.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In therory it's possible to <strong>detect the defocused area</strong> of an image via <strong>depth estimation methods</strong> and <strong>generating a depth map</strong> using this information. The algorithm splits up the image by finding all relevant edges, analizes the gradient values and compare these areas with each other. <em>I doubt that this is accurate enough for every shot, but could work in some cases.</em> One of the latest papers, you can find here:  <a href="http://www.sjzhuo.net/defocusEstimation/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.sjzhuo.net/defocusEstimation/</a></p>

<p>AFAIK there is only one available plugin for After Effects at the moment: <a href="http://www.yuvsoft.com/stereo-3d-technologies/automatic-depth-estimation/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.yuvsoft.com/stereo-3d-technologies/automatic-depth-estimation/</a>, but since this process is becoming increasingly important for <strong>stereoscopic workflows</strong>, it's a matter of time when more tools will become available.</p>
