History Main / RackFocus

* In ''The Master Detective and Rasmus'', Kalle and Anders need to catch up with a car, a seemingly insurmountable task according to Anders. In response, Kalle looks into the background of the scene, where a RackFocus reveals a motorcycle with a passenger's seat.

** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' has a scene where Woody looks at Jesse sitting depressed on a windowsill.

* The opening song of ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', when the focus shifts from a line of [[MisplacedWildlife leaf-cutter ants]] on a branch in the foreground to a herd of zebra thundering by below.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', when Carl Fredricksen looks up to his house where the picture of his wife is hanging.

** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' has a scene where Woody looks at Jesse sitting depressed on a windowsill.
* Used in ''[[WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie An Extremely Goofy Movie]]'' after Max leaves for college, when Goofy is in his empty room and sees in the mirror reflection that he left his old stuffed bear behind n his bed.
* Used to dramatic effect in ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'' when [[spoiler: Hiro rips out Baymax's healthcare chip and throws it onto the floor. The chip rolls to the foreground, where the camera focuses on it to show that Hiro has essentially tossed away his morals.]]
* Used in ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' when Charlie and Itchy are discussing what to do about Anne-Marie after [[spoiler:Carface has destroyed their casino]]. The background slowly comes into focus to reveal [[spoiler:Anne-Marie listening in [[BrokenPedestal as Charlie says they'll just dump her in an orphanage]].]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'' during the "Awesome As I Wanna Be" number, we get a close-up of Rainbow rocking out and having a good time which shifts its focus to a disgruntled Fluttershy behind her.

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear such as smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented.[[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator with access to one can do. However, it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Also take note of a lens quirk called focus breathing, where the lens may slightly zoom in or out when the focus is adjusted. Unlike DSLR lenses, cinema lenses are engineered to eliminate that quirk. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused.[[/note]]

In theory Rack Focus should be made redundant in new [[UsefulNotes/ThreeDMovie 3D films]] because the viewer would be able to change focus at will. Of course because it is a simulation of 3D this isn't quite true and the technique remains. This sometimes causes frustration as the viewer wants to change focus but cannot.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheTwelveDancingPrincesses'', a close-up of Twyla watching the princesses' sing their birthday song for the triplets shifts its focus to Brutus spying on them from the door behind her.

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear such as smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented. [[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator with access to one can do. However, it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Also take note of a lens quirk called focus breathing, where the lens may slightly zoom in or out when the focus is adjusted. Unlike DSLR lenses, cinema lenses are engineered to eliminate that quirk. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused.[[/note]]

* The opening song of ''Disney/TheLionKing'', when the focus shifts from a line of [[MisplacedWildlife leaf-cutter ants]] on a branch in the foreground to a herd of zebra thundering by below.

* Used to dramatic effect in ''Disney/BigHero6'' when [[spoiler: Hiro rips out Baymax's healthcare chip and throws it onto the floor. The chip rolls to the foreground, where the camera focuses on it to show that Hiro has essentially tossed away his morals.]]

* Used in ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' when Charlie and Itchy are discussing what to do about Anne-Marie after [[spoiler:Carface has destroyed their casino]]. The background slowly comes into focus to reveal [[spoiler:Anne-Marie listening in as Charlie says they'll just dump her in an orphanage.]]

* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', when Eddie has his EurekaMoment, with Eddie in the foreground and the newsreel footage in the background.\

* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', when Eddie has his EurekaMoment, with Eddie in the foreground and the newsreel footage in the background.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

%% commented out since Administrivia/WeblinksAreNotExamples * Used in ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'', in a single panel, [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006701 here]].
* In the ''[[WebComic/TeamFortress2 Team Fortress]] Comics #5'', "Old Wounds", rack focus is emulated in one panel [[http://www.teamfortress.com/tf05_old_wounds/#f=20 here]].

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented. [[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] (originally designed for newspaper photographers creating web content) have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality for all but NoBudget directors, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator can do. However, it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Also take note of a lens quirk called focus breathing, where the lens may slightly zoom in or out when the focus is adjusted. Unlike DSLR lenses, cinema lenses are engineered to eliminate that quirk. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused, and as [=DSLRs=] and their smaller EVIL brethren become cheaper and more popular, it probably will be.[[/note]]

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented. [[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] (originally designed for newspaper photographers creating web content) have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality for all but NoBudget directors, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator can do, but it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Also take note of a lens quirk called focus breathing, where the lens may slightly zoom in or out when the focus is adjusted. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused, and as [=DSLRs=] and their smaller EVIL brethren become cheaper and more popular, it probably will be.[[/note]]

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented. [[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] (originally designed for newspaper photographers creating web content) have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality for all but NoBudget directors, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator can do, but it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Also take note of lens quirk called focus breathing, where the lens may slightly zoom in or out when the focus is adjusted. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused, and as [=DSLRs=] and their smaller EVIL brethren become cheaper and more popular, it probably will be.[[/note]]

In motion picture and film-based television production, this is often done by a separate person (the "focus puller" or "first camera assistant") rather than by the primary camera operator. In video production, the cameras usually aren't large enough for this to be necessary, and on consumer-level gear, it might not even be possible because of the way autofocus is usually implemented. [[note]]Now that video-equipped [=DSLRs=] (originally designed for newspaper photographers creating web content) have made inexpensive, near-film-quality video a reality for all but NoBudget directors, rack focus is something nearly any camera operator can do, but it requires either a very steady hand (and tripod), a pile of expensive Hollywood-style equipment (the big guys are starting to use [=DSLRs=] too), or a software hack like Magic Lantern that can automate the process by taking over the camera's autofocus mechanism. Needless to say, like every other pro trick that amateurs pick up, it can be horribly misused, and as [=DSLRs=] and their smaller EVIL brethren become cheaper and more popular, it probably will be.[[/note]]

** "Topped Off" - After Mom and Dad drinks their coffee and magically gets dressed and leaves the kitchen, the focus shifts from a cup of coffee in the foreground to Dee Dee and Dexter in the background staring at the cup telling each other to drink it.

*

* ''WesternAnimation/Dexter'sLaboratory'' used this effect in several episodes...
** "Topped Off" - After Mom and Dad drinks their coffee and magically gets dressed and leaves the kitchen, the focus shifts from a cup of coffee in the foreground to Dee Dee and Dexter in the background staring at the cup telleing each other to drink it.
** "

[[IThoughtItMeant If you were expecting]] a trope about shots focusing on women's racks, see MaleGaze.

%% commented out since WeblinksAreNotExamples * Used in ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'', in a single panel, [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006701 here]].

[[IThoughtItMeant If you were expecting]] a trope about shots focussing on women's racks, see MaleGaze.

* Used in ''[[AGoofyMovie An Extremely Goofy Movie]]'' after Max leaves for college, when Goofy is in his empty room and sees in the mirror reflection that he left his old stuffed bear behind n his bed.