sfocare

Sfocare is an Italian verb that means to blur or to render something out of focus. It is used to describe reducing the sharpness of an image, either intentionally for an artistic effect or unintentionally due to misfocus, camera movement, or imperfections in the optical system. The related adjective sfocato means out of focus, and the noun sfocatura refers to the blur or the act of blurring.

In photography and cinematography, sfocare is commonly achieved by manipulating focus, depth of field, or lens characteristics. A shallow depth of field, created by a wide aperture, can sfocare the background while keeping the subject sharp. Conversely, deliberate defocusing, soft focus filters, or post-processing blur can be used to create mood, convey movement, or de-emphasize details. Sfocare can also describe an accidental loss of focus during recording or shooting.

In digital imaging, sfocare is frequently applied with software tools that implement blur algorithms, such as Gaussian blur or motion blur. These tools enable selective or overall blurring to guide viewer attention, obscure sensitive information, or simulate optical or cinematic effects. The term sfocatura is commonly used to refer to the resulting blur effect.

See also: focus, depth of field, sfocato, sfocatura, bokeh, blur (in imaging).