Moves the focus from one subject to another within a single shot to guide the viewer's eye. It works both front to back and back to front.
When to use it
A 'discovery' shot that passes from a product in the foreground to the user's face behind it.
Example videos
The Rack Focus: How to Guide Viewers Eyes with a Shot List (Casino Royale) #rackfocus — Explainer: From 1:26, it analyzes the moment focus shifts from a front subject to a back subject in a Casino Royale scene.The Rack Focus Shot: Practical Uses and Visual Examples — Explainer: From 0:31, the definition of rack focus is followed by examples of focus pulls in movies.ALL Camera Movement Prompts in AI Filmmaking (38 Cinematic Moves) — AI: From 4:30, an AI-made rack focus example where the focus passes from the foreground to the background.
Will AI handle it well?
Official preset available — Higgsfield 'Focus Change', Veo 'Rack focus'
One-click prompt
Rack focus from a glass of lemonade in the foreground to a woman laughing in the background on a sunny terrace, the focus shifts smoothly mid-shot, locked-off camera, 50mm lens, bright summer light, relaxed mood, 5-second shot.
Tell the AI like this
rack focus from the bottle in the foreground to the woman in the background