---
title: "Compound Blur"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/html/compound-blur.html"
description: "Blurs pixels based on the luminance values of another layer. Note: Compound Blur is not supported in Avid Media Composer."
---

# Compound Blur

Universe

## COMPOUND BLUR

![Universe Compound Blur Plugin](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/U_Compound_Blur_universe.jpg)

Blurs pixels based on the luminance values of another layer. *Note: Compound Blur is not supported in Avid Media Composer.*

---

### Getting Started in a Timeline ![Premiere_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/premiere-pro_universe.png) ![FinalCutPro_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/final-cut-pro-x_universe.png) ![Vegas_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/sony-vegas-pro_universe.png) ![Resolve_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/resolve_universe.png)

1. Add video layers in the timeline for the blur luminance source and the image to be blurred.
2. Apply **uni.Compound Blur** on the layer you want to be distorted.
3. Use **Blur Layer** to choose the video layer that you want to guide the luminance blur.

### Getting Started in a Compositor ![AfterEffects_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/after-effects_universe.png) ![Motion_icon](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/motion_universe.png)

1. Apply **uni.Compound Blur** on the layer you want to be distorted.
2. Use **Blur Layer** to choose the video layer that you want to guide the luminance blur.

---

### Presets

Compound Blur provides five presets via the blue **Open Dashboard...** button or the **Choose a Preset...** button below it. You can also find these along with another four presets in the **Blur Channel(s)** pull-down menu.

![Image: Uni_Blur_CompoundBlur_presets.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Blur_CompoundBlur_presets.png)

As with all other Universe tools, you can modify or create a Compound Blur look and then save it under its own name by pressing the **Save Preset...** button.

---

### Modify the Effect

- Adjust **Maximum Blur Size** to increase the blur's intensity and influence from the center point. Starting from the Lightness preset, the series below shows values of 15 (left), 50 (center), and 500 (right).\
  ![Image: Uni_Blur_Blur_MaxBlurSize.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Blur_Blur_MaxBlurSize.png)
- The **Blur Channel(s)** drop-down menu selects which image channel you'd like the blur to affect.
  - **RGB** selects all color channels. Alternatively, restrict the blur to a single color channel selecting the **Red**, **Green**, or **Blue** options.
  - **Alpha** allows the blur to affect only your image's alpha channel.
  - **HSL** affects the image's hue, saturation, and lightness together. Isolate just one of these by choosing **Hue, Saturation,** or **Lightness.**
- The **Mask Controls** group confines Compound Blur to a specific area within the layer.
  - **Soften Mask** adds a blur to the mask's edges.
  - To utilize only one aspect of that chosen layer, use the **Mask Channel** drop-down to pick your selected layer's **Luma, Red, Green, Blue,** or **Alpha** channel.
  - Check the **Show Mask** box to see the areas within the layer your mask is affecting.
  - **Invert:** When checked, this control switches the blur to occur outside the selected mask shape instead of inside. The default is off.
  - **Mask Scale** scales your mask up or down in the range from 0% to 800% across the image.
  - **Mask Position** allows you to move the position of the mask along the x and y axes using the crosshair or numerical controls.
- The **Quality** control spreads the blur gradient more evenly across the image, blending the edges and colors more as values increase. Below we highlight some details with a setting of 2 (left) that largely vanish (for better or worse) at 10 (right).\
  ![Image: Uni_Blur_CompoundBlur_Quality.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Blur_CompoundBlur_Quality.png)
- Enabling the **Apply Linear** checkbox will convert the gamma from standard video gamma (Rec 709 assumed) to linear gamma (1.0). This results in less smearing of blacks, and highlights tend to be preserved.
- The **Blend Mode** drop-down offers blending modes used to composite the blurred result over the original input image.
- The **Opacity Slider** can make the blur effect more subtle and transparent over the original image.

---

### Want More?

Compound Blur is even better when used in conjunction with other Universe tools. Watch the following two-minute video to see what happens when we combine Compound Blur with [Universe Texturize Motion](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/html/texturize-motion.html.md) and [Gradient Ramp](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/html/gradient-ramp.html.md).