Multi-Pass Rendering Effects

Cameras can create two kinds of rendering effects: depth of field and motion blur.

Motion blur applied to wings of the flying dragon

Multi-pass rendering effects use multiple renderings of the same frame, with slight camera movement between each rendering. The multiple passes simulate the blurring that film in a camera would register under certain conditions.

Although it is not a multi-pass effect, the choices in the drop-down list also let you specify the depth-of-field value for the mental ray renderer. See Depth of Field Parameter (mental ray, iray, and Quicksilver Renderers).