Review: Choosing The Right Lens Flare Effect For The Job

Kevin P. McAuliffe has posted an article on DoodleNews.com about his favorite Lens Flare Effects; a “mini-review” he calls it. Read the review.

Kevin’s go-to lens flare effects are:

• Red Giant Knoll Light Factory
• Boris Continuum Complete Lens Flare 3D
• Video Copilot Optical Flares
• Boris Sapphire Lens Flare

He discusses each in turn, and what he like most about them.

Here’s an excerpt:

Boris Continuum Complete Lens Flare 3D is my workhorse effect, and I’ve used it countless times in my productions. I like that there are some super realistic looking flares, and I like the that there are unique ways to apply them to the footage in your timelines/comps. Whether it’s based on Built in Lights, Luminance values, Edge Maps, Location Maps, Comps, or AE Masks, one thing you have more than anything in this effect is flexibility.

Read the full review here

Red Giant Knoll Light Factory

Knoll Light Factory has long been Hollywood’s favorite way to add color, depth and excitement to a scene. Now ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll has created an all-new light effects tool by adding his lens flare technology from recent feature films. With Knoll Light Factory 3, you get new features like realistic flare elements, time-saving animation behaviors, a redesigned interface, and over 100 beautifully designed presets. John Knoll’s new technology delivers the sexiness of lens flares while creating believable, accurate results. The Photoshop version is included.

Red Giant Knoll Light Factory can be bought as part of the Red Giant VFX Suite.

Boris Continuum Complete Lens Flare 3D

Lens Flare 3D is part of the BCC Lights Unit.

Light It Up with 3D Lens Flares, Glitters, and Volumetric Lighting VFX.  Add stage lights, spotlights, and volumetrics. Generate 3D lens flares and sweeps. Add sparkle with glitters, glares, and glints. Includes 21 filters & 300+ presets.

Boris Continuum Unit: Lights can be bought separately or as part of Boris Continuum.

Video Copilot Optical Flares

Optical Flares is a plug-in that is designed for creating and animating realistic lens flares in Adobe After Effects with amazing speed and simplicity! With Optical Flares you can add finishing touches to motion graphics, generate flares in live action footage; the possibilities are endless!

Learn more about Video Copilot Optical Flares

Boris FX Sapphire Lens Flare

Lens Flare is part of the Sapphire Unit: Lighting.

Flawlessly simulate natural and synthetic lights with the legendary Sapphire Lighting Unit.  This unit includes 14 different effects, including Lens Flare.

Sapphire Unit: Lighting is only available as part of the full Sapphire Bundle.