Create Stunning and Realistic Lens Flare Effects with Optical Flares for After Effects CC on Mac
Introduction
Optical flares are a plug-in for designing and animating realistic lens flares in After Effects. Lens flares are the light patterns that appear when a bright light source is partially or fully obscured by an object, such as a camera lens, a window, or a planet. They can create dramatic and beautiful effects that simulate the natural behavior of light.
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Optical flares can be used for many purposes, such as:
Add final touches to motion graphics
Simulate concert or stadium lighting
Fake volumetric lighting
Help blend 3D animations
Build a virtual light array for music videos
Add realism to your virtual sets
Add flares to live action footage
Simulate visible atmosphere with lighting
Simulate bright lights in your scene
Draw focus to a product or graphic
Accentuate highlights or contours
To use optical flares in After Effects CC on Mac, you need to purchase and download the plug-in from Video Copilot, a company that specializes in creating high-quality tools and tutorials for motion designers and visual effects artists. The plug-in costs $124.95, but you can also get it in a bundle with additional presets and features for $139.95 or $165.00.
Installation
Once you have purchased and downloaded the plug-in, you need to install it on your Mac. Here are the steps to follow:
Login to your Video Copilot account here and click on the "Downloads" tab.
Find the Optical Flares product and click on the download button. Download the correct MAC version for your version of After Effects (32bit or 64bit).
Drag the entire Optical Flares folder into your Adobe After Effects Plug-ins folder. Here is an example path: Applications/Adobe After Effects CC/Plug-ins/Optical Flares/Optical Flares.
Open Adobe After Effects, create a new composition, create a new solid, and then apply Optical Flares to the solid. See screenshot below for how to open Optical Flares inside of After Effects.
Once it opens, copy or write down the HW-ID Fingerprint that is displayed (example below).
Log back into your Video Copilot download account. Click on the Optical Flares download button to get to the page where you downloaded the plug-in during Step One. The license generator will be on that page.
Enter in your HW-ID Fingerprint exactly as its shown. Sometimes 5s can be confused with Click on the Generate License button and save the license file to your desktop.
Go back to After Effects and click on the Click Here to Install License button. Locate the license file on your desktop and click Open. You should see a message that says License Installed Successfully.
Restart After Effects and enjoy using Optical Flares.
To access the presets that come with Optical Flares, you need to copy the Optical Flares Preset folder into your Adobe After Effects Presets folder. Here is an example path: Applications/Adobe After Effects CC/Presets/Optical Flares Presets. You can also download more presets from Video Copilot or other sources online.
Usage
Now that you have installed and activated Optical Flares, you can start using it to create amazing lens flare effects in your projects. Here are some basic steps to follow:
How to apply optical flares to a layer
To apply optical flares to a layer, you need to create a new solid layer and apply the Optical Flares effect to it. You can do this by going to Layer > New > Solid, or by using the keyboard shortcut Command+Y. Choose a black color for the solid and name it something like "Flare". Then, go to Effect > Video Copilot > Optical Flares, or use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+F5.
This will open the Optical Flares interface, where you can choose from different types of flares, customize their properties, and animate them. You can also use the options panel to adjust the global settings of the effect, such as blending mode, brightness, scale, color, flicker, and more.
How to customize and animate optical flares
To customize and animate optical flares, you need to use the Optical Flares interface. You can access it by clicking on the "Options" button in the effect controls panel, or by double-clicking on the solid layer with the effect applied.
The interface consists of four main sections: Browser, Preview, Lens Objects, and Lens Editor. Here is a brief overview of each section:
Browser: This is where you can browse and select from different presets of flares. You can also save your own presets, import presets from other sources, or delete presets. You can use the search bar to filter the presets by name or category.
Preview: This is where you can see a preview of the flare on your footage. You can use the controls at the bottom to zoom in or out, pan around, or reset the view. You can also use the position crosshair to move the flare around on your footage.
Lens Objects: This is where you can see and edit the individual elements that make up the flare. Each flare consists of one or more lens objects, such as glow, streaks, iris, spike ball, etc. You can add, remove, duplicate, or rearrange lens objects by using the buttons at the top. You can also use the sliders and checkboxes to adjust the properties of each lens object, such as position, rotation, scale, opacity, color, blur, etc.
Lens Editor: This is where you can create and modify custom shapes for your lens objects. You can use the tools at the top to draw shapes with bezier curves or polygons. You can also use the sliders and checkboxes to adjust the properties of each shape, such as feathering, distortion, noise, etc.
To animate optical flares, you need to use keyframes in After Effects. You can keyframe any property of the effect or the lens objects by clicking on the stopwatch icon next to it. You can also use expressions or scripts to create more complex animations.
How to use 3D lens flares with AE lights
One of the coolest features of Optical Flares is that it can interact with 3D lights in After Effects. This means that you can create realistic 3D lens flares that match the movement and intensity of your 3D lights. You can also use 3D lights to trigger flares based on their visibility or occlusion.
To use 3D lens flares with AE lights, you need to do the following:
Create a new solid layer and apply Optical Flares to it.
In the effect controls panel, change the "Render Mode" from "On Black" to "On Transparent". This will make the solid layer transparent except for the flare.
In the same panel, change the "Source Type" from "2D" to "3D Lights". This will Make sure that you have at least one 3D light in your composition. You can create a 3D light by going to Layer > New > Light, or by using the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+Shift+L. Choose a type of light, such as point, spot, or parallel, and adjust its properties, such as color, intensity, falloff, etc.
Move the 3D light around in your 3D space and see how the flare reacts to it. You can also animate the 3D light using keyframes or expressions.
If you want to use more than one 3D light for your flare, you can do so by changing the "Number of Lights" option in the effect controls panel. You can also use the "Light Selection" option to specify which lights to use for the flare.
If you want to control the visibility or occlusion of the flare based on the 3D light, you can do so by changing the "Light Visibility" option in the effect controls panel. You can choose from three modes: Off, On, or Obscuration. Off means that the flare is always visible regardless of the 3D light. On means that the flare is only visible when the 3D light is facing the camera. Obscuration means that the flare is only visible when the 3D light is not blocked by any 3D layer.
Using 3D lens flares with AE lights can create stunning and realistic effects that enhance your 3D scenes and animations.
Alternatives
If you don't want to use Optical Flares for some reason, or if you want to try something different, there are some alternatives that you can use to create lens flare effects in After Effects. Here are two of them:
How to use the built-in lens flare effect in After Effects
After Effects has a built-in effect called Lens Flare that you can use to create basic lens flare effects. It is not as advanced or customizable as Optical Flares, but it is easy to use and does not require any plug-in.
To use the built-in lens flare effect in After Effects, you need to do the following:
Create a new solid layer and apply Lens Flare to it. You can do this by going to Effect > Generate > Lens Flare, or by using the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+F.
In the effect controls panel, choose a type of lens flare from the "Lens Type" menu. You can choose from four options: 50-300mm Zoom, 35mm Prime, 105mm Prime, or Movie Prime. Each option has a different look and feel.
Adjust the position of the lens flare by dragging the "Flare Center" crosshair on your footage. You can also use the "Flare Brightness" slider to change the intensity of the flare.
If you want to animate the lens flare, you can keyframe any of these properties by clicking on the stopwatch icon next to them. You can also use expressions or scripts to create more complex animations.
The built-in lens flare effect in After Effects is a simple and quick way to add some flair to your footage.
How to create your own lens flare effects with AE tools
If you want to have more control and creativity over your lens flare effects, you can create your own using some of the tools and effects that After Effects offers. This requires more time and skill, but it can also produce more unique and original results.
To create your own lens flare effects with AE tools, you need to do the following:
Create a new composition and import your footage into it.
Create a new solid layer and name it something like "Flare Elements". This will be where you create your individual elements that make up your flare.
Use different tools and effects to create different shapes and glows for your flare elements. For example, you can use masks, shape layers, fractal noise, glow, blur, color correction, etc. Be creative and experiment with different combinations and settings.
Arrange and animate your flare elements on your solid layer using keyframes or expressions. You can also use parenting or null objects to link them together.
Change the blending mode of your solid layer to Screen or Add. This will make it transparent except for your flare elements.
Adjust the position and scale of your solid layer to match your footage. You can also use tracking or expressions to make it follow a specific point on your footage.
Creating your own lens flare effects with AE tools can give you more freedom and flexibility to express your vision and style. However, it also requires more effort and expertise to achieve a realistic and professional look.
Benefits
Optical Flares is one of the most popular and widely used plug-ins for creating lens flare effects in After Effects. It has many benefits that make it a valuable tool for motion designers and visual effects artists. Here are some of them:
It is easy to use and intuitive. You can quickly create and customize your flares using the Optical Flares interface, which has a user-friendly design and a large library of presets.
It is powerful and versatile. You can create any type of flare you can imagine, from realistic to stylized, from subtle to dramatic, from static to dynamic. You can also use 3D lens flares with AE lights, which adds a whole new level of realism and interactivity.
It is fast and efficient. You can render your flares in real time, without any pre-rendering or proxies. You can also use the GPU acceleration feature, which speeds up the rendering process by using your graphics card.
It is compatible and flexible. You can use Optical Flares with any version of After Effects from CS3 to CC. You can also use it with other plug-ins, such as Element 3D, Trapcode Particular, or Video Copilot's own Saber.
It is affordable and worth it. You can get Optical Flares for a reasonable price, considering the quality and quantity of features it offers. You can also get it in a bundle with other products, such as Pro Presets 1 and 2, Pro Flares Bundle, or Optical Flares Bundle.
Optical Flares is a plug-in that can enhance your motion graphics and visual effects with stunning and realistic lens flare effects.
Drawbacks
Optical Flares is not a perfect plug-in, however. It also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. Here are some of them:
It is not free. You have to pay for Optical Flares, unlike some other plug-ins or effects that are available for free or as part of After Effects. You also have to pay extra for some additional features or presets that are not included in the basic package.
It is not original. Optical Flares is not the first or the only plug-in that can create lens flare effects in After Effects. There are other plug-ins that can do the same thing, such as Knoll Light Factory, Sapphire LensFlare, or Red Giant Universe.
It is not realistic. Optical Flares can create realistic lens flare effects, but they are still artificial and simulated. They may not match the actual behavior of light in real life, especially in complex or challenging situations.
It is not necessary. Optical Flares can add some flair and realism to your footage, but they are not essential or mandatory. Sometimes, less is more, and adding too many flares can be distracting or overkill.
It is not easy to crack. Optical Flares has a license system that requires you to generate a license file based on your hardware ID fingerprint. This makes it harder to crack or pirate the plug-in, which may be frustrating for some users who want to use it without paying for it.
Optical Flares is a plug-in that has some limitations and challenges that you should consider before using it.
Reviews
Optical Flares is a plug-in that has received many positive reviews from users who have used it for their projects. Here are some of them:
"Optical Flares is hands down my favorite plugin for After Effects. It's so easy to use and customize, and it adds so much realism and depth to my scenes. I love how it interacts with 3D lights and layers, and how I can create my own presets and shapes. It's definitely worth every penny."
"I've been using Optical Flares for years, and I'm still amazed by how powerful and versatile it is. It can create any type of flare I need, from subtle glows to dramatic explosions. It also renders very fast and smoothly, even on my old laptop. It's a must-have plugin for any motion designer or visual effects artist."
"Optical Flares is a great plugin for creating lens flare effects in After Effects. It has a lot of options and features that let you customize your flares to fit your style and vision. It also works well with other plugins, such as Element 3D or Saber. It's a plugin that I use all the time."
Optical Flares is a plug-in that has been praised by many users who have used it for their projects. Conclusion
In conclusion, Optical Flares is a plug-in for designing and animating realistic lens flares in After Effects. It is easy to use, powerful, versatile, fast, compatible, and affordable. It can be used for many purposes, such as adding final touches, simulating lighting, faking volumetric lighting, blending 3D animations, creating visual effects, and more. It can also interact with 3D lights in After Effects, creating realistic and dynamic 3D lens flares.
However, Optical Flares is not without drawbacks. It is not free, original, realistic, or necessary. It may not match the actual behavior of light in real life, and it may be overused or misused by some users. It is also not easy to crack or pirate, which may be a problem for some users who want to use it without paying for it.
Optical Flares is a plug-in that has many benefits and drawbacks that you should weigh before using it. It is a plug-in that can enhance your motion graphics and visual effects with stunning and realistic lens flare effects, but it is also a plug-in that has some limitations and challenges that you should consider before using it.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Optical Flares:
Q: How do I update Optical Flares?
A: To update Optical Flares, you need to download the latest version from Video Copilot and replace the old files with the new ones. You don't need to generate a new license file or reinstall the plug-in.
Q: How do I uninstall Optical Flares?
A: To uninstall Optical Flares, you need to delete the Optical Flares folder from your Adobe After Effects Plug-ins folder. You can also delete the Optical Flares Preset folder from your Adobe After Effects Presets folder.
Q: How do I get support for Optical Flares?
A: To get support for Optical Flares, you can contact Video Copilot through their website or email. You can also check their forum, blog, or YouTube channel for tutorials and tips.
Q: How do I learn more about Optical Flares?
A: To learn more about Optical Flares, you can visit the product page, where you can find more information, features, videos, screenshots, and testimonials. You can also visit the training page, where you can find more tutorials and resources.
Q: How do I crack Optical Flares?
A: Cracking Optical Flares is illegal and unethical. It violates the terms and conditions of Video Copilot and Adobe After Effects. It also deprives the developers of their deserved income and recognition. If you want to use Optical Flares, you should buy it from Video Copilot. dcd2dc6462