Subject: Re: 3.0 Lens Flare FX
Date: Tue, 3 May 1994 20:34:53 -0600
From: beeton@SEDSystems.ca (Gary Beeton, beeton@SEDSystems.ca)

>Ummm....I must be missing something here...

I think so! :)

>... but this F/X does not create
>lens flares at all.  It does create lens reflections as the descriptions
>for some of the settings would suggest.  It's really great that this
>F/X cause reflections to occur from a light source but if it does not
>actually cause the light source to emit light....kinda defeats the purpose
>wouldn't you say?


Well, that is exactly what lens flare is all about.  In the non-Imaginary
world, lens flare is caused by light from an external source reflecting off
the internal elements of a camera (or other) lens.  At every glass-air
interface within the lens you get a small reflection.  Each reflection can
be seen on the surface of the glass as an image of the light source.  In
fact it doesn't have to be a light source - any high contrast object can
cause lens flare images - light sources just happen to be extremely high
contrast.  So without a light source (or other high contrast object) there
_is_no_ lens flare.  I don't have 3.0 yet, but based on your description,
I'd say Impulse got it exactly right!

Gary


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