To lens flare or not to lens flare, that's my dumb question.

[braddewald]

My complete lack of contact with anyone else in the biz has left me, once again, at a loss for as simple a question as this. What is standard procedure for whether or not to add a sweet-looking lens flare in a daytime interior shot?

[Paul Twyman]

Hey, I would probably say if your not sure then leave it out, but if you decide to go with it make sure you keep it subtle. Maybe try with and without and post for peoples opinions.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sindala]

i remember reading a thread here once stating you can only use one or two a year...

[Claudio Branch]

Take a look at this:

 

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/knoll-light-factory-ps/

[John Pruden]

I have seen many a lens flare completely ruin an otherwise nice rendering. It's a horribly misused effect, IMHO. I'm not saying NEVER use one, but use them very carefully. Try to refer to photos that are similar to your rendering and mimic the lens flares you see there. The stock photoshop filter produces pretty lame lens flares that are difficult to control and properly place. Knoll Light Factory is a great tool for better lens flares. If you have to use Photoshop's though, render the flare onto it's own layer so you can resize it, place it accurately, and erase parts of it that are undesirable.

[AJLynn]

No lens flare. Lens flare is bad. Photographers put a lot of money into getting rid of it.

[Ernest Burden III]

Just say no

[braddewald]

I may have to go rogue on this one...I'll update tomorrow.

[mahorela]

No.....lens flares are as bad as the errant flocks of birds that seem to be flying over so many 3d buildings.

 

I have banned my staff from using them.

[braddewald]

Well, I have an angled kitchen hood that's very "flat looking" despite its mirror-finish. It ends up reflecting a white wall and thus giving it a flat, white reflection. I've tried using gradients in photoshop to give it a more chrome-like sheen, but with little effect. Adding a lens flare (105mm at around 50% brightness) seems to give it a pretty good "metallic shine" when placed correctly and subtly fading it in.

[Simon Moir]

When in doubt, throw a couple in.

[Nic H]

put loads in

[Ernest Burden III]

Don't do it, man. There are other answers. Put the lens flare down and just back away slowly, everything'll be OK. I'll see if I can get the Judge to go easy on you if you just...put...the...flare...down...

[mattclinch]

every light fitting should have one.

regardless of whether that light is on or not.

one for the sun.

a couple for metal reflections.

sometimes put small ones in peoples eyes to bring them to 'life'...

 

[/sarcasm]

[Claudio Branch]

Take a look at this:

 

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/knoll-light-factory-ps/

 

 

...and especially this:

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/star-trek-crew-and-lens-flares.jpg&imgrefurl=http://screenrant.com/sr-picks-video-jj-abrams-lens-flares-meets-original-series-rob-8618/&usg=__2ENVTq_dSKlsrDPtJ1sOGS2GjZU=&h=287&w=570&sz=52&hl=en&start=6&itbs=1&tbnid=brPAc3ktCg3c4M:&tbnh=67&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlensflares%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

[Tommy L]

Flares are good for 70's trousers and ailing sailors.

[BrianKitts]

I'll play devils advocate, 99% of the time they are used incorrectly.... but I will say that it's not always wrong to use them (1%), but to be warned......Use with caution, my recommendation is that the only good lens flares are the ones that you don't immediately notice. If it's blended well enough it will work but if you're sticking it in the scene as a "hey look at me!" then read all the other posts that have so poetically said NO!

Edited May 27, 2010 by BrianKitts

[DelfoZ]

i remember when flares was the coolest and newest thing ever, there was flares everywhere, then the Glow took his place, Lot of glow+flares... good times.

If u really really really really want flares, try VideoCopilot optical flares or Final Flares from cebas.

[TrondGreve]

I love it all: Flares, Birds and Couples walking hand in hand on small apartment balconies.

[carloscristerna]

I think you should use them. have no fear of them, use them properly and don't over do them. it's an element that exists in reality in every photo and film around there. so if some photographers spend a LOT of money trying to get rid of it, well they must have their reasons, but believe me in the film and visualization industry they are a must have to enhance drama and realism to your scene. DO IT!!!! break the rules!!!! my personal opinion

[3DMK]

Lens flare are like drugs.......use them properly & you will get a pleasant feeling......use them unwisely & you'll end up in jail....lol