Real Lens Flare?
LenzFX MAX?
Genesis?
Wrong! Such a powerful package as MAX lets you create many effects even without additional plug-ins. The following tutorial shows how to create the effect using only basic functions in MAX.
RELEASE HISTORY
Fixed/Changed in Beta 0.21:
The way the Flare is calculated in 3D coordinates changed. Now it behaves better (but not perfectly). The flare position in world space has no influence on its appearance anymore.
The Grouping caused problems and has been removed. Now the only link between flare elements are the expression controllers - no linking, no grouping.
A Look-At controller has been used for each flare element separately. The Looking Dummy from Beta 0.2 is still there, but has no function (just in case you need it someday for something else.... :o)
The User Scale Control has been partially removed -. you can set (or animate) the size of the Flare elements, but not the whole flare (Beta 0.3 will add separate animatable control fields for the distance of a secondary to the flare which will fix this)
Additional control fields for Rays, Streaks and Secondaries rotation velocity were included.
GO TO THE 3rd ULF TUTORIAL (Beta 0.21)
Implemented in Beta 0.2:(Obsolete!)
The whole system is calculated in 3D coordinates and (almost :o) always remains perpendicular to the Camera. (some restrictions still apply). See the new tutorial about "Staying Parallel to a Vector"- Expression.
Fixed Flare Size - When you go closer, the Flare keeps its size.
User Scale Control -. you can set (or animate) the size of the Flare without moving the camera.
Second set of rays. (streaks)
Twist applied for more natural Ray appearance.
Glow Ring
4 Glow Layers instead of 2
More and better Secondaries
GO TO THE 2nd ULF TUTORIAL (Beta 0.2)
Implemented in Beta 0.1:
Rays of any count and size, animatable.
Rays rotate when the camera moves
Rays can glow (using M-buffer in Video Post)
Secondaries of any count (7 implemented), and any form (implemented as N-gons from triangle to circle.- any shape is possible).
Secondaries move and rotate when the camera moves.
Colors and Radial Transparency are freely customizeable and animatable.
Two Glow zones of any color and size.
Optional Noise function
GO TO THE BASIC ULF TUTORIAL (Beta 0.1)
I know it looks like a joke (first I wanted to call it "Bobo's Lens Unreal Flare" - BLUF!), but it can be done in less than an hour. Some other flares needed over a year to be implemented. ;o)
I admit it doesn't look like a Real Lens Flare, and it is far less powerful (actually not at all :o), that's why it is called Unreal Lens Flare. The only positive aspect is that it is FREE.
Consider it a Gift for the 1st Birthday of MAX!
Bobo's Unreal Lens Flare (ULF)
Copyrigh (c) 1997 by Borislav Petrov.
Feel free to change, improve and distribute.