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Node Sources Lets you select the source object for the lens flare effect. The
source of the lens flare may be any object in the scene, but is generally a light,
such as a target spot light, or an omni light. Clicking this button displays the
Select Flare Objects dialog. You must select a source for the flare to key off.
NOTE If you select a source object, then rename the object later, you must reselect
the object to ensure the correct generation of the lens flare.
Lens Flare Effects group
Controls specific effects for the flare, such as fades, brightness, softening, and
so on.
Brighten Lets you set an overall brightness that affects the whole image.
When a bright effect, such as a lens flare, appears in an image, the whole
image should appear brighter. This effect is available only when the Brighten
option is enabled under the Render section of the Preferences panel. This
parameter can be
animated on page 6647 . Animating the Brighten spinner is
an easy way to create flares that "flash" the scene as they appear.
Dist Fade Causes the effect of the lens flare to fade with its distance from
the camera. This option is used only when the Dist Fade button is turned on.
The values are in 3ds Max world units. This option is used when you want to
create the effect of flares disappearing at a certain point away from the camera.
Cent Fade Fades the secondary flares near the center of the row of flares
along the main axis of the flare. This is an effect that can be seen in many
lens flares seen through a real camera lens. This value is in 3ds Max world
units. This setting is only active when the Cent Fade button is selected.
Dist Blur Blurs the flare based on its distance from the camera. This value is
in 3ds Max world units. This parameter can be animated.
Blur Int Controls the strength of the blur when it is applied to the lens flare.
The value set in this spinner takes full effect as the flare reaches the Dist Blur
distance in your scene. Flares closer to the camera plane get a percentage of
the intensity setting. This parameter can be animated.
Soften Provides an overall softening effect for the lens flare This parameter
can be animated.
Flare Parameter tabs
Let you create and control the lens flare. Each of the nine tabs controls a
specific aspect of the lens flare.
6652 | Chapter 20 Video Post