Digital Domain uses Optical Flares!
August 2nd, 2011

Just saw this cool article on CGSociety about the work by Digital Domain on Transformers 3 and was amazed to see our plug-in Optical Flares mentioned!

From the Article:
"Michael Bay is big on lens aberration, lens flares. "He's always, 'Ping my lens man, don't be afraid to 'ping my lens'". Adobe After Effects has a great plugin called Optical Flares from Video Co-Pilot which is phenomenal for generating lens flares. We'd save it out, bring it into Nuke and worked a treat, he loved it."

Besides that fun bit, the article has some great production insights and a fun point about Hyper-Reality vs actual reality. Check it out at the end.

Of course the other interesting news, is that our plug-in Optical Flares is being ported to work natively inside of Nuke and we are entering the final stages of testing. We have added some innovated solutions for working with objects and lights within the Nuke 3D space that should be a nice time-saver. If anyone at Digital Domain wants to help beta test, just send us an email!

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
14 years ago
177 Comments
Steve
12 years ago
Yes, another bump, any news on the Nuke version?
Matt
13 years ago
It's really been to long without any information regarding Optical Flares for Nuke.
Could you please give us an update on what's happening?
13 years ago
building custom flares in Nuke is great, but having a library of more accurate flares would be amazing. I truly hope you haven't given up on this project, because it might upset a lot of people with high hopes and dreams .

to quote the article..."and we are entering the final stages of testing," was written over year ago. keep us posted dude.
Benjamin K.
13 years ago
want to ask when the great plugin optical flares will be realeased for nuke or was it just a joke? I'm very interested in buying it
13 years ago
It's almost been a year since this post. now that you have released yet ANOTHER amazing product (Element 3D), can we expect to see the nuke release for Optical Flares anytime soon?
13 years ago
I have a huge project coming up that will require lots of strong lens flares in the CG shots to match existing flares in the live action shots. I would LOVE to use this system within Nuke's 3D environment to flow along with my existing camera moves.

This plugin shows to serve VERY handy in AE, but I think it's time to bring it out of beta and open the market to us Nuke boys and girls...even if that requires charging us more for it. We have been waiting for about a year now. Help us speed up the workflow so we no longer have to travel into AE to finish a shot. Thank you!
Nick
13 years ago
Hi, any update on the status of the Nuke plugin? We're ready to buy one for each of our Nuke licenses when it becomes available...
13 years ago
Wow..you have come so far Andrew..This is an amazing project.
Why don't you invest and make films solely by VC?

You are in the House yo!
13 years ago
I'll join the choir of people begging for Optical Flares in Nuke. How's development going? I can't wait to use Optical Flares in Nuke. It's such an amazing compositing software but it truly lacks a great lens flare feature like OF!

When can we expect this to be released?
13 years ago
yo where are the Nuke Plug ins. I don't want to have to come find you Andrew. Im pretty sure I know at least where I can find you.
ROD
13 years ago
YEAHH, WHERE S THE NUKE PLUGIN... WE ARE WAITING
William
14 years ago
Andrew, you have the greatest plug ins of all time!!!
I can't believe digital domain used the same plug in that i use at home to create an awesome movie like that!!
You're the BEST, Andrew.
shreekanth kannath
14 years ago
congratulations Andrew !
Zhang
14 years ago
Congratulations.You are the one,I believe.I like the Optical Flares also.
14 years ago
A lot of compositors wish to have this in Fusion.
michael
14 years ago
Fusion? That thing is almost dead for professional feature film comp work.
14 years ago
Hello Andrew,

Your optical flares actually very helpful in our advertising video in Davao City philippines in showcasing our high end and low end houses.

We have been using your pro scores also in the fx but we love your FLARES very much. It adds to the beauty of each housing projects in davao city's beauty.
14 years ago
Wow

Congtrats Andrew and VCP!Hmmm I am into planning stage now for my next Mindanao Film Fest entry. I just bought your plug ins here in the Philippines. I will a post a link here as soon as we finish the film...
Thanks andrew for the inspiration
14 years ago
Dear Andrew - your Flares use totally all motion designer in russia and post soviet union country Your name is Icon in our motion graphic community.
Congrats, respect and long live forever!!! )
evan
14 years ago
Yeah it's true. it looks like recent sci-fi films have been using optical flares, i'm pretty sure that they used it in cowboys and aliens as well.
Alfie
14 years ago
cheap price, fantastic results! because of video copilot, we could make hollywood looking videos at home. ^_^ Thanks guys.
14 years ago
Someone did a plug for the Disney Channel Japan and it was nothing but 15 seconds of Optical Flares for AE. It was bizarre watching it, because, like, they didn't even try to do anything else but the OF. If I can lay my hands on a copy of it, I'll post it. If it's in the States too, someone let me know, cause all I could help thinking was, geez, someone sure is lazy (and it still looked great!)
14 years ago
Your AWESOME works is not for less than that! Optical Flares is the BEST! WºººººººW!
darlington Ospina
14 years ago
Excelent andrew, you are the best all.
anand
14 years ago
Congrats andrew
nickyazu
14 years ago
hi andrew,does AE have Constrain function,sth like using position of nullObjects to control the direction of the partical's emitting?
Tony
14 years ago
Though seeing Optical Flares used by Digital Domain in a blockbuster like the Transformers series has to be the most rewarding thing for the Video Copilot team, I'm starting to notice them everywhere.

My daughter was watching a Britney Spears video this morning ("Til the World Ends") that appeared to be laced with them throughout (if they weren't from Opt Flares & Pro Presets, they were definitely inspired by them). Probably old news to most people (the video has supposedly been around for months), but I don't pay too much attention Britney.

Anyhow, it definitely looks like the use VCP Opt Flares has become a trend that will continue for a while. I'm happy to see that for Andrew and VCP, but I just hope the use of them doesn't get abused like every other good effect or tool.
14 years ago
I'm suprised you were like surprised. Transformers 3 isn't the first movie to use it... Since it have been released, i've seen some huge movies using it (like star trek).
Andres Ayala
14 years ago
Hello Andrew, what's happening with the updates on your blog and tutorials?... Have you forgotten about us? It's been a lot of days and your homepage looks like a screenshot. We all workship you and your work, keep it up!
Rommel Ryan
14 years ago
That is cool! I am using also your plug-in (Optical Flares) and I saw "Transformer 3" and I saw Optical Flares that "Transformer 3" was also using Andrew Kramer's cool Plug-in called Optical Flares.

Congrats Andrew!

I say, Artists always rock! because of Andrew Kramer's cool plug-ins.
eljauzaa
14 years ago
That's a great work mr andrew kramer, i know ur optical flares is really another masterpiece in AE plugins.
Donald
14 years ago
Instances of Action Essentials II in the second episode of NBC series, The Event.

http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/stargate-crashes-the-event/
14 years ago
Nice. A lot of great movies such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Harry Potter 7 part 2, etc. used Optical Flares to the epic lens flares performance.

Optical flares is the most used and the best lens flares plugins in the market.

Thank you Andrew Kramer for always giving us the best plugins.
jack
14 years ago
we waaaaaaaaant a newwwwwwwwwww tutoriaaaaaaal brooooooo

can´t waitttttttt xD
14 years ago
Mate, the fact that CGSociety - Transformers 3 article has a related link to this site is AWESOME in itself! I told people back in 2009 that I thought you were going to be a BIG player in this game. Thanks for proving me right. Feel free to keep on amazing us... You do it so well.
Ahmed
14 years ago
Great guys!!!!!!!! Keep it up!!!!!
chris
14 years ago
Just Post Your Movie!
gunk0001
14 years ago
from philippines here 2 nice man continue to make history
barry barrera
14 years ago
congratulations andrew. we are so proud of you here in the philippines. keep it up
JUSTIN
14 years ago
Lens flares are orange/blue's best friends.
CLB (cheekylilbasterd)
14 years ago
So ummm!, any update on our new plugin friend (The Element). Andrew ?
14 years ago
Thanks Copilot To this Product
Grscfide
14 years ago
i found andrew's name in super 8 as main title designer
and victor james movie as composer
Ins
14 years ago
I know JJ Abrams likes to use those anamorphic lenses to get the nice flares - still it was great reading your name in the Super 8 credits! And by the way a big THANKX for sharing your knowledge with everyone!
14 years ago
man!!! ilove your lens
Jason La Brie
14 years ago
The promo video for the new Lamborghini Aventador uses the VC Procedural Crumble tutorial near the end, and I also saw a UFC commercial a while back that used the text shatter tutorial at the end. Video Copilot is everywhere!

-Jason
14 years ago
By the way, your blood sprays from the collection of Action Essentials real or the result of the plugin RealFlow?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZghz5I__UU&feature=related
14 years ago
He uses magic, I'm telling you man... MAGIC!
14 years ago
I agree with you
Prashaster
14 years ago
Congradz man!! by the way do you know any website that i can get a Nuke training?
the real smithy
14 years ago
actually mr kramer, you'd be amased on how much of your products i have spotted on australian tv commercials.
evanGbizzle
14 years ago
i dont see why so many companies are switching to nuke nowadays! after effects is the way to go if you ask me
Shaun
14 years ago
just been back from seeing Super 8, one of if not the best movie i've seen all year.

Andrew I was wondering if you could tell us which effects you worked on, they were all really nice. Just curious as i'm sure a lot of people are.
San
14 years ago
Optical flares is really a cool plugin...
Hijazi
14 years ago
Hey You must now that your plug-in Action Essentials was used in Assassins Creed Revelations !! Congratulations !
Here's evidence
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j385/HeavensSeeker/SHOTT.jpg
San
14 years ago
Thats Cool!!!
Djghost1133
14 years ago
I though i recognized that
14 years ago
Could you make an auto-rotoscoping plugin? Just kidding. Great work on all you do!
Waysh
14 years ago
Andrew, you should make an advanced masking plug-in.
Nikhil
14 years ago
Hey Andrew that FRUIT for your hardwork.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Nikhil
14 years ago
If you don't mind i have been inspired a lot from you and am trying something only by making a page and spreading the interest for Animation and visual-fx
w3dran
14 years ago
This is great, Optical flares are really the best, but i must say that people use optical flares a little too much, especially in music videos! I like it more like an slight effect. Just turn MTV Dance or any regular music chanel and you will see what I mean.
David Payr
14 years ago
digital domain always used optical flares!
Richard (Singapore)
14 years ago
Its phenomenal, you've saved many geeks wanting to use anamorphic lenses when they can't afford to get their hands on one! I hope theres even more advance tutorials to show how they were composited in the movies!
fler
14 years ago
cool, it could come in handy.

.. and does that mean we'll see some Nuke related tutorials in the future?
David Whitworth
14 years ago
I can't stop laughing right now. When I watched the movie with my girlfriend, I kept grinning at those lens flares, because you always called them "Michael Bay lens flares", when you were advertising Optical Flares and I kept thinking "They REALLY look like the preset in Optical Flares. So this kind of effect actually IS typical for Michael Bay".

Congratulations on that!

I'm a really big fan of your work and if it weren't for you I wouldn't be doing anything with After Effects at all.
I didn't actually come here looking for guidance with After Effects, because I wanted to use it but I started using After Effects, because you showed me how powerful it is.

Greetings from Germany
David W.
14 years ago
Congratulation !!! Great products
krisha
14 years ago
wow man congrats. Transformers is great movie and Your website and product are too much great. I think now you have to create some tutorials as a related with transformers. It's would be better than ever.
14 years ago
Yeah, I saw this movie two nights ago and, aside from the tech, the only good things about it were seeing Wash in action again and the lens flares - i thought, "are these Kramer's?!"
Kojin
14 years ago
That's amazing to hear! can't wait to go buy the DVD to Transformers 3 so I can take a closer look at the effects. Great job on everything, Mr. Kramer!!!
AB
14 years ago
Congratulations!
14 years ago
Congratulations Andrew!!! I saw from the very first moment the big potenial of Optical Flares. And I am just happy to see that your product gots the honur that it deserves. Please keep on your way. You and VideoCopilot are one of the biggest enhancement for the VFX-industry. Thank you for this!!!
zaras
14 years ago
Gongrats Andrew!....I was thinking.maybe the second image could be an advanced shockwave tutorial.Not like planet earth's second groundbreaking tutorial.Im just saying
tale
14 years ago
hey Andrew this is great about integrating it in nuke but wat about fusion coz some of us prefer fusion thanks
Reza
14 years ago
So, when is your plugin going to be released? Anticipating this
Grscfide
14 years ago
I didn't see Andrew's Name in super 8 movie...!!!!!!!
14 years ago
Just after the Bad Robot team it seems to me...
EDrisCG
14 years ago
Why not use?
Optical Flares is one of the most powerful plug-in in the world!
Thanks Andrew!
Sorry for my bad English!
Cyan 3D, Bangladesh
14 years ago
I am Out of USA (bangladesh), so how can I buy those great products?
Daniel
14 years ago
Looking forward to OF in Nuke!!! ....when when when??
Cheekylilbasterd
14 years ago
Hi Andrew,

I dont think you guyz have any plans to port Op_Flares to Photoshop. Dat will be really cool, shouldn't be dat hard for you guyz
14 years ago
Hi Andrew,
Just a short note to tell you that Super 8 was released yesterday in France. I've seen your work (oh, the Optical Flares!) And I saw your name in the end credits...
Bravo for your work.
Cheers

Greg
14 years ago
I can tell that SKYLINE and Transformer 3 used Optical Flare by just watching the trailer...
14 years ago
Not surprised at all. saved them $$$,for fantastic ,fast results.
saintlemon
14 years ago
we want your movie
VINCE
14 years ago
any new tutorials? i been waiting for months... we want 3d max tutorials about CAT
paul holt
14 years ago
Also the newly announced version 6 of 'Sapphire' by Genarts, purports to have a GUI in the flare section, this suspiciously looks like a bare bones version of optical flares
dario
14 years ago
Now thats big...Your the best Andrew..keep up the industry trend setting work
Gustavo Degrossi
14 years ago
Hi Andrew I´m from Argentina and I use Videocopilot in all my proyects. Optical flares are my most powerfull tool in videos and I´m looking for Discover the Secret. Keep up the good work guys!!!!
Kranthi Kiran.S
14 years ago
Energy wipes like Tutorials 77 and 78
Kranthi Kiran.S
14 years ago
Hi Andrew, Just Watched "The Darkest Hour" Trailer. The Trailer looks Awesome And I See a lot of VIDEO COPILOT in there. Energy things,(Optical) Flares,Even Aliens Got Energy Ball(from Tutorial 68,93) Look. I think u are a invisible revolution in Hollywood VFX.
And u inspire us a lot waiting for your Discover The Secret.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwci39u1LM
Shuva
14 years ago
Andrew lets make more Pro preset of OP
DZ_MAN
14 years ago
tbh, I'm not surprised Andrew, it a product of a great quality!
and soon enough VC will rule the plugins field when Element 3D kicks in.
14 years ago
Very good article about the T3 mentioning Andy's and his team plug-in. Such a shame the movie is so weak...story-wise

http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/transformers_3
Johnny Nukem
14 years ago
Congrats andrew, its good to see you progress. Hard work pays off.
Corey
14 years ago
Can't see why they wouldn't use it. It's a world class plugin. I spotted it all through the movie. Plus I'm sure it was in Super 8 too. Dude, you must be saving the productions THOUSANDS in FX costs.
Shades
14 years ago
How many times does this need to be said: Even though Andrew worked on certain shots for Super 8, all of the lens flares are real, none are provided by OF. Even Andrew has said this himself, time and time again.
Shawn Anthony
14 years ago
Congratulations Andrew and Video Co Pilot. Great products you have.
Karim
14 years ago
If VC should need some more actors, let me know, I'm not a good actor but just want meet Sam Loya.
shahin
14 years ago
This is great !
It's very good
I would like to see the tutorial
RJCS
14 years ago
I knew it...I knew they'd use Optical Flares!!! All the versions of Transformers are filled with lens flares.....By the way did they also use Optical Flares in the previous Transformers movie???
David Whitworth
14 years ago
That's kinda unlikely, really. They would've mentioned it before, if they had been using any of Andrew's great products. Also Optical Flares wasn't even released when they were working on the first two Transformers movies.
Of course that doesn't mean Michael Bay won't be using it in future projects
Dev
14 years ago
It's AWESOME news and i know you'll come up with some this kinda plugins in futures. Congratz
14 years ago
I remember you were comparing some of the Optical Flares to real world examples and one of them was from Transformers - the circle is complete. Bet they used "Bay" loads
mak
14 years ago
hmmm wo lens flare use in transformer 3 good sound ur great
14 years ago
That is awesome! Isn't there a Bay preset?
anxs220
14 years ago
I use optical flares two!
What a coincidence!
Paul
14 years ago
Hey andrew Kramer, if he bought that plugin that means a lot of more people will buy it and you can make it cost more and make more money huh?
14 years ago
Congratz! Digital Domain is a 'World Leading' post-facillity. So is VCP!!
14 years ago
Actuall tht was agreat achievement sir



and we are really happy about it



go andrew go.. we are with you
Dan Disuye
14 years ago
I have Nuke and am dying for Optical Flares to get ported over. I don't run After Effects here and have been slightly envious for a while. Great news!

Hopefully us indie Nuke users don't get stung with the 'industry' premium price tag for plug-ins (Red Giant ... I'm looking at you ... double the price fr Particular, seriously WTF).

Was also about to e-mail you guys about Elements being ported over as well? Any chance? Nuke just introduced a particle system in 6.3 - which is very useful ??? but I'd love to support more of your plug-ins.

Keep up the awesome work.
Never underestimate the power of your motivation!! Congrats Andrew!
14 years ago
That's awesome!!! You see, that's what the major film makers need, someone who's as independent and good at this as andrew. And they've searched everywhere, andrew can do in a week what an entire floor of graphics designers can do in six months!! Great job andrew!!
14 years ago
congratz on having your product in a Bay movie!
14 years ago
You can't go wrong with giant transforming trucks. Optical Flares, ACTIVATE! Good job, Mr. Kramer!

-Simon Box
Craig
14 years ago
Wow Andrew! Did you ever think you would see this? Once Knoll was the standard and now it's your product. Kudos!
14 years ago
congratulations from Spain, andrew! you're definitely the one, hehehehe
This is great!
congratulations!
14 years ago
Reality is unrealistic in movies... that's why looks so real!
Gustavo Degrossi
14 years ago
Andrew I´m from Argentina. I use Videocopilot for all my project, i´m an addict. Perhaps I´m wrong but in Star Trek, Optical Flares are everywhere. Keep the great work and DISCOVER THE SECRET... PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
abhimanyu
14 years ago
was optical flares olso used in cowboy Vs aliens??......it looks like that
14 years ago
Lol, I've pretty much assumed OF was used in every recent film with such flares... great products guys!
Jason
14 years ago
Haha your like a little kid in a candy shop(so excited)when it comes to stuff like this, hahah I love it! Congrats!! After I saw what this plugin was capable of I thought right off it would be in Hollywood films such as transformers and super 8 jk!!
I actually I did see a forum saying and demonstrating how optical flares was sposted to be in super 8 lol ,Fool them once ??? shame on them, fool them twice and???. how does that go again?
14 years ago
You are the one!! Thanks Kramer!!!
14 years ago
GREAT!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!
shans
14 years ago
Congratulations dude
14 years ago
Wow.. rather impressive.
14 years ago
Congrats Andrew! This is a reward for your hard and fine work!! I wish this is only the begining!
arry
14 years ago
Great works AK, did you participle making Transformers 3?
14 years ago
Do not tell the secret to what other projects have been using your product?)
Kranthi Kiran.S
14 years ago
Wheheeeeew Awesome andrew.

I felt thrilled to know that. When i saw those on screen and thought they used "VCP's Optical Flares" quality and style for Flares now.


But they actually are those. Very Cool.
samocz6661
14 years ago
THATS MEAN VIDEOCOPILOT.NET IS SUPER AMAZING !!! ??? VC
14 years ago
both are simply awesome... the plugin and the movie... Congratulations VCP TEAM!!! Great achievement.
Love VC
14 years ago
hi master Andrew
all VC products is cool
14 years ago
That's awesome! I'm sure Michael Bay loved them! I wonder if DD has used OF on other projects.
Dwaine Vassell
14 years ago
I was actually reading the article first saw that they mentioned Optical Flares and thought I should send you guys an email, Lol!

So I plugged in your website and low and behold I am too late, Lol!

But they are right!

Optical Flares is a great product, although he gave Nuke more thumbs up than After Effects {:^(
TAG
14 years ago
Just a ordinary blogger becomes extraordinary superstar. That's how hard work and optimism pay off. Good job Andrew
Chris
14 years ago
Just saw the article and am really happy to see that your efforts are being recognized! Congrats to you all.
bt
14 years ago
It reminded me the optical flares at once when i saw this scene .hah
Naren
14 years ago
Nice Man....

Well done...
Meat Puppet
14 years ago
Well Duh, You'd have to be an idiot not to use it! Optical flares is a great plugin.
AJ_21
14 years ago
Congrats again to the crew from VideoCopilot.
14 years ago
Going to see Transformers 3!! I will pay attention to them!haha
Shawn
14 years ago
He should use it! There's even a flare that may or may not be named after him Congrats Andrew!!
14 years ago
We are so proud to read this!!! Video Copilot is the best. Sorry Michael.
Izmir
14 years ago
This is what video Copilot is about : '' Make good things to others, Good things will happen to you ''

My best wishes for all you Video Copilot Crew to have an Illuminate Future just like O.F

Greetings from Algeria.
14 years ago
Not surprised at all to see your work/products in MAJOR theatrical releases. Way to go AK and Team! And thanks for posting this...
14 years ago
I love optical flares but i prefer the chroma hoops in knoll. see impractical web demo 4 more
Jordan
14 years ago
I thought the Super 8 flares were optical flares because I had read you were helping with it on the blog. So how do you get those again? Maybe you can post the presets? haha
Liam Vickers
14 years ago
Speaking of your stuff being used everywhere, I definitely just saw an archer episode with action essentials 2. The explosion was unmistakable! . . . man, I like that show.
14 years ago
While watching Transformers 3 I often thought "nice lens-flares, looks a little bit like Optical Flares"...well here is the solution: It was Optical Flares!

That's great. It proves again the perfection your products!
Mohammad
14 years ago
No wonder, that's the best lense flare producer. with optical flare i don't know why i should trouble myself to shoot on camera. congrats man ...
Hernan
14 years ago
Quick question how can I get into the beta for Nuke? here at my work we use Nuke and when you mention that you were gonna ported to Nuke I .... well I dont wanna say but nonetheless I can't wait for it ...
Hari
14 years ago
So they are saving out optical flares from AE to Nuke?
I would like to know how they do that or Andrew can release Optical Flares plugin for Nuke. Will it be available soon?
islamoNET
14 years ago
congratulation man
you are in hollywood !!!
Shades
14 years ago
I can't believe no-one else has mentioned the delicious irony that a plug-in, which intentionally has a Michael Bay style preset, ends up being used in an actual Michael Bay movie!

Congrats Andrew!
Timo
14 years ago
that isn't irony!!
Shades
14 years ago
Well, you know what I mean! lol
Shades
14 years ago
and it was late and I had a few beers!
Timo
14 years ago
i'll drink to that!
jonson
14 years ago
That's irony. And it's delicious.
Javad
14 years ago
Hello Mr.Kramer
iwant U to make a tutorial that in it You teach patronus spell in harry potter and make another tutorial and teach how to make avada kdavra vs Expaliarmus duel please I really love all of your tutorial and i love your site please make this tutorial I said
Ilove to know how they make it please teach us thi tutorial please please please !!
Please teach them
Have good days bye (sorry for my bad english if it is)
14 years ago
'phenomenal' That's no exaggeration Andrew. Congrats to you and your team for getting the recognition within the industry you deserve. I see OF everywhere now, and it's a tool I use almost daily in my own work.

Just a superb tool and it really makes it easy to add that extra bit of awesome and more.

thanks!
14 years ago
Who do we need to contact, I am going to talk to one of my supervisors here at the Florida Digital Domain studio about this in the morning.
14 years ago
Send to info and we will relay it! Click Contact.
14 years ago
I've just watched It at the cinema this weekend and I was literally thinking "this looks like optical flares"
14 years ago
That's awesome!
Austin Acacio
14 years ago
Did Super 8 use Optical Flares??
Lucho
14 years ago
wise choice Digital Domain... wise choice
bwoogie
14 years ago
well, duh, why wouldn't they? it's awesome
badhon
14 years ago
great.congrats man..................
Clemence
14 years ago
Wow, you can always trust Video Copilot to produce awesome plug-ins and tutorials
Sam
14 years ago
I'm really happy for all that video copilot does and has achieved, but I gotta admit I'm not a fan of this whole lens flare movement in film. I find it kinda annoying and distracting. I like to feel like I'm THERE, not looking through a lens. Anyone else with me here?
JJ
14 years ago
Mmmmm... no.
14 years ago
Hey Sam I understand where you're coming, I think it's a very easily overdone effect and requires restraint. But pay attention the next time you look at a light source yourself, you'll find that even your own eyes produce flares of all types.
Andrew DeLong
14 years ago
Well, I'm with you and I'm not. I like the effect flares can give sometimes. They can really make a scene "POP," so to speak. But at the same time, you're right, to many in a single scene or movie even, can get very distracting.

Adam there is right too, even the human eye can produce it's own light distortions ans flares. Just try squinting through your eyelashes at any (non retina damaging) light source, or pay attention to how things look when you're waking up in the morning and you have that groggy, hazy view of things. In those instances they eye produces it's own flares when a strong enough light source is present. Granted, it's not like the stuff you see here at VC, but still.....

On that note, to any developer at VC, here's an idea: produce a haze-flare effect to mimic the first person view of what I like to call "groggy vision" and sell it to us for a few bucks. I'd gladly buy something like that, as I have no clue how to make that effect myself. Lol! (totally serious though).
Leon Sanginiti
14 years ago
Congrats Andrew and Video Co-Pilot!! I figured companies like DD and ILM, and others were using your products. I am assuming that Optical Flares was also used on "Cowboys and Aliens"...there were a LOT of alien flare blasts...even Freddy Wong mentioned using it on his Youtube video that Universal and Jon Favreu commissioned to tie in with the movie. Freddy mentions Optical Flares, assumed they used it on the actual movie...and let me tell you, the work he did with "OF" looks IDENTICAL to those in the movie...so I'm betting on the software was used! Good for you guys!!!
Mompremier
14 years ago
Andrew! very important that, i see a behing the scene that make Hulk animating by a poeple, its like CGI computer genereate imge, the poeple had a black t-chirt withe track point, avatar too, plz tell me bout that
14 years ago
Greate, cool plugin in cool movie.
P.S. Andrew, please make the Google+ button (like it etc) for articles
Josh Hacko
14 years ago
I can always pick out the movies that use OF! It is so distinctive ( in an amazing way ), and nowadays even low-medium budget films use Optical Flares to Boost their movie value. Keep up the amazing work!
Martin
14 years ago
Pretty kool 'Drew
14 years ago
One from denmark here too
14 years ago
first!!!!
yayayayayay im firsttt btw awesome!!!!!
14 years ago
dammmmmmmm i w8ted too long to comment!!!
14 years ago
Dude, I can imagine being first matters with your girlfriend, but what the hell is so important about being first in a comment thread?! I'll never get this... especially just shouting "first!!!!!!1111oneeleven"...
Mohammad
14 years ago
Waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too long
14 years ago
you are rich and famous, beautiful family, great future ahead... would you buy me a steadicam clipper please???

)
Mompremier
14 years ago
Wow! nice, Andrew plz u take too mush time to make a tutorials for us, so plz do more, try to see film like Matrix, transformers, x MEN? CAUSE we love Sci Fiction action tutorials, so plz answer me, cause i think Haiti need u cause im Haitien, plz say : Sak pase Nap boule, in a tutorials while u talking thats mean : Whats up? i'm fire
14 years ago
Congrats! Btw: I want OF in Nuke! Can't wait!
Zictor
14 years ago
I must say, it is the best plugin EVER. I've tried Knoll Light factory and that's nowhere near as good. I think about it every time I see a Lens Flare in a film. I'd also love to create something useful like that. Every time it gets used you'll be the guy behind the entire lens flare...

That was worded waaaay better in my head. Hope you can work out what I mean haha!
14 years ago
awesome as always. optical flares is just real!
marwanbusafi
14 years ago
Coooooool ....amazing ...^_^
Micke
14 years ago
When your plugin is in a Transformers movie you know you done well. It doesnt get any bigger then that when it comes to fx.
14 years ago
so nice andrew..I love video copilot and after effects...thanks...
Damy
14 years ago
It just shows how powerfull Optical Flares is. Not just for me as a student but also for the big guys, awesome!
14 years ago
Nice! I can't find one reason to use anything other than Optical Flares when I need to make my lighting pop.
14 years ago
thats awesome
even Hollywood needs your products hahahah
can't wait to test the new plugin
therealminime
14 years ago
Sweet. I also presume it showed up in Super 8? Both films had great lens flare work.
Scott Attula
14 years ago
Andrew said he was working on Super 8, so there's a good chance we was using his own plugin
14 years ago
Actually the lens flares in the film Super 8 are REAL. They were shot in camera using anamorphic lenses. Our plug-in Optical Flares is designed to recreate those type of flares.
Tony
14 years ago
That was a great movie...
14 years ago
I don't believe it, real lens flares?? Come on Andrew nobody uses those anymore...
Johhny Five
14 years ago
That's so funny! I was sure the Super 8 flares were Optical Flares - I even pointed them all out to my wife while watching the movie Fool me once - shame on you, fool me twice and.... how does that go again?
Gary
14 years ago
Shame on me.
Basuru
14 years ago
What? real lens Flares used in super 8? I can't believe it,though it really looks like they've used Optical Flares somehow
Justin
14 years ago
Hah, what's this world coming to when something real looks like a plug-in
Mark
14 years ago
I too would have sworn that those were Optical Flares used in that film. I even sat and waited to see Andrews name in the credits and snapped a pic
Conrad
14 years ago
@Basuru - i remember, that in 2 dvd disc of Star Trek, there were clips, where J.J. and the crew talk about filming, and how they used for example flashlights and mirrors to achieved some cool effects.
Andrew, your plugin is great, and im happy to hear, that its growing up
14 years ago
The flare that was on the train as soon as it passes the station before it hits the truck is definitely optical flares...
14 years ago
The lens flares in Star Trek were Optical Flares, right?
Greg Bores
14 years ago
Hollywood has learned to recreate the look of your plug-in right in the camera?
John
14 years ago
I believe the lens flares were real in the shots
But what I DON'T BELIEVE is that the lens flares in the teaser titles were real...
Carter M
14 years ago
The Star Trek ones are real too, they had people actually pointing flashlights into the lens in shots. Theres a video on youtube on that.
14 years ago
I knew I saw some of those Optical Flares in the movie.
This confirms it.
Congrats!
14 years ago
An inexpensive pluin in huge blockbuster movies. Nice
14 years ago
Oh... i really didn't expect the movie to use the Plugin from the Video Copilot[Andrw]. actually i have also watched the movie but i could scarcely realize the fact that the moive, transformer used such an low plug i
14 years ago
That's prove that you have great products man! Congrats!
thomashvn
14 years ago
Congratulations andrew, i wish you to step up even further but keep your cool and descent down to earth character. I got my own saying which is
"It is not the car but the driver, it is not the ship but the captain, but in VFX world it is not the plug-in, its Andrew Kramer
To Videocopilot
14 years ago
HEY MAN Congrats!!!
and its all thx to your work
imagine other products you can make!!
and the movies that its going to be from the future!! and all thx to you