Learning Optical Flares

Learn step-by-step procedures for replicating and simulating common lens effects—with any VFX software.

Introduction

• Introduction and overview

1. Lens Effects

• What causes depth of field?
• How to simulate depth of field
• Creating bokeh effects
• Matching a soft focus
• Adding a vignette
• Creating anamorphic vignettes

2. Lens Defects

• Adding spherical aberration
• Simulating astigmatism
• The causes of chromatic aberration
• Simulating chromatic aberration

3. Glows and Flares

• Adding filter flares
• Creating diffraction glows
• Simulating veiling glares
• The right look and behavior for lens flares
• The proper math for adding lens flares

4. Layering Order

• Proper layering order