Other Settings
Clamping
Section titled “Clamping”Highly complex lens systems, strong dispersion, or extreme render quality settings can sometimes produce isolated bright pixels commonly referred to as fireflies. These are typically caused by rare but very intense light paths that contribute disproportionately to a single pixel.
The Clamping setting limits the maximum contribution of these extreme values.
Using clamping:
- Reduces or removes fireflies
- Improves visual stability
- Makes results more predictable at high quality settings
Clamping is not physically correct, but it is a practical tool for keeping renders clean especially during look development or when pushing the system aggressively.
A good approach is to use the lowest clamp value that removes visible artifacts without noticeably reducing overall brightness or contrast.
Matte Box
Section titled “Matte Box”The Matte Box parameter simulates the effect of physical matte box flaps placed in front of a camera lens.
In real-world setups, matte boxes are used to:
- Block unwanted light from entering the lens
- Shape lens flares and reflections
- Reduce glare from off-axis light sources
In Flares OFX, the matte box simulation allows you to recreate these effects directly inside the lens system.
Matte Box Controls
Section titled “Matte Box Controls”The matte box consists of multiple virtual flaps positioned in front of the lens. Each flap limits incoming light from a specific direction, affecting how flares and ghosts appear near the frame edges.
Key points:
- The overall matte box effect is controlled in the lens system
- Individual flap lengths can be adjusted in the OpenFX control panel
- Changing flap length alters how aggressively light is blocked from each side
This makes it possible to:
- Shape flare cutoffs
- Create asymmetrical flare behavior
- Match the look of real on-set matte box setups
Practical Usage
Section titled “Practical Usage”- Use Clamping when fireflies appear at high render quality or wavelength counts
- Use the Matte Box to control flare shape and edge behavior
- Adjust individual flap lengths to fine-tune directional blocking
Together, these settings provide additional control for stabilizing and shaping the final lens flare look.