Pipeline Integration
Flares OFX is designed to integrate cleanly into modern compositing and post- production pipelines. It supports multiple ways of driving lens flares while keeping the rendering process predictable and compatible with standard workflows.
Lens flares can be driven either by explicitly defined lights or by image data, depending on the needs of the shot.
Light/Position-Driven Flares
Section titled “Light/Position-Driven Flares”The first approach is to set lights individually.
In this mode:
- Light sources are placed and animated explicitly
- Each light drives its own flare response
- The result is fully deterministic and easy to art-direct
This workflow is ideal when light sources are clearly defined or when precise control over individual flares is required.
Pixel-Driven Flares
Section titled “Pixel-Driven Flares”The second approach is Pixel-Driven Flares.
In this mode:
- An HDR image is used as input
- The plugin analyzes the image and detects bright regions
- Virtual light sources are generated automatically
- These lights define the position and intensity of the flares
Pixel-driven flares do not change how flares are rendered. They simply automate light placement and weighting based on image brightness.
This approach is particularly useful for:
- Live-action plates
- CG renders with many light sources
- Environments where manual light setup would be impractical
Read more about pixel driven flares in a separate section.
Post-Processing Workflow
Section titled “Post-Processing Workflow”Once the flares are rendered, they typically become part of a standard compositing pipeline.
At this stage:
- Color correction
- Exposure adjustments
- Grading and post effects
are applied outside of the plugin, just like with any other rendered element.
Pixel-driven flares integrate naturally into this workflow, as the automatically generated lights respond consistently to the original image content, while final look decisions remain in post-processing.
Practical Workflow
Section titled “Practical Workflow”A typical pipeline setup might look like this:
- Provide an HDR image or render as input
- Enable Pixel-Driven Flares to generate lights automatically
- Render the lens flares
- Composite the flares into the shot
- Perform color correction and post-processing as part of the standard pipeline
This allows fast setup of complex flare scenarios while preserving full control during final compositing.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”- Flares OFX supports both manual and pixel-driven light workflows
- Pixel-driven flares automate light position and intensity
- Flare rendering remains fully deterministic
- Final look adjustments are handled in post-processing
- The plugin integrates cleanly into existing compositing pipelines
This separation keeps flare generation efficient while allowing flexible, non-destructive look development downstream.