#Lens Flare IPAS
7 messages in this thread
This is a bug-report/complaint/question about the Lens Flare IPAS from
the Yost Group IPAS Boutique.
I have found that by putting a Lens Flare in the VP list after a
KFScene which contains very smooth opacity maps in the materials, it
causes color banding in those materials in the rendered image.
The materials are simple: just a very smooth 24 bit bitmap in the
shape of a nebula as the opacity map. The Difuse color is set to
red. Self illum all the way up.
With the Lens Flare turned off, the nebula looks oh, so smooth. But
with Lens Flare ON, smoothly graduated colors in the scene become
banded in the 24 bit image. Doesn't seem to matter where the Flare
or the nebula are located.
I widdled down the scene as simple as possible for testing. Any way
to prevent this color banding effect?
On another note, I have to say that the Lens Flare effect is pretty
ugly. Is anyone developing a better one? Have you seen the Lens
Flares produced by LightWave? Video Post is a pretty quirky way to
apply a Lens Flare effect. Especially using all that occlusion
stuff. There must be a more ellegant way to do it. Can't you guys
make Lens Flare an object (or light) attribute or something? It's
impossible to get a beautiful lens flare effect in VGA animations,
because if you make a small flare, the rays become detached, the ring
looks fake, etc…
Please let me know what's going on with that thing. Thanks, -Jeff B.
There are two things going on:
1) It sounds like you're using flare.ixp instead of flare2.ixp.
That's what's causing your banding problem. You should have one of
the new IPAS Boutique catalogs, which explains how to update flare on
page 8. If not, send me some email and I'll give you specifics.
2) Our lens flare isn't as evolved as it could be. True. I agree
with you. In fact, the Sony Pictures Imageworks folks made their own
flare.ixp because they wanted one that was as good as the Alias lens
flare (which is better than the LW flare, btw). I'm hoping that they
eventually sell their version (you'll see it used in Johnny Mnemonic
this Xmas). If they don't sell their version, we're going to have to
do another version eventually ourselves.
– G
Is there anything different about FLARE2 besides the banding fix? I'll pay my
dealer a visit and have a peek at it. Anyway I hope someone's coming up with a
better one. I don't mean to be such a winer–I'm along time dedicated user of
3DS but it's embarassing when my
Amiga-using-friends-who-paid-$750-for-LightWave-with-flare-built-in look at the
nuances or 3DS's render and ask "You paid how much for this!?" I think some of
what you guys produce IS worth the expense. I understand though that things
are constantly evolving, including everyone's standards.
Flare2 also is net-aware, so you can use it with network rendering on multiple
machines.
– G
I think I remember hearing that the folks at Digimation were working on a
better flare. Usually they're lurking here, but if not, call them at
800-854-4496
-Roger
I agree that the lens flare needs updating. In your case you need to update to
the latest Yost version. Lens flare for 3DSr2 is reducing your r3 renderings
to 8 bit color dithered my friend. In fact, all the r2 IXP's will do this.
As for being a whiner, please do. I have been hearing about the LW lens flare
for some time now from the local toaster guys. Fortunately I haven't heard any
comparisons from my customers. I have viewed only a couple of LW lensflares
and am not sure what all the brouhaha is about. One of my constituents says
the LW flare has more control for the end look. He uses both products
professionally. And all along I thought 3DS flare was pretty controllable
except for the occlusion. <G> Could you or anyone else explain specifically
what LW does that 3DS flare doesn't?
Thanks
I'm VERY glad to hear that you're open to updating your excellent, if not a tad
aged, IPAS2 routines. I really love the functions, and just get warm and fuzzy
all over thinking how great they'd be with real-time previews, interactive
controls, and the generally more fleshed out form of R3(4) stuff!
John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)