Lens Flare
Build a positioned lens flare with ghosts, streaks, glare, halo haze, and chromatic reflections.
Add Lens Flare
Open an image or build the source composition first. Put this effect after the content it should process in stack processing order. Choose Optics → Lens → Flare → Lens Flare in the effects picker, or search for Lens Flare with Cmd/Ctrl + F. Select the new layer in Layers to open its Effect Panel.
Choose the optical look
Select Profile and Source, then place the light using Anchor X and Anchor Y. Optical Center controls the lens centre around which ghosts align.
Shape the flare
Adjust Intensity, Ghost Count and Ghost Spacing, then Halo Haze or Anamorphic Streak for the light structure. Tune Tint, Coating, Dirt and Veiling after the flare is positioned.
Set an individual colour
Click the relevant colour swatch to open its picker. Colors and Palettes explains colour values, transparency and the canvas sampling controls where available.
Compare and finish
Toggle the layer eye to compare with the incoming composition. Use the Effect Panel footer for opacity and blend mode, or add a mask to limit the affected area. In Video or Live, use the function menu on a supported control to add keyframes or a driver.
Control reference
Show individual controls
| Control | What it does | Values and animation |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor → Optic | Ghosts march along the line from the anchor to the optical centre. Off = cluster around the anchor. | On / Off Default: On Discrete keyframes |
| Anchor X | Horizontal origin of the lens flare. | 0 to 1 Default: 0.75 Continuous keyframes |
| Anchor Y | Vertical origin of the lens flare. | 0 to 1 Default: 0.25 Continuous keyframes |
| Streak Angle | Rotates the main lens-flare axis and streak orientation. | 0° to 360° Default: 0° Continuous keyframes |
| Aperture Blades | Number of blades shaping the aperture or starburst. | 3 to 12 Default: 6 Continuous keyframes |
| Coating | Strength of the coloured lens-coating reflections. | 0% to 100% Default: 45% Continuous keyframes |
| Dirt | Amount of lens-dirt modulation around bright flare regions. | 0% to 100% Default: 0% Continuous keyframes |
| Dispersion | Separates colour wavelengths in lens ghosts and flare detail. | 0% to 100% Default: 28% Continuous keyframes |
| Ghost Count | Base number of lens-reflection ghosts; Ghost Density and the lens profile scale the resulting count. | 0 to 12 Default: 3 Discrete keyframes |
| Ghost Density | Multiplier on the base number of lens-reflection ghosts, combined with the selected lens profile. | 0 to 3 Default: 0.55 Continuous keyframes |
| Ghost Falloff | Brightness retained along the lens-reflection ghost chain; higher values keep later ghosts brighter. | 0% to 100% Default: 50% Continuous keyframes |
| Ghost Softness | Scales the reflected lens-ghost shapes. | 0.5% to 15% Default: 2.2% Continuous keyframes |
| Ghost Spacing | Sets the distance between reflected lens ghosts. | 0.05 to 1 Default: 0.32 Continuous keyframes |
| Glow | Strength of the soft light surrounding the flare source. | 0% to 100% Default: 28% Continuous keyframes |
| Halo Haze | Strength of the ring-shaped lens halo. | 0% to 100% Default: 18% Continuous keyframes |
| Intensity | Scales the complete lens-flare contribution from its chosen source. | 0% to 100% Default: 65% Continuous keyframes |
| Profile | Chooses a lens-flare profile and its optical starting values. | Auto / Clean Spherical / Vintage Spherical / Anamorphic Blue / Dirty Zoom Default: Vintage Spherical Discrete keyframes |
| Optical Center X | Horizontal optical centre around which lens reflections are arranged. | 0 to 1 Default: 0.5 Continuous keyframes |
| Optical Center Y | Vertical optical centre around which lens reflections are arranged. | 0 to 1 Default: 0.5 Continuous keyframes |
| Source | Chooses a manual flare position or a source-image highlight locator. | Auto / Anchor / Highlights / Anchor + Highlights Default: Anchor Discrete keyframes |
| Squeeze | Sets the horizontal or vertical compression of the flare optics. | 0.5 to 4 Default: 1 Continuous keyframes |
| Haze | Strength of the flare's radiating aperture spikes. | 0 to 3 Default: 0.35 Continuous keyframes |
| Haze Radius | Length of the lens flare's aperture spikes. | 0% to 40% Default: 5% Continuous keyframes |
| Starburst Rays | Number of radiating starburst spikes. | 0 to 12 Default: 6 Continuous keyframes |
| Anamorphic Streak | Strength of the long anamorphic flare streak. | 0% to 100% Default: 48% Continuous keyframes |
| Tint | Colour tint applied to the simulated lens-flare light. | Colour Default: #FFD08A Colour keyframes |
| Veiling | Adds a broad low-contrast wash of stray lens light. | 0% to 100% Default: 28% Continuous keyframes |