pixels : PIU : Simulating Lens Flare

Introduction

This tutorial will describe how simulate a lens flare using ShaderMaker and PiXELS3D. The tutorial will also demonstrate how to animate a lens flare. Much of the content in this tutorial is courtesy of Curtis Fung. You can visit his web site by pointing your browser to the PiXELS3D community page.

This tutorial requires:

Pixels3D | studio | v3.7

Creating the Scene

First create a new scene. Specify the properties to the right for your camera.

Create a Sphere

Now create a sphere (spacebar-two). Use the properties to the right for the newly created sphere.
Inside of PiXELS3D you can save time by using spacebar-key combinations. Below are some important spacebar-key combinations. Memorizing all of the spacebar-key combinations speed up your workflow.

Spacebar-2
Creates a sphere.
Spacebar-3
Creates a cone.
Spacebar-4
Creates a mesh.
Spacebar-q
Move
Spacebar-w
Rotate
Spacebar-e
Scale
Spacebar-s
Reshape>Spline

Create Another Light

Now create another light with the properties listed to the right.

Specify "Light_1_Interest" Properties.

Make sure "Light_1_Interest" has the properties listed to the right.

Closing Notes

Your scene should look like the scene to the left. Now we will create the actual shader that will give a "lens flare" appearance.

Creating the Shader in ShaderMaker

1. For the diffuse node choose "Edge Blend".
2. For the outer color choose "Blender".
3. For the blending function choose "Edge Blend".

Make sure your diffuse node reflects the sequence of nodes listed to the right. As stated the first node is "Edge Blend" and so on. For users who are new to PiXELS3D you can nest nodes within nodes. Apply this shader to your sphere. The number of levels deep you are allowed to go is pretty much infinite assuming you have enough memory, which in most cases you will.

Creating the Shader in ShaderMaker Part II

For the opacity node choose "Edge Blend" and make sure its properties reflects those listed to the right.

Render

If everything went smoothly you should end up with something that resembles the image on the right!

Animating & Closing Notes

Try animating the light by gradually changing the sphere's size and your new light's glow color. Check out the movie to the right.

Downloadables :
Lens_Flare_Shader.sit