Lens flare WITHOUT PHOTOSHOP!

**Big Frank** · 26 January 2011, 10:59 AM

I've noticed a number of people use Photoshop for post-production work when in many cases there really isn't any need. Here, for those who want to keep their drawings free of Adobishness, is my totally Xara lens flare (background and earth are bitmaps). :

**gwpriester** · 26 January 2011, 12:42 PM

Awesome. I have always felt transparencies like this are one of Xara's strongest features.

**Soquili** · 26 January 2011, 12:52 PM

Very well done Frank.

In Xara it requires skill and an eye for details. In Adobe it only requires knowing where the effect is located in the myriad of menus.

Definition of MYRIAD
1: ten thousand
2: a great number <a myriad of ideas>

**handrawn** · 26 January 2011, 01:07 PM

nice one Frank

**Big Frank** · 26 January 2011, 01:13 PM

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

The big difference of course is the vector factor. On the left, your Photoshop bitmap, on the right your Xara drawing :

**Big Frank** · 26 January 2011, 01:24 PM

I have Adobe CS1 so I'm not sure if in the meantime they have improved that particular filter. However, even though I always liked the effect it gives, I found it awkward to use and, what's worse, you cannot AFAIK use the filter on a transparent background. This means that you have to take a backup copy of the layer you wish to apply the effect to. Not convenient.

Drawing a camera lens flare in Xara is a project I've wanted to do for a long time. Now that it's done I have it to use one any further projects I do.

**James Allen** · 26 January 2011, 01:28 PM

Well done beret!

I wonder if Xara will ever develop and include a few of these kinds of vector lens flares in their extras.

**Big Frank** · 26 January 2011, 02:10 PM

In the days before forums I spent my time on the newsgroups. In those days Photoshop had no instant drop shadow filter. We got pretty tired of people who obviously had a downloaded pirate copy of Photoshop asking where they could download (for free, of course) this drop shadow filter. There wasn't one. We drew it ourselves using the gaussian blur tool. The more free extras Xara bundle into Xara Designer, the broader their market appeal will be because of the "instant graphic designer" effect. However, Xara has always included the tools to enable people to create the most fantastic art. So, until they do, those who can, do, and those who can't, let's teach them how

**gwpriester** · 26 January 2011, 02:51 PM

I have CS5 (Reviewer's copy) and the Lens Flare has not changed a lot. There are two new settings, 105 Prime and Movie Prime. But not a whole lot of difference.

And of course with Photoshop you can make the effect brighter or less bright but you cannot really do anything with the individual flares.

**wizard509** · 26 January 2011, 02:56 PM

Well done Frank.
Personally I don't especially like rastor based programs and use one as little as possible. I prefer to do all I can figure out with Xara. That isn't to say that they don't have their uses because they do.
That is a beautiful and imaginative image Frank and the lens flare is very effective and nice touch. If that image has a center of interest it has to be the lens flare.