Lensflare Alpha value - does it work?

  • Hi
    I am experimenting with lensflare and it is just a bit too in your face. I've read the other posts on redesigning the lensflare jpg, but I kind of like the current one, it is just too strong.
    The XML documentation for lensflare lists
    lensflare.alpha Number 1.0
    Which sounds like a great way to make it more subtle.
    But inserted into my code

    Code
    <lensflare name="lf0" set="DEFAULT" visible="true" alpha="1.0" ath="160" atv="0" size="0.60" blind="0.40" blindcurve="3.00" />


    It shows the following error
    ERROR: unknown attribute/path - lensflare[lf0].alpha
    Does the alpha value work? Or have I done it wrong?
    Thank you.
    Mike

    Bio: Generation fluxer - farmer, mechatronics engineer, project manager, climbing shop manager, landscape photographer, programmer, virtual panographer, cyclist, life lover.
    Twitter: MikeJMcFarlane
    email: moo@moosooboo.com
    www: http://www.moosooboo.com

  • no it does not. these are the only setting usable for lens flare

    https://krpano.com/docu/xml/#lensflare

    Hi,

    I'm confused then because if you click 'show/hide advanced settings' it shows the following including alpha:

    <lensflare> show / hide advanced settings
    Defines a lensflare (sun).

    <lensflare name="..."
    set="DEFAULT"
    visible="true"
    keep="false"
    ath="0.0"
    atv="0.0"
    size="0.8"
    blind="0.6"
    blindcurve="4.0"
    />
    full variable name (read only) type default value
    lensflare.count int 0
    The count / number of all lensflare elements.
    full variable name (read only) type default value
    lensflare.visible Boolean true
    Show / hide the whole lensflare layer.
    full variable name (read only) type default value
    lensflare.alpha Number 1.0
    Controls the transparency / alpha of the whole lensflare layer.

    full variable name (as3 usage only) type default value
    lensflare.layer Sprite
    Actionscript 3 Sprite object of the lensflare layer.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    name lensflare[name].name String
    The name of the lensflare element (see the name notes).
    attribute name full variable name (read only) type default value
    index lensflare[name].index int
    The index of the lensflare element.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    set lensflare[name].set String "DEFAULT"
    The lensflare set/style to use for this lensflare.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    visible lensflare[name].visible Boolean true
    Visibility of the lensflare element.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    keep lensflare[name].keep Boolean false
    Should this lensflare element be kept or removed when loading a new pano.
    See also the loadpano() action.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    ath lensflare[name].ath Number 0.0
    The horizontal position of the lensflare in spherical coordinates (-180 to +180).
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    atv lensflare[name].atv Number 0.0
    The vertical position of the lensflare in spherical coordinates (-90 to +90).
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    size lensflare[name].size Number 0.8
    The size / scale of the flares from the lensflare element.
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    blind lensflare[name].blind Number 0.6
    The blinding factor - how much will it blind, when you look into the sun:
    0.0=no blinding, 1.0=full blinding (=white screen)
    attribute name full variable name type default value
    blindcurve lensflare[name].blindcurve Number 4.0
    The blinding curve (1.0 - 10.0) - it controls the increase of the strongness of the blinding when getting near the center position of the flare.

    Do the advanced settings not work for everything, because they def work for some other tags?
    Thanks
    Mike

    Bio: Generation fluxer - farmer, mechatronics engineer, project manager, climbing shop manager, landscape photographer, programmer, virtual panographer, cyclist, life lover.
    Twitter: MikeJMcFarlane
    email: moo@moosooboo.com
    www: http://www.moosooboo.com

  • i forgot to check the advanced settings. it does appear that alpha should work. it must be a bug. download and older version of krpano and see if it works with that version.


    Hi
    Thanks, I will try that and report the bug if there.
    Kind regards
    Mike

    Bio: Generation fluxer - farmer, mechatronics engineer, project manager, climbing shop manager, landscape photographer, programmer, virtual panographer, cyclist, life lover.
    Twitter: MikeJMcFarlane
    email: moo@moosooboo.com
    www: http://www.moosooboo.com


  • Hi
    Thanks, I will try that and report the bug if there.
    Kind regards
    Mike


    Just a quick update. I've decided not to use the lensflare in the current pano I am working on so didn't test an older version of krpano. I'm not totally sure I like the overall effect. It's great in video, but it seems a bit artificial on still (even pano) images. It is probably great in the right application. It also seemed to slow the pano down.

    Bio: Generation fluxer - farmer, mechatronics engineer, project manager, climbing shop manager, landscape photographer, programmer, virtual panographer, cyclist, life lover.
    Twitter: MikeJMcFarlane
    email: moo@moosooboo.com
    www: http://www.moosooboo.com

  • Hi,

    there is no alpha setting for single lensflares,

    the "lensflare.alpha" variable controls the alpha of the whole "layer" that contains all lensflares,
    don't mix that up with "lensflare[name].alpha", such variable doesn't exist,

    further - about alpha for lensflares - the lensflare images were "ADDED" to the screen,
    so to make them fewer visible you can change the color value in the lensflare set:
    https://krpano.com/docu/xml/#lensflareset.flare.color

    best regards,
    Klaus

  • HI Klaus,

    Thanks for the info. I am currently working on this at the moment.

    Question 1:
    If changing the color value of the flares can make less visible, what colors should I use to make some disappear. I have tried 0xFFFFFF and 0x00000 and there doesn't seem to be a big difference.

    Here is what I have in the lensflaset:

    <lensflareset name="default" url="images/flares.jpg">
    <flare pixsize="128" pixupos=" 0" pixvpos=" 0" color="0xffffef" pos="0.000" scale="0.100" />
    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="128" pixvpos="128" color="0x060606" pos="-0.100" scale="0.110" />
    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="192" pixvpos="128" color="0x555f64" pos="0.200" scale="0.020" />
    <flare pixsize="128" pixupos=" 0" pixvpos="128" color="0x240a00" pos="0.300" scale="0.050" />
    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="192" pixvpos="128" color="0x144422" pos="0.400" scale="0.020" />

    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="128" pixvpos="192" color="0x143c40" pos="0.600" scale="0.050" />
    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="128" pixvpos="128" color="0x000000" pos="0.800" scale="0.012" />
    <flare pixsize="128" pixupos=" 0" pixvpos="128" color="0x000000" pos="1.100" scale="0.050" />
    <flare pixsize=" 64" pixupos="192" pixvpos="128" color="0x000000" pos="1.500" scale="0.060" />
    <flare pixsize="128" pixupos=" 0" pixvpos="128" color="0x000000" pos="1.700" scale="0.050" />

    </lensflareset>


    Question 2:
    By changing colours, can I also modify transparency of the flares? In that case what type of colors affect transparency.

    thanks

    B

  • Hi,

    Quote

    If changing the color value of the flares can make less visible, what colors should I use to make some disappear. I have tried 0xFFFFFF and 0x00000 and there doesn't seem to be a big difference.

    darker colors are less visible, 0x000000 should make the flare invisible,

    it works like this:

    Code
    outputcolor = panoimagecolor + lensflarebitmapcolor * flarecolor

    best regards,
    Klaus

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