Paint.NET

And thanks all for the samples you've provided...
That should help!

Here are screenshots of GIMP's UI:

Lens flare (FlareFX):



The cross is moveable.

GFlare's interface is more complicated, as there are more options. I will not provide all of the settings, it's just too much.

I think the FlareFX UI is much better just for the simplicity of it. Maybe a few options for like length of overall flare, width of overall flare and possibly colour scheme or simply a colour palette like the one in the Drop Shadow plugin.

I believe (and this is no dig against what you already have or are doing) that too many options immediately hits the user with a sudden sense of "whoa?!" and it may become a daunting experience each time they want to utilize the plugin. But this is just my opinion and I will be happy with whatever comes out of the wood works.

I agree with myrddin on the whole "whoa" factor. It might be useful to have a "simple/advanced" layout, where a common (i.e. your favorite) set of detailed settings is preset (and not alterable) in the simple view (but basic things like direction and size can be changed), and everything is adjustable in the advanced view.

That way, nobody gets scared off, and power users can tinker with it to their heart's delight.

You are not making my (programer's) life easy...
I will try to do my best on this UI...(I'm not yet accurate with C# so...)

Yeah, the GFlare UI is just awful. On the other hand, FlareFX provides to less options, and indeed there should be a colour picker or something like that.

Keep going, MadJik.

MadJik - would applying a UI like the Fast Zoom Blur (as far as direction) be easiest? I think that UI is phenomenal.

BTW, at the time I'm posting this, your post count is 1138. The sci-fi geek in me giggles.

Haha.

THX.

That's funny.

Are you talk about THX1138? GLucas?

Yep. The movie itself, as well as all the references to it in various movies since.

George Lucas seems a bit addicted to it... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THX_1138#R ... ther_media

Please Hurry! I've been wanting this plugin for years! (but I'm to lazy to learn how to program in C++++ {Why can't we just use Python, it's much more efficient!})

Work in progress situation (before vaccation)
(credits to Ash for the Skull!)


I've changed my mind for this plugin and instead drawing each pixels, I'm using Ellipse (circle).
So exit the 'flakes'...
The source of the light is determined by scanning each pixel from top-left to bottom-right, lines per lines.
The first whitest pixel is assumed to be the source of the light.
From this point, I'm drawing 7 source flares + 7 symetric flares (=14 circles).
All circles are center-aligned on a line going from the source of the light to the center of the image.
You can't change the shapes, the quantity of flare, the center (as reference).
you can change the distances, the diameters, the transparency...

If you need to place the source of the light yourself, follow these steps:
1.Add a new layer.
2.F4, set the blend mode to Additive.
3.Fill the layer with black.
4.Spot a pixel with white color where you need the source of the light to be...
5.Effect/Render/LensFlare...

Advise: Save your work as often as posibly (in temporary folder if you want...) this plugin is still work in progress!
No risk to use it if you have a backup...

Test it, play with it and let me know. It works best with dark images...



New plugin LensFlare.dll
Here is the zip for the DLL

I tested the new version for a couple of days (thanks for sharing, last but not least) and to be honest, I prefer your first (?) version much more. I know it is work in progress, but the first version was more impressive (in my eyes). Maybe the solution would be to combine the old and the new version?

Still I would be very happy to see a plugin to render some of your beautiful stars, MadJik. I tried it myself using the code you've provided, but results were more then poor (consequence of the fact I have no knowledge of this matter...)

It would not be so much work for you, as you have the code, superior knowledge and resources I don't have. And I believe it would be easier than these lens flare project.

I think that is what makes the first version looks better. The circles can only have one color and even if the color is semi-transparent(?) you get those hard borders, which don´t look as good as the GIMPs G-Flare.

I think you can make it smoother/softer(what ever is the right word might be....) if you use many circles with a small increment. But it would be even better if you draw the border pixel per pixel or don´t use circles like the first version.
I don´t know how fast it is, still not testet. Maybe make a quality and a speed mode?

@Fisherman´s Friend: I thought Madjik already made a stars plugin, just a little hidden in an other plugintopic. But this may be not the stars you mean.

[EDIT]And sorry for all the critisim, I just thought it may help. I love your plugins and hopefully I have the time to test this on and the GenTree soon.

Hi MadJik, great idea this plugin!

Any news from the progress of your work? Anyways, thanks for what you've already done so far...