Click directly in the preview window to anchor the light source to a specific highlight in your photo.
Requires at least 1GB of RAM and 30MB of disk space.
It may not function correctly on the latest versions of macOS or Windows 11 without specific compatibility adjustments.
This feature allows flares to be partially blocked by objects in your scene (using a grayscale mask), creating a realistic sense of depth and 3D integration.
Red Giant Knoll Light Factory v3.2.2 is a legendary Photoshop plugin designed to simulate high-fidelity, photorealistic lens flares and lighting effects. Developed by John Knoll, the co-creator of Photoshop and a visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic, this tool has been a staple in Hollywood for everything from sci-fi films like Star Wars to professional commercial photography.
Supports high-resolution workflows by rendering in 16-bit to reduce color banding and ensure smooth gradients. Workflow Integration
Users can build their own flares from scratch using 19 individual light elements, such as GlowBall, SpikeBall, Chroma Hoop, and PolySpread.
Historically compatible with Windows Vista/7/8 and Mac OS X 10.5.8 to 10.8.
While powerful, v3.2.2 is a legacy version. It was officially discontinued by in March 2023 in favor of the newer Real Lens Flares plugin.
How to Add Lighting Effects to Photos with Knoll Light Factory
