[Clint Porter]

Wow Filip, that’s really amazing! Nice job on that!

While I’m really looking forward to the day that After Effects can give Premiere users something more flexible, I think I’ll try to incorporate the color fill code into what I’m making.

Thanks again! -Clint

[Clint Porter]

Final Cut Pro Classic can do just what you describe – it can trim and export some codecs without recompressing them, like DV and DVCPRO HD. I think we should all ask Adobe to add this.

I’d be surprised, though, if you can find any software that truly trims AVCHD without recompressing it, unless it’s AVC-Intra. AVCHD is a different animal. In AVCHD, most frames borrow pixel data from the immediately preceding frames, making them very hard to slice up without re-encoding. I suppose it’s possible to just re-encode the 15 or so dependent frames surrounding a cut, but most software doesn’t go that deep.

[Clint Porter]

I should also add that this issue remains the same in CS4 and CS5.

[Clint Porter]

I should probably clarify what I meant by “resize the solid”… I meant you need to increase the resolution of the solid’s dimensions.

So what you’re doing in essence is making a high-definition solid on which the lens flare is acting, and then scaling it back down to fit the comp.

[Clint Porter]

I had this same issue, and I just discovered a really easy fix!

Mark is right that the issue is subpixel rendering. The AE lens flare doesn’t use it. None of the issues Dave mentioned are relevant in this case, but I do appreciate his taking the time to try to help.

THE FIX: Make AE subpixel render it.

Go to the solid settings and resize the solid. I multiplied it by x3–not perfect, but much improved.

Then, fit the solid to the comp size (reducing its size by the same factor). Voila, a smooth, subpixel-rendered lens flare.

This works even when you use a 3D Null to drive the flare center point (which is what I’m usually doing). The only caveat is you have to multiply your toComp expression by the same size factor to produce the right result. For example (on the Flare Center property): thisComp.layer(“Sun”).toComp([0,0,0])*3