Searching for tells a specific story. You are a video editor who admires professional VFX, respects optimization ("Extra Quality"), but is operating on a zero-dollar budget.
Optical Flares is an advanced plugin developed by Video Copilot used for designing and animating high-quality, realistic lens flares within Adobe After Effects. It is widely considered an industry-standard tool for motion graphics and visual effects due to its intuitive design interface and deep customization options.
If you want to move beyond basic presets and achieve that high-end cinematic look, Video Copilot’s Optical Flares
: Allows flare elements to react and change size or brightness based on their position in the frame without manual keyframing.