Answers.Body: <p>In After Effects, there is an effect <code>Exposure</code> that controls the exposure of the layer. You could probably use that instead of a white shape layer.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-19T22:22:09.167Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-19T22:22:09.167Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jeeter
Answers.Body: <p>I suppose you mean that you've filmed a flash that you want to "fire" in After Effects.
  If you buy the Video Copilot <strong>Optical Flares</strong> or Red Giant <strong>Knoll Light Factory</strong> you can simply put a lens flare on the flash and animate the strength.</p>
  
  <p>Download a trial and see for yourself!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-03-12T11:08:05.623Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-03-12T11:08:05.623Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Friend of Kim
Answers.Body: <p>As a photographer, a flash is simply a very short burst of white light (as you're no doubt aware). The maximum time at full power is usually around 1/250th of a second, which is equal to 1/10th of a frame. In that case, if you were to accurately represent a flash being fired, you would simply boost the exposure of a single frame by several stops (to make it almost completely white, whilst retaining a little bit of detail).</p>
  
  <p>Something as simple as this would suffice.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qjGwN.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>For one frame.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zKx91.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>If you really wanted to be technically accurate, you could simulate the CMOS flicker of a flash by only boosting the exposure on a horizontal portion of the frame, say the top 2/3rds or something.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-03-12T22:59:43.990Z
Answers.Text: So, we've given him two different answers. One that simulates a subject getting hit by a flash, and one that simulates a flash firing into the camera.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Friend of Kim
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-03-12T22:14:39.457Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Nick Bedford
Body: <p>Can anyone give me some tips on simulating a camera flash in After Effects. I am trying to make it keyframing the scale and opacity of a white shape layer but I can't get it to look right.</p>
  
Tags: <after-effects>
Title: Simulating a camera flash
UserDisplayName: TheSwansonCode
ThreadText: # Simulating a camera flash
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-03-12)
  
  Can anyone give me some tips on simulating a camera flash in After Effects. I am trying to make it keyframing the scale and opacity of a white shape layer but I can't get it to look right.
  
  **Tags:** after-effects
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-03-12. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  As a photographer, a flash is simply a very short burst of white light (as you're no doubt aware). The maximum time at full power is usually around 1/250th of a second, which is equal to 1/10th of a frame. In that case, if you were to accurately represent a flash being fired, you would simply boost the exposure of a single frame by several stops (to make it almost completely white, whilst retaining a little bit of detail).
  
  Something as simple as this would suffice.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qjGwN.jpg)
  
  For one frame.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/zKx91.jpg)
  
  If you really wanted to be technically accurate, you could simulate the CMOS flicker of a flash by only boosting the exposure on a horizontal portion of the frame, say the top 2/3rds or something.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: So, we've given him two different answers. One that simulates a subject getting hit by a flash, and one that simulates a flash firing into the camera.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-12-19. Score: 2
  
  In After Effects, there is an effect `Exposure` that controls the exposure of the layer. You could probably use that instead of a white shape layer.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-03-12. Score: 0
  
  I suppose you mean that you've filmed a flash that you want to "fire" in After Effects.
  If you buy the Video Copilot **Optical Flares** or Red Giant **Knoll Light Factory** you can simply put a lens flare on the flash and animate the strength.
  
  Download a trial and see for yourself!
  
  
  ---
  
  