Scene group

Affect Alpha

Specifies whether or not the glow affects the alpha channel of the image, when rendered to a 32-bit file format.

Affect Z Buffer

Specifies whether or not the glow affects the Z-Buffer of the image. When this option is enabled, the linear distance of the glow is recorded, and can be used in special effects that make use of the Z-Buffer. For example, Lens Effects Focus blurs objects based on their Z-Buffer information. To use Focus with a glow, you must enable this option.

Distance Fade group

These controls fade the glow effect, based on its distance from the camera. This is the same as distance fade for the lens flare.

Bright

Lets you fade the brightness of the glow effect based on the distance from the camera. This is ideal for submarine running lights and any other effect where you want your glow to disappear into the distance. This parameter can be animated.

Size

Lets you fade the size of the glow effect based on the distance from the camera. In most circumstances, you want the overall size of the glow to diminish as it gets farther away from the camera. This parameter can be animated.

Lock

When selected, locks the Bright and Size values together, so that the size and brightness fading is synchronized.

Effect group

Size

Sets the size of the overall glow effect. This parameter can be animated.

Softness

Softens and blurs the glow effect. Values range from 0 to 100. This control is enabled only when you use Gradients as the color method (see the next section). Softness is only available when the Gradient option in the Color area is selected. This parameter can be animated.

Color group

Gradient

Creates the glow based on the settings in the Gradients panel. When you use this method, you can use the Softness spinner in the Effect area.

Pixel

Creates the glow based on the pixel color of the object. This is the default method. It is very fast.

User

Lets you select a color for the glow effect. Click the color swatch to display the Color Selector and choose a color.

Intensity

Controls the intensity or brightness of the glow effect. Values range from 0 to 100. This control is enabled only when Pixel or User is the chosen color method.