Knoll Light Factory remains a beloved and powerful tool, and for a specific setup like Photoshop CC 2015 on an Intel-based Mac, it can still be a perfect solution. It provides a user-friendly yet deep suite of tools for creating everything from subtle natural light to extravagant sci-fi lens flares. Its presets, customization, and professional-grade features like occlusion and real-time preview set it far above standard effects.

Create a new empty layer above your background image to work non-destructively.

Horizontal streaks characteristic of cinematic anamorphic lenses.

Real lenses introduce color artifacts based on their coatings. Pay attention to the color temperature of your scene. A cool, blue sci-fi scene should feature blue or anamorphic streak flares, while a warm portrait demands soft, orange, or yellow polygonal reflections.

To install Knoll Light Factory into Photoshop CC 2015 on a Mac workstation, follow these steps:

Using Knoll Light Factory to add Lens Flares with After Effects

As of early 2026, Maxon (who acquired Red Giant) has discontinued Knoll Light Factory in favor of newer, AI-driven tools. However, is available for users needing to work in older environments like Photoshop CC 2015 .

Ensure Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 is completely shut down.

Use the color picker within the plugin to match the flare's color to the warm or cool tones of your image. Conclusion

represents a significant intersection of Hollywood visual effects and professional digital photography. Developed by John Knoll —an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic and co-creator of Adobe Photoshop—this plugin was designed to bring the cinematic lens flares used in films like Star Wars and Star Trek to the desktop. The Legacy of John Knoll

How to Install Knoll Light Factory on Mac (Photoshop CC 2015)

Click and drag the central crosshair to place the origin point of the light. Match the position to existing light sources in your photo, such as: The sun peaking through tree branches. Streetlamps or car headlights in a night scene. Flashlights or sci-fi laser beams. 4. Choose or Customize Your Flare

Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started with Knoll Light Factory:

Reduce the layer opacity if the flare is blinding or overpowering.

For artists who thrive on happy accidents, the plugin included a randomize button and slider. This feature could generate surprising and unique flare compositions you might not have thought to create manually, injecting an element of chance and discovery into your workflow.