The Flare tool in Adobe Illustrator is it a bug or a great tool?

Do you ever use the Flare tool in Adobe Illustrator? Do I use it not just in class to demo the feature? Yes I do, but I found ways to make it different and usable.

Using the Flare tool Select the Flare tool, which you’ll find grouped with the closed path shape tools. (They are not really related..)

Click and drag from the point where you want the center of the highlight to be. Do not release the mouse button yet. (A.) Press the up and down arrows to add and remove the number of rays in the lens flare. Release the mouse. (B.)

Click and drag to define the lighting direction do not release the mouse button yet (C.). Press the up and down arrows to add and remove the number of rings in the lens flare.(D.) Release the mouse to complete the lens flare.

The Flare Tool is not a Live Effect, you cannot edit it through the Appearance Panel. To edit a flare, select it with the Selection tool and double-click the Flare tool in the Toolbox, to opens the Flare Tool Options dialog, where you specify any changes to the appearance of the flare. When you check the Preview button you will be able to see the changes happening to the flare as you adjust the settings.

This is all great - but now we have to have a reason to use it! Yes. It is fun to click and drag and create different rays, but It real designer mode - how can I use it? Here are some fun ideas to Explore: 1. Using the Flare on a nice dark Background to create spotlights and special effect. 2. Using the Flare Tool in the Opacity Mask. 3. Using the flare Tool as a Symbol. 4. Using the Flare tool as a Brush. 5. Copy and paste as a Smart Object to Photoshop. 1. Using the Flare on a dark background to create spotlights & special effect The Flare Tool was created with objects that are using blending mode and transparencies. The best result will be to use the tool on a dark Background. Here is an example using the Flare on a dark gradient background with light type. The Flare is adding to the look of the graphics. I used transparency effects and blending modes to create the look I wanted. I used the masking tool to mask the area that the Flare To0l was outside the box.

2. Using the Flare Tool in the Opacity Mask I Created an interesting background using the special effect tools.

In this image I used the Graphics Pen Effect to create lines. Duplicated the gradient rectangle, and added a multiply blending mode to it. (E.)

To create an Opacity Mask: I selected the top rectangle. Using the Transparency Panel or the Opacity pull down menu (on the control menu bar) clicked on the fly out menu to create an Opacity Mask.(F.). I Used the Flare tool in the Opacity Mask to create the effect.

3. Using the flare Tool as a Symbol Create the Flare, select it using the Selection tool and drag and drop it to the Symbol Panel. Give the symbol a name by double clicking on the symbol in the panel or by using the fly out menu in the Panel (G.). Use the Symbol tool to play with the Flare Symbol.

While using the Symbol tools, experiment with the Symbol Stainer tool and the Symbol Screener Tool to change the colors of the symbol and the Flare. (H.).

4. Using the Flare tool as a Brush Create a Flare. Select the object with the Selection tool. Go to Object> expand & Expand the Flare. Go to Object>Clipping Mask >Release. If you see changes in he design, double click on the object to isolate it and delete the unwanted lines to create the same design as the original one. (I.)

Select the object with the selection tool and drag and drop to your brush panel to create a Scatter Brush. (J.)

In the Brush options dialog you can change the method of the brush to None, Tint, Tint & shade, Hue Shift. Another way of changing colors of your Flare. (K.)

5. Copy and paste as a Smart Object to Photoshop. Another great way to change the Flare tool options, after drawing the Flare is using it in Photoshop as a Smart Object. Draw the Flare, keep it selected. Copy and paste it into a Photoshop document as a Smart Object. Double click on the Smart Object Icon to bring it back to Illustrator as a Vector Object.(L.) In Illustrator, Double Click on the Flare Icon to bring the Options Dialog Box to change the setting. Save and go back to Photoshop for new Results.

CREATE! EXPLORE! ENJOY!