What It Did
Real Glow generated glow effects by simulating inverse square light falloff, the way real light behaves in the physical world. Unlike After Effects’ native glow or most third-party alternatives that use simple linear blur, Real Glow calculated optically correct light decay.
This plugin has been discontinued. The developer recommends Deep Glow 2 as its replacement.
Key Features
Inverse square falloff. Light intensity decreased according to the inverse square law, matching how actual light sources behave. This created more believable glows for realistic lighting, lightsaber effects, or sci-fi energy elements.
16/32-bit color support. Preserved high color precision and overbright values, useful when working with HDR footage or compositing elements that exceed standard color ranges.
Multiple tint modes. Offered various color adjustment options for creative control over glow appearance.
Linear and non-linear color space compatibility. Worked correctly in both color spaces, maintaining accurate results regardless of project settings.
Who It Was For
Motion designers needing physically accurate glow for light phenomena. VFX artists compositing glowing elements like energy beams, light sabers, or practical lights into footage. Anyone who found After Effects’ native glow too soft or unrealistic.
Pricing
Real Glow cost $29 (last listed price before discontinuation). Render-only licenses were available separately for render farm use.