Question: Are there any plugins for Final Cut that simulate a still camera flash? Using the dip to color dissolve just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Answer: The easiest (and cheapest) way to accomplish this effect is to place eight or so frames of white over your transition, use composite mode “add” and ramp the opacity of the white so it peaks at the cut. Once built, just copy and paste the white over your cuts that need a flash.

Try the flash frame effect that comes with the free ‘too much too soon’ fx package.

Another option, to simulate the effect, is by doing the speed ramp-up and -down in the After Effects, and applying a Levels control to ‘overexpose’ it, plus a blur filter to soften the ‘overexposed’ frames. Blowing out the levels control usually causes jagged color edges in the image.

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