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Optical Flares crashes in v23.4.0 - not longer supported?

Community Beginner ,
Jul 27, 2023 Jul 27, 2023

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Good day everyone!

 

Since the update to AfterEffects v23.4.0 every time I try to use Videocopilot's Optical Flares or every time I open a existing project, that uses Optical Flares, After Effects crashes. When re-starting AE it recommends to disable Optical Flares. 

 

I talked to some colleagues, to see if it's a problem of my setup, but all of them face the same problem! (We're all working on Windows, if that matters)

 

Is Optical Flares still supported? Is there a way to work with Optical Flares in the recent AE Version? We really use that plugin a lot and it always worked well for us. And we need to work with existing projects using Optical Flares, so we really need to find a solution for the future, other than installing and working with older AE versions...

 

Can you provide any tips /help for that? Wondering, that there's not more people, reporting that same issue? I think this is a known problem at your side, right?

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Adobe Employee ,
Jul 27, 2023 Jul 27, 2023

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Hi, I'm Sébastien from the After Effects Team,

 

I'm sorry you are encountering issues with Optical Flare. As this is a crash happening in a third party plugin, I would recommand reaching out to their support team to see if they know more about it and can address your issue.

Meanwhile, you can try these steps and see if it solves your issue:

  • Update your GPU drivers
  • Update After Effects to 23.5
  • Try in current After Effects Beta version

 

Hope this helps,

Seb

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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Hi Sébastien!

 

Thanks for your quick answer! Not really, as the plugin works fine in the old version and AfterEffects crashes, as soon as I open an old project using it or try to apply the effect in the new version, AfterEffects crashes, not the plugin...? Everything worked until I updated AfterEffects, so I don't see the problem in the third party plugin but After Effects, as everything else is still the same and working in older versions.

 

Ok, I'll try the GPU driver updates, if there's any new ones... I also may try to update to 23.5 - but this already may cause new problems as I work in a team and we're all working in v23.4 ... AND I already have issues working with the recent update, so I'm really afraid of updating further, regarding other plugins which may not work any longer... It's really annoying that there's always issues with those updates and it takes hours to get the software to run again, like it did before, with all the plugins, scripts, shortcuts, ... 

Sorry, I'm not putting that on you, but I want you guys to know, that your users think like that, as I guess this is important feedback for you 😉

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 04, 2023 Aug 04, 2023

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Minor Update: I updated the GPU drivers, no difference. I installed 22.6.4 again, OF works without problems! Next step is 23.5 than...

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New Here ,
Aug 19, 2023 Aug 19, 2023

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I have the same issue as you since the update, did you come to any fix?

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Contributor ,
Aug 21, 2023 Aug 21, 2023

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To this day I've pretty much given up. Wasting way too much time messing with this issue.

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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New Here ,
Aug 22, 2023 Aug 22, 2023

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Dam, I wish Adobe would look into it. It's not a Mac issue as I have the same problem on Windows.

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Contributor ,
Aug 22, 2023 Aug 22, 2023

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Is your system crashing or are you getting the warning that there's a missing plugin? Mine is the later. Did everything suggested by VideoCopilot and still not working.

 

Suggestions to go back to a previous version is fine with a new project but most of my material is set up as templates for banging out the same material for a multitude of users and with files not being backward compatible, that doesn't address the issue. Dead in the water with respect to Optical Flares at this point.

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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New Here ,
Aug 23, 2023 Aug 23, 2023

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I'm getting - I try to use Videocopilot's Optical Flares or every time I open a existing project, that uses Optical Flares, After Effects crashes.

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Contributor ,
Aug 23, 2023 Aug 23, 2023

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See that's different - probably because you're on a windows machine. I hate these respponses to reload After Effects, Use the latest installer etc etc. I've been using AE since pre 1.0. I have a pretty good idea what to try and refuse to waste anymore time experimenting. It's always been flawless once installed so either the Plugin, the App the OS has an issue. It started with AE 2023.

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 23, 2023 Aug 23, 2023

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While making sure the software version, the plugin version, and the operating system are all compatible is important, anything else running in the foreground or background can affect things.  Do you remember the Mac OS fax extension that caused all source footage in After Effects to show as 0-by-0 pixel until it was disabled?  It made no sense what so ever.  This was 1996… Mac OS 7.6, After Effects 3,  before the successful After Effectss version 4 port to Windows.

 

Optic Flares is working expected with After Effects 23.6 on my Macs (Intel and Apple Silicon) and my Windows 11 laptop.  If I had an issue going on this long, I definitely would have tried a clean macOS, clean After Effects and clean Optical Flares on an external boot drive by now - especially with how easy it is to do with an Intel-based Mac.

 

 

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Community Expert ,
Jul 27, 2023 Jul 27, 2023

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Have you tried installing the latest version of Optical Flares from Video Copilot? It's working fine on my M2 Mac.

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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Not yet, but I heard people telling the same experiences by doing so, like @CSI Productions in his comment below. And you're working on Mac, which is usually very different to WIN... Colleagues of mine face the same problem and tested your tipp, didn't work. But I will try again, as soon as I checked all the other tipps..

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Contributor ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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I'm using VC OF 1.3.8 with iMac AE 23.5.0 and the file with a flare applied opens but with a warning that a plugin is not installed - but it is.Missing Plugin.pngOF Installed.png

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Adobe Employee ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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That can happen when a plugin gets disabled. Could you check in the Effects Manager that the plugin is enabled?

 

Seb

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Contributor ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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First just to be clear, I'm not the one whose system is crashing when trying to open an Ae file with Optical Flares. Mine opens but I get a warning the Plugin is not installed (attachement above). I attached a screen grab showing the plugin is in fact installed and I've attached two more screen grabs showing a new Ae file I tried applying OF to and it isn't showing in the VideoCopilot menu. An additional screen grab is the same as another I posted above ( a previous file with OF applied) and it say's the file is missing.

 

I've been trying to resolve this with VideoCopilot Support (Matt) and he suggested tossing the olde installer/plugin and redownloading/installing with the new installer. That hasn't worked either. I just sent him another email pointing to this string in the event he wants to chime in.

 

I'm wondering if the newest OF installer is for M1 macs. Mine is a 2020 iMac and not an M1. I mentioned this and asked for an older installer to see if that resolves this.Ae not seeing the installed pluginAe not seeing the installed pluginOlder file showing plugin is missingOlder file showing plugin is missing

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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Double-check this file path:

  • /Applications/Adobe After Effects 2023/Plug-ins/VideoCopilot/OpticalFlares.plugin

 

Some other things to check:

  • The installer prompts us to "Select which versions of Adobe After Effects to install".
    Video Copilot Optical Flares plug-in for After Effects Installer > Select which versions of Adobe After Effects to installVideo Copilot Optical Flares plug-in for After Effects Installer > Select which versions of Adobe After Effects to install
    Running the installer again is probably the easiest way to resolve this, but it should also work to copy it from an older After Effects plugins folder to the plugins folder of the version of After Effects being used.

  • macOS may prompt for permission to access files in the Documents folder.
    macOS dialog box asking to give permission to Optical Flares installer to access files in Documents foldermacOS dialog box asking to give permission to Optical Flares installer to access files in Documents folder
  • If the plugin file name or folder containing the plugin has parenthesis around it.
    So, "OpticalFlares.plugin" should load as expected, but "(OpticalFlares.plugin)" should not.

  • Effects Manager was already mentioned.

  • I just installed 1.3.8 both on my 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Max (macOS 13.4.1, After Effects 23.5, VC Optical Flares 1.3.8) and my 2017 iMac Pro (macOS 12.6.7, After Effects 23.5, VC Optical Flares 1.3.8).  It's working as expected on both.  

    After Effects 23.5 under macOS 12.6.7 with Video Copilot Optical Flares applied to multiple Layers on Intel based 2017 iMac ProAfter Effects 23.5 under macOS 12.6.7 with Video Copilot Optical Flares applied to multiple Layers on Intel based 2017 iMac Pro

 

 

 

You may have already checked some or all of these.  I'm just listing what may or may not be a contributing factor to this unexpected behavior.

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Contributor ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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Warren, I really appreciate your dilligence with respect to troubleshooting this. I attached an image earlier in this string (today) showing my plugin being in the proper place (BTW I'm one of the original - CoSA - Ae Beta sites) so I'm hardly a newbie as to where and how to install plugins. I can normally troubleshoot these things my self but this one is trickier than most. So! the plugin is in the right location.

 

I'm attaching a screenshot showing that the 1.3.8 OF plugin is working in the 2022 Ae so my suspicion (like the other person on the PC) is that Ae 2023 is the challenge. As suggested, I just copied the Plugin from the Ae 2022 Plugins directory to the 2023, started a new project and like the the screen shot I posted ealier, Ae isn't even seeing that specific plugin in the Effects/VideoCopilot menu. Every time I've ever upgraded Ae or OF it's worked without all the suggestions you've made.

 

I could see if I was loading it for the first time how those suggestions might come into play but for over two years I've been updating Ae and my OS and never had to do anything other than maybe re enter my VideoCopilot serial number. 

 

Plus, if VideoCopilot was aware of a glitch when updating they'd have included a note in the upgrade docs and nothing has been mentioned.

 

As mentioned, thanks for your "sticktoitiveness."

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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I've used After Effects since Cosa 1.5.

 

It might be time to try a new OS user account for troubleshooting.

 

Good luck.

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Contributor ,
Aug 02, 2023 Aug 02, 2023

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TY. I neglected to post the plugin working in Ae 2022 but it looks like you've exhausted your ideas - understandable, this one has us both stumped apparently. Good to speak with another long timer. Love the program just have to figure out what's happening here. I plan on updating the OS this evening but I'm not confident that's it. Thanks for all the time you spent on this.Screenshot 2023-08-02 at 12.36.46 PM.png

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Contributor ,
Aug 21, 2023 Aug 21, 2023

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Yes, thank you. That was the first suggestion from VideoCopilot. Are you using the most recent After Effects 2023?

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 30, 2023 Aug 30, 2023

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I was having the same issue as OP and this worked for me.  Dug up the old Optical Flares installer and re-installed.  One note is that it didn't recognize AE 2023, I had to manually navigate to the plug-ins folder and tell it to just install there but once it did, no more crashes.

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Contributor ,
Aug 30, 2023 Aug 30, 2023

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"Might" have the answer. After speaking with Matt at VC support, he suggested I check the Effect/Manage Effects... menu which I've done before and all were on. Just for the hell of it, I clicked on the "enable all" button. Nothing changed visually but adding a layer and applying the Optical Flare suddenly worked. I'm wondering if that's a bug in AE2023. Anyway, I'd be interested if it solves everyones trouble with Optical Flare. Steps:

1. Open After Effects

2. Open the Effect/Manage Effects... menu

3. Click "Enable All"

4. Close window and Create a comp/Add a layer/Apply Optical Flare

 

I'm on an iMac but it worked for me.

 

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Contributor ,
Jul 28, 2023 Jul 28, 2023

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I'm on a mac - same issue here. Contacted VC and they said uninstall, download the installer (same installer I already had btw) and still isn't working. Garphics card drivers are up to date so it's not that. Very frustrating. Like you I use it regularly and it's put a damper on production.

 

R.Cates
CSI Productions
If you want peace, be peaceful.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 28, 2023 Jul 28, 2023

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What happens if you disable all third-party plugins except for Video Copilot Optical Flares?

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