US Patent 7206725 Vector-based representation of a lens flare

Methods and apparatus for generating a vector-based representation of a lens flare. The vector-based representation includes a group of vector objects representing a flare halo, one or more flare rings, and optionally one or more flare rays. The vector-based representation maintains associations between the vector objects within the group, allowing the vector objects to be moved, resized, or otherwise edited as one object. The vector-based representation can be created and edited via a user interface that allows a user to click and drag on portions of a visual display of the vector-based representation of the lens flare. The vector-based representation can be generated in response to a single user input.