.len

Extension: IMAGINE Lens Flare File

Developer: ERDAS

LEN files, or IMAGINE Lens Flare Files, are specialized data files generated by ERDAS IMAGINE, a powerful software application for processing geospatial data—both raster (like satellite imagery) and vector (like maps). These files don’t contain images themselves, but instead hold the crucial parameters that define lens flare effects. Think of them as recipes for creating realistic lens flare: they specify the intensity of the flare, its shape (circular, starburst, etc.), its color, and its precise location within an image. This information is then used by IMAGINE to add a realistic lens flare overlay to the processed imagery, enhancing its visual appeal or mimicking the effects of specific camera lenses. Understanding that LEN files are descriptive rather than visual is key to avoiding confusion.

Because LEN files are intrinsically linked to the ERDAS IMAGINE software, opening them directly isn’t possible with standard image viewers or text editors. You’ll need to have ERDAS IMAGINE installed on your system. The LEN file is then accessed and applied within the IMAGINE workflow, not opened independently. To use a LEN file, you’ll typically import it into an IMAGINE project alongside the image you want to enhance. The software will then interpret the flare parameters from the LEN file and apply the specified lens flare effect to your image during the rendering or export process. Therefore, the practical use of a LEN file is always in conjunction with other imagery and the ERDAS IMAGINE software itself.