Star
Filters
Generate photographic excitement with these dazzling
star effects created from original point light sources or bright reflections. The
Star effect will become more pronounced with a brighter, larger source. Filter may
be rotated for creative control.
Lighting can be enhanced in ways that go beyond what
exists in nature. Star filters create points of light, like
"stars," streaking outward from a central light source. This can make lighting within the scene take on a
more glittering, glamorous appearance. This
effect is produced by a series of thin lines etched into the flat optical surface of a
clear filter. These lines act as cylindrical
lenses, diffracting light points into long thin lines of light running perpendicular to
the etched lines. Lines on the filter
positioned horizontally produce vertically oriented star lines.
The size and brightness of the star lines produced are first a
function of the size, shape, and brightness of the light source. You have additional control through the choice of
a particular spacing between the lines on the filter.
Generally these spacings are measured in millimeters. A 1mm spacing has twice as many lines per unit
area as a 2mm spacing. It will produce a
brighter star for any given source. Spacings
offered generally range from 1mm to 4mm, as well as both narrower and wider for specialty
effects.
The number of directions that lines run in determines
the number of points produced. Lines in one
direction produce a two-pointed star, just a streak through the center of the light. There are 4, 6, 8, 12 and more points available. With an 8 or 12 point filter, the many star lines
will tend to overpower the rest of the image, so use them carefully. Although the more common types have a symmetrical
arrangement of points, they can also be obtained with asymmetric patterns, which tend to
appear more "natural," less synthetic. Examples
of these latter types are the Tiffen Hollywood
Star, Hyper Star, North Star, and Vector Star filters.
They can be used together to create remarkably creative effects.
As with any filter that has a discrete pattern, be sure
that depth of field doesn't cause the filter lines to become visible in the image. Using small apertures, or short focal length
lenses make this more likely, as will suing a smaller film format, such as 16mm vs. 35mm
given an equal field of view. Generally,
mid-range apertures or larger are sufficient, but test before critical situations.
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