Tiffen 4x4 STR4 2mm Filter

The Tiffen STR4 star filter turns bright point lights and reflections into four-point stars. This 2mm version is in the 4x4 size and drops into a standard cinema matte box. It is a creative effect for night exteriors, music promos and stylised work.

The effect comes from a fine grid etched into the glass, and it shows most on small, bright sources such as car headlights, street lights, candles and sun glints on water. A brighter, larger source gives a stronger star. The filter can be rotated, so you can angle the star lines to suit the frame. The star stays crisp even on small sources, so it reads clearly on city lights at distance.

This is the 4 point, 2mm grid version in 4x4 inch glass, made with Tiffen's ColorCore process. The spacing of the etched lines sets how strong the effect is, and It needs a rotating filter stage to turn the stars. Use it sparingly, for night exteriors and music promos. Keep it in its own stage so it can be swapped out between shots.