Photography is an art by where you can make something dull look glamorous, and a vibrant frame look dull. Have you ever noticed those starry pictures, where it seems like the starry skies have descended on earth? Don’t be astonished when you look at one because it is no miracle, just a filter in photography. Star filters are used in photography to create a star like effect from any source of light.

Have a look at the pictures on your left. The first picture has been taken without a filter and the second one with a star filter. The photo with the star filter gives a very gentle and beautiful appeal to a usual candlelight.

Star filters are made up of plain glass which is etched with lines in a grid pattern. Sometimes star filters also use prisms or fine diffraction gratings embedded in the glass. These filters are available in various categories from 2 star filters, which spread out light in two directions, to 8 star filters that give out light in 8 directions, depending on their construction. These filters are used by photographers to give a dreamy romantic feel to the frame. Even though pre-made effects filters, like the Cokin P 056, are fairly inexpensive, they can also be made at home. All you need to do is take an old UV filter and etch it with a glass cutter. Almost all star filters contain screws and can be mounted in front of the lens. To get best results they must be used at a low aperture so that the star effect is noticeable.