The Tiffen 138mm Self-Rotating Hyper Star Filter is a mounted filter that includes rear and front threads that allow filter stacking when using third-party or custom filter holders. This filter's rear threads are intended to retain a 138mm non-self rotating mounted filter that is already placed within a compatible filter holder. A supplemental effect is then provided in addition to that of the retained filter. The Tiffen 138mm Self-Rotating Hyper Star Filter's front threads can then accommodate an additional non-self rotating mounted filter, which can then be held in place with a 138mm retaining ring. Alternatively, another Tiffen 138mm self-rotating filter may be screwed on top of the Tiffen 138mm Self-Rotating Hyper Star Filter.

Once installed, this filter is designed to be used perpendicular to a point light source such as the sun, a light bulb, or a candle. Within the filter's surface is a combination of fine, etched line types. Those lines help to create a starburst effect with 14 primary diffraction spikes that extend from the light source which is also given an elliptical shape. The Tiffen 138mm Hyper Star Filter arranges those diffraction spikes in a pattern where seven primary diffraction spikes are grouped along both sides of the elliptically-shaped light source that are furthest from each other.

This filter is most effective for pictures where the light source used to generate the starburst effect is a highlight with a significant degree of contrast from the rest of the image. It is constructed from optical glass for clarity as well as color fidelity, and features an aluminum-alloy filter ring that can be rotated in order to adjust the direction of the diffraction spikes and overall orientation of the starburst effect.