Tiffen diffusion filter that adds subtle halation around highlights, creating a romantic, dreamy image quality without sacrificing sharpness.
Technical Details
The Classic Soft filter is manufactured in strengths of 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, and 3, with the numbers indicating the degree of diffusion. The filter construction consists of two parallel glass panes with an intermediate layer of structured optical material. Light transmission ranges from 98% (1/8 strength) to 85% (strength 3). The filter achieves its effect through controlled light scattering on microscopic elevations of the filter surface, which gives highlights a soft halo of 2-8 pixels in diameter. Available in all common thread sizes from 52mm to 138mm, as well as 4x4", 4x5.65", and 6.6x6.6" drop-in filters.
History & Development
The Classic Soft was developed in 1987 by Tiffen in collaboration with cinematographer Conrad Hall, who was seeking an alternative to the pantyhose diffusion commonly used at the time. The filter was first used on "Tequila Sunrise" (1988), where Hall specifically softened the romantic scenes between Michelle Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson. In 1992, Schneider-Kreuznach expanded the product line to include the Professional version with improved anti-reflection coating. Since 2010, manufacturers like NiSi and Formatt-Hitech have also offered their own versions based on similar principles.
Practical Use in Film
Classic Soft filters are primarily used for portrait shots, romantic scenes, and period pieces. Roger Deakins used a 1/4 Classic Soft for the interior shots in "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) to mitigate the prison atmosphere. For "Titanic" (1997), Russell Carpenter used 1/2 and 1 Classic Soft for the first-class dinner scenes. The filter is usually mounted directly behind the matte box and its effect can be varied by rotating it 360°. Typical workflow: In digital productions, the filter's effect is often only used at 70-80% and readjusted in post-production.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Classic Soft differs from Pro-Mist filters by retaining contrast and from Glimmerglass by providing a more uniform effect without glitter. Black Pro-Mist creates a more nostalgic look with greater contrast reduction, while Pearlescent filters introduce additional warm color shifts. Modern digital alternatives include DaVinci Resolve's "Film Damage" effects or the Zeiss "Classic Look" plugin, but they do not achieve the organic light interaction of the physical filter. For HDR productions, Classic Soft is often replaced by stacked ND/diffusion combinations, as the light distribution can be controlled more precisely.