For that matter, what about other lighting effects, like spotlight, omni, etc? I would vote legal on these as long as it's not completely obscuring any other photo element since they're not adding or removing anything in the photo and really isn't any different than dodge/burn, but I'm not sure about the lens flare filter..?
From the rules... but the major element part is what I'm not sure about.
Filters: At your discretion, you may apply filters to your photo, in whole or part. (Be aware that extensively altering the "look" of your photograph with an "effects" filter is often not well received by voters.)
I am curious too. i unsubmited my DPC cinema entry and replaced it without the spotlight filter for fear of DQ. the wife sys it looks better without it but i would like to use it in the future.
It is most definitely illegal under the basic editing rules. With those filters you are actually editing a handful of pixels, not the entire image. Under advanced editing, I am told by a member of the SC that it has to be very minor in order for it not to become a major element and be allowed. If I was you, I would not risk it.
The application of a lens flare filter is almost always going to violate the major elements rule. If it doesn't add anything significant to the photo, why use it? If it does, then what's added is almost certainly major.
Same goes for star filters. The effect they add surely becomes a significant element in the final image.
Bottom line, if a filter actually adds features to a shot, or changes the shape, size or relative position of the exisiting features to any great degree, it's going to be in violation of the major elements rule.
I hope that helps clarify what admittedly is a difficult area of the rules.
