With over 500 million daily users, Instagram is a fantastic place to share photos and videos. The app not only lets users share photos and videos, but they give you a wide variety of creative tools to use. One of the easiest to use and most popular are Instagram filters. Filters can be applied to photos and videos to give them a dynamic look.
If you’re just starting your Instagram journey, filters can be daunting. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to use Instagram filters to let your personality shine through your posts.
What are Instagram Filters?
To start, Instagram filters are visual effects that are built into the app. As of February 2024, Instagram has 61 preset filters to choose from. The filters are used to:
- Enhance colors
- Create dramatic effects
- Turn photos black and white
- Increase contrast
- And more
Essentially, Instagram has a filter for everything. If your photo looks too cool, you can warm it up with a filter that brings more warm colors into it. Filters are a quick and easy way to elevate your content to make it more dynamic and stand out to users while they’re scrolling.
How to Use Instagram Filters
Following this step-by-step guide will set you up for success when using Instagram filters for your content.
- Choose Your Content: First, you’ll need to select your content. You can upload a photo or video you already have on your camera roll, or create one directly through the Instagram app.
- Open the Instagram App: Next, you’ll need to head to the Instagram App and click the ‘+’ button at the bottom center of the page.
- Create the Post: Select what photo or video you want to upload to Instagram.
- Find the Filters: Once you’ve selected the photo you want to post, it’s time to pick a filter! At the bottom of the editing screen, you will see thumbnail images that show what the filters look like. Swipe through them to find the one that suits your content best.
- Adjust the photo: After the filter is applied, you can adjust settings such as brightness, contrast by clicking the edit bubble at the bottom left of the page.
- Post your photo: With a filter chosen and edits complete, it’s time to post! Click the next button to add your caption, tags, music and location before posting it.
- Enjoy the post: Congrats! You’ve successfully posted a filtered Instagram photo.
Tips and Tricks for Using Instagram Filters Effectively
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be posting beautiful filtered Instagram photos all the time. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of Instagram filters.
Consider Your Aesthetic
If you or your brand have a personal aesthetic already, make sure the filters you’re using are consistent with it.
Experiment with Filters
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different filters to see what you like best. Some filters work better for photos, others work better for videos.
Stay Natural
It can be easy to go overboard with filters and editing. Make sure you’re staying within natural ranges so photos don’t look like they’ve been heavily edited.
Closing Thoughts
The bottom line is that Instagram filters are one of the easiest ways to up the caliber of your content. Try a few that you like and play around with editing to see what you like best!
