With Instagram, you can apply filters and effects seamlessly before posting. And the best part is that it only takes seconds to edit and post your favorite shots. Here are some of our favorite filters and effects on Instagram, along with some tips for using them.

Our favorite Instagram Story filters and effects 

Want to make your Instagram Story stand out? Choose from several filters and effects (or both) before posting. 

You may be wondering what the difference is between effects and filters for your Instagram Story. Filters change the overall look of your photo and can make your photo warmer, cooler, or black and white. Effects, on the other hand, are more dramatic changes, adding new elements to your photo or video, including animation, digital makeup, or unusual patterns. Here are some of the effects and filters we love to love.

Oslo: The best Instagram Story filter for selfies

Oslo is our first choice for striking selfies. It gently warms up skin tones and increases contrast for a look that is both natural and subtle. If you like the look of Oslo, don’t stop at selfies — landscapes, food, and street scenes also look great behind the Oslo filter!

Tokyo: An amazing black and white Story filter

Black and white isn’t always the best choice for posting to Instagram Stories, but when you need to douse the color, you can do it easily and beautifully with the Tokyo filter. Tokyo is the only black and white filter available on Instagram Stories. It also adds dramatic shadows and bright whites for the maximum wow factor. 

Sunglasses: Like looking through vintage shades

Not only does Sunglasses by Instagram add vintage sunglasses to the person in your photo or video, but it also washes it with a warm tint for a few seconds. The sunglasses effect erases flaws, lowers saturation, and makes your Story look like a warm summer day in the 1960s. (If you don’t have a human subject in your photo, you’ll get the same photo effect, minus the shades.)

Prism Light: A subtle rainbow effect for skies and landscapes

Prism Light is another fun effect created by Instagram. With it, you can transform the darkest landscape shot with a horizontal beam of rainbow-tinted light. This is useful for those scenes where there isn’t really a strong subject matter or focus. Add Prism Light, and just like that, you’ve got some magic to work with.

Glitter: A story effect when you need a shower of glitter

Everyone could use a bit of glitter raining down on their favorite scene every now and then, and Glitter by Instagram does just that, highlighting your Story frame with yellow pricks of light that fade in and out as they gently fall across the screen. This one is perfect for a subject that you really want to highlight — your favorite dessert, a new hairstyle, or an adorable kitten. When used sparingly, Glitter is a fun way to show your viewers what matters most to you.

How to apply Instagram Story filters

There are 11 Story filters hidden within your Story screen. To find them, all you have to do is: 

1. Open your Stories.
2. Choose a photo or video.
3. Start swiping from right to left. 

When you find one you like, simply tap Your Stories to share it with your followers. 

Each Instagram Story filter is named after a city around the world. While we love Oslo and Tokyo, you may find that Paris or Melbourne is the perfect filter to make your Story unique. Experiment with Story filters to find out. 

How to access Instagram Story effects

Open Instagram Stories and add a photo or video. You can access effects by tapping the smiley face icon at the top of your screen. From there, all you have to do is scroll through the effects and tap on one to see it in action. 

You’ll notice that many of the effect icons show an oval in the center. These represent a blank face, meaning that the effects are intended to be applied to portraits or selfies. Once you’ve found the perfect effect for your Story, just tap Done to apply it.

The best Instagram filters for photo and video posts 

The filters available for Instagram photos and videos that you share as posts are totally different than the ones available for your Stories. This isn’t done to confuse you — just to keep you on your toes and to give you more creative options when posting to Instagram. Want to find the perfect filter for your Instagram posts? Here are a few that we’re loving right now.

Clarendon: A filter for everything

Clarendon is the most popular filter on Instagram, according to Lifewire, probably because of its slightly oversaturated look and high-contrast effect. The Clarendon filter adds an overall cool tint to your photo, but skin tones remain warm and natural. From landscapes to portraits, Clarendon is the filter to use when you don’t know what to use. 

Juno: A subtle pop of color for food shots and street scenes

Want a natural-looking filter that won’t change the overall look that you’ve already achieved with great photography? Try the Juno filter, which makes colors more vivid while bumping up the contrast. Juno will also intensify the warmer tones in your photo, which is great for colorful scenes like a picnic on the beach or a city streetscape. 

Rise: A warm filter for portraits

Think of the Rise filter as a dose of morning sunshine. It adds a warm glow to your photos, making this filter a great choice for selfies and portraits, no matter what time of day you choose to use it. 

Sutro: A strong vignette filter to highlight your subject

If you want to emphasize a central subject in your Instagram post, it’s worth checking out the Sutro filter, which significantly darkens the edge of your photo while adding highlights to the center. Sutro also adds drama to dark elements like storm clouds and is perfect for moody travel photos.

Hefe: A dramatic Instagram filter for awe-inspiring landscapes

Hefe is not a subtle filter, but it’s fabulous for adding drama to otherwise flat scenes. With Hefe, you can instantly make your photo sharper and more saturated with deeper shadows. Hefe landscapes are stunning and otherworldly when not overdone — perfect for majestic mountains, towering skyscrapers, or the setting sun.

How to use Instagram filters for posts

Using filters on Instagram is quick and easy — and a bit addictive. Here’s how to apply your favorite filter to your next photo:

1. Open Instagram on your iPhone.
2. Tap the plus sign at the bottom of your screen and choose a photo.
3. Tap Library and choose a photo.
4. Tap Next in the top-right corner.
5. The filter options will appear at the bottom of the screen.
6. Scroll through and choose one to add to your photo. 
7. If you like a certain filter but want a less dramatic look, tap the filter again, and a slider will appear.
8. Move the slider from 100, which is full-power, to the left for a more subtle effect. 
9. When you are happy with the results, tap Done and Next to add your captions and hashtags as normal. 

Creating unique Instagram posts and Stories is incredibly fun, and adding filters and effects is an easy way to make your photos and videos more unique. No matter what story you’re trying to tell, there’s a filter or effect to help you do it creatively.

The post The best Instagram filters for Stories and posts, and how to use them appeared first on Backlight.

Nowadays, professional photo editing skills are available to anyone with a smartphone and a couple of apps. For those of us who would rather not spend an extra 20 minutes perfecting an Instagram post, there are tons of one-click photo filter options to use, some of which can even be found directly on your iPhone. 

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about iPhone Camera filters — no app downloads required. 

Using iPhone Camera filters

In 2017, Apple released one very exciting addition in its iOS 11 update: filters you can use directly on your camera. While there were initially only a few simple built-in filters to use, iPhones have gotten even more advanced in their editing systems. 

Read on to learn more about how to use the filters that are built directly into your iPhone Camera. 

How to apply a filter in your iPhone Camera

As with the most recently updated features, applying an iPhone filter to your photos is very simple, and you can choose to do it before you take the photo or after. In this section, we’ll show you how to do both. 

Here’s how to apply an iPhone filter before you take a photo: 

1. Open your Camera. 
2. Press the three overlapping circles button at the top-right of the screen. 
3. Swipe the square button through the filters until you locate the one you wish to use. 
4. Press the three overlapping circles button at the top-right of the screen again. 
5. Take a photo as you normally would. 

As mentioned before, you can also choose a filter after you’ve taken a photo. Here’s how to do that: 

1. Open your Camera Roll. 
2. Locate the photo you wish to edit. 
3. Tap the Edit button at the top-right of the screen. 
4. Press the three overlapping circles button at the bottom-center of the screen. 
5. Swipe the square button through the filters until you locate the one you wish to use. 
6. Then tap the three overlapping circles button at the bottom-center of the screen again. 
7. Finally, press Done at the bottom-right of the screen. 

If you decide you no longer want to use that filter for your photo, you can always change it back. Here’s how to revert a filter on a photo: 

1. Open your Camera Roll. 
2. Locate the photo you wish to revert. 
3. Press the Edit button at the top-right of the screen. 
4. Tap the Revert button at the bottom-right of the screen. 
5. Finally, tap Revert to Original. 

Filters in Photos and what to use them for

Now that you know the simple process of applying an iPhone filter to your photos, it’s time to go over exactly what those filters are — and what to use them for. Currently, the iPhone has 10 filters that you can apply to your photos. 

Here’s what they are and what they do: 

• Vivid increases the photo’s contrast, which can be great for capturing sunsets and other natural landscapes. 
• Vivid Warm increases the photo’s contrast and overlays warm tones, which can be flattering for self-portraits and photos of other people.
• Vivid Cool increases the photo’s contrast and overlays cool tones, which works best for flat-lay photos and capturing darker scenery. 
• Dramatic increases the photo’s shadows and decreases highlights, which adds a layer of intensity to portraits and up-close images of objects. 
• Dramatic Warm increases the photo’s shadows, decreases the highlights, and overlays warm tones, which looks great in photos taken right after sunset or right before sunrise. 
• Dramatic Cool increases the photo’s shadows, decreases the highlights, and overlays cool tones, which can be visually appealing for beach photos and foggy landscapes. 
• Mono makes the photo black and white, which can add sharpness to a slightly out-of-focus image. 
• Silvertone makes the photo black and white and increases the shadows, which is wonderful for city images and dramatic portraits. 
• Noir makes the photo black and white and increases the contrast, which pairs well with cloudy sceneries and photos in low lighting. 

The hidden iPhone photo filters

Outside of the iPhone Camera, there are other places where even more photo filters exist. These hidden pre-edits can only be found in one place on your smartphone: Messages. 

Before you start frantically searching your inbox, note that not all iPhone models have these filters available. So if you have an older model, chances are, you won’t be able to access these. 

How to access iPhone photo effects in Messages

Accessing these secretly placed photo filters is unfortunately not as easy as accessing the ones found on your Camera Roll. Still, it’s not that hard. You just need to know where to look.

Here’s how to find the photo filters in your messages: 

1. Open your Messages app. 
2. Start a new message or open an active message. 
3. Press the camera button at the left-center of the screen. 
4. Press the spirograph-star button at the bottom-left of the screen. 
5. Select the three overlapping circles button at the bottom-left of the screen. There, you’ll find seven new filters that aren’t available with the iPhone Camera filters. 
6. Swipe until you find the filter you like. 
7. Press the shutter button to take a picture with your chosen filter. 
8. Press the blue arrow button to send it in a message or the Done button to add it to your text message and return to the Messages app. 

Whether you choose to send it or not doesn’t matter. Taking the photo means it’s automatically saved to your Camera Roll. As awesome as these hidden photo filters are, there is one drawback: You can’t take multiple photos within the Messages app. So if you don’t like the picture you’ve taken, you have to reopen the messaging camera again and again. 

What filters are there in Messages?

There are seven different secret filters found within the Messages app. Here’s what they are and what they do: 

• Comic Book turns the photo into a comic book-style of art.
• Comic Mono does the same as above but in black and white.
• Ink turns the photo into an ink-style drawing.
• Camcorder turns the photo into an old camcorder style, complete with static lines. 
• Aged Film turns the photo into an older film style, also with some static editing. 
• Watercolor turns the photo into a watercolor painting.
• Watercolor Mono does the same as above but in black and white.

All of these filters can be used for taking photos and videos within the Messages app. However, you can’t go back and edit photos with these new filters. They are only available within the messaging camera itself. 

No matter how great a photo is in its original setting, adding photo filters is a fun way to create some flair and add a little personality to your content. Even though there are cool filters found in third-party apps, we hope you find your iPhone’s built-in filters just as handy. 

The post The full guide to iPhone Camera filters (including the hidden ones) appeared first on Backlight.

The 7 best filter apps for iPhone

There are dozens of photo filter apps available for iPhone, but they aren’t all created equal. The following 7 filter apps are easy to use, fun to experiment with, and either free or available at low cost. These are our favorite filter apps for creating quick and stylish edits to all of our photos:

1. VSCO: The most popular filter app right now
2. Retrica: Film-like filters for retro photographers
3. Snapseed: A feature-packed filter app for photographers
4. A Color Story: Create custom filters for your photos
5. PS Express: Pops of color and nature-based filters
6. Instagram: The first filter app on social
7. iPhone Photos: iPhone’s native photo filter app

1. VSCO: The most popular filter app right now

The premium version of the VSCO app includes more than 200 filters, called presets within the app. Many filters are based on vintage film looks, but there are also dedicated filters for landscapes, selfies, urban scenes, and more. 

VSCO filters allow a lot of flexibility, and new presets are added all the time, making them perfect for fashion photographers, Instagram influencers, and small businesses.

VSCO on the App Store

2. Retrica: Film-like filters for retro photographers

Want to turn your iPhone into a retro camera with the look of film? Look no further than Retrica, an app that lets you apply retro filters before taking a photo. More than 190 filters can be applied in real-time, which means you can take photos without any additional editing. 

Exclusive filters are released periodically to premium members, and Retrica also includes fun editing tools that you can use before and after taking a photo. 

Retrica on the App Store

3. Snapseed: A feature-packed filter app for photographers

Snapseed is one of the most comprehensive free photo editing apps, with a great mix of filters that can be endlessly adjusted and combined. Unique filter categories include black-and-white options along with vintage, grunge, grainy film, Retrolux, and Glamour Glow. The nondestructive editing feature means that you can change any aspect of your edit without having to start over. 

Snapseed on the App Store

4. A Color Story: Create custom filters for your photos

A Color Story includes more than 100 endlessly adjustable filters, plus the ability to create custom filters for your own unique look that can be saved for future use. Motion effects include lens flare, bokeh, light leakage, glow, and texture, and you can change every aspect of the effects so that they fit your photo perfectly. 

A Color Story on the App Store

5. PS Express: Pops of color and nature-based filters

Adobe Photoshop Express is a fast and easy photo editor with a variety of interesting filters that can’t be replicated anywhere else. The app is free to download, but premium features require a subscription fee. Our favorite filters allow you to add pops of color to otherwise black and white photos, create replicates of black-and-white film photos, and create HDR looks with a single tap. 

PS Express on the App Store

6. Instagram: The first filter app ever

We can’t talk about photo filter apps without mentioning the one that started it all. Instagram began in 2010 as a way for users to upload photos, add predesigned filters, and share them with followers and has since become one of the world’s largest social media platforms. 

While Instagram doesn’t offer dozens upon dozens of filters like many other photo apps, the filters that it does offer are well-loved by their users. Just about every Instagram user has a favorite filter, but the most widely used filter, according to Shutterstock, is Clarendon. 

Instagram on the App Store

7. iPhone Photos: iPhone’s native photo filter app

For casual photographers and folks who don’t want to download a dedicated app just to add filters on their selfies, we recommend going with the Photos app. The editing tools and filters available are great for casual sharing, and there’s no uploading or downloading because your photo library is already built right in. Nine filters are currently available in the Photos app, providing a variety of looks in color and black and white. 

Once you discover your favorite photo filter app, you’ll find that it is both fun and addicting to use. You’ll want to start editing every photo you’ve ever taken just so you can add your favorite filters. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

The post 7 photo filter apps to give your photos a final touch appeared first on Backlight.

While VSCO offers 10 free filters for users who download the app, the premium subscription offers more than 200 gorgeous filters to choose from. Here are the best VSCO filters, free and paid alike, for all of your best photos.

The best VSCO filters for portraits and selfies

Looking for a VSCO filter that will maintain an even skin tone and hold on to detail while still emphasizing the background and color palette? Check out these VSCO presets, which are great for portraits.

1. AV4/Agfa Vista 400: Bring back the look of film

Agfa Vista was a brand of camera film originally created for amateur photographers. In the VSCO app, the Agfa Vista filter ups the blue tones in your photo while highlighting natural tones and colors. Skin tones are a bit brighter, shadows are darker, and the overall feel is vintage with a look that is reminiscent of film. 

2. KP5/Kodak Porta 400NC: Another film simulation from VSCO

Kodak Porta film was originally designed to offer a smooth color palette with vivid hues to work well on all skin tones. The VSCO filter KP5 tries to emulate that look, with cooler skin tones, lighter blues, and shadows that are just a tad darker than normal. Portraits taken with KP5 are on the dreamy side and are perfect for professional-looking shots indoors and out. 

3. AGA1/Agave: A VSCO preset for outdoor portraits

For fabulous-looking outdoor portraits, look no further than AGA1, which features deeper contrast, sharper details, and cooler overtones. AGA1 makes highlights a little brighter to give a pop of color to portraits within the natural landscape. This is a stunning choice for candid shots and photo shoots.

4. AL6/Mixed Boost: A pop of color for portraits and street photography

AL6 ups the saturation while still managing to keep skin tones looking natural. The overall look is cooler but with warm highlights and skin tones. AL6 is a unique filter that is perfect for busy street scenes, festivals, portraits of kids, and even pets. It’s worth experimenting with other types of photography, too.

5. J6/Minimalist: A great undersaturated VSCO filter

If you are seeking to capture detail in your portraits without saturated color, check out J6, which brings the saturation way down so that you can let the personality of your subject shine through. Shadows are a little deeper and highlights are a little brighter, but the overall effect is more like a muted wash. 

VSCO filters for landscapes and nature 

Editing landscape shots can be tough, especially if you’re trying to create a cohesive theme for your Instagram feed or portfolio. Fortunately, these VSCO filters make it easy. You may have to adjust the sliders to reduce the strength for some shots, but for the most part, these presets are fabulous for landscape and nature shots. 

6. DOG3/Isle of Dogs: A nice VSCO filter for warm overtones

Want to create a subtle pink sky that says sunset even in the middle of the day? DOG3 warms up your landscape shots while decreasing shadows. DOG3 is a bit otherworldly, introducing hints of orange and purple while still retaining a natural feel. DOG3 is part of the Isle of Dogs series, based on the film of the same name.

7. L5/Forest: A VSCO preset especially for trees and gardens

To really bring out the green in your forest shots and highlight leaves and other plant life, check out L5, which is part of the landscape series designed by VSCO. L5 ups the saturation and adds depth to otherwise boring landscapes, and the landscape presets are intuitive and perfect for all of your nature photography. This is a great choice for photographers who love color and aren’t afraid to show it. 

8. L8/Beach: The perfect VSCO preset for deep contrasts

VSCO’s landscape series is designed to work with different types of landscape photos, from mountains and forests to beaches and deserts. Using the L8 VSCO preset will make the darkest parts of your photo really pop while bumping up the saturation and increasing the contrast. 

L8 is bright and sunny. This makes it a great filter for all landscape shots but especially attractive when photos have natural blue and green hues. 

9. IND2/ Indigo Soft: A VSCO filter for dark and moody shots

IND2 may not be for everyone, but it’s a great VSCO preset for making even the most cheerful landscape shot look like it was plunged into nighttime. IND2 produces cool tones, dark shadows, and muted colors, so it’s great for otherwise bright landscape shots without people in them. It’s also a fun way to create a bit of mystery. 

10. V3/Valence: A VSCO filter for low contrast and added warmth

V3 is a subtle filter, but it’s perfect for taking drab, dark scenes and giving them a little added brightness while reducing shadows and highlights. V3 is quite versatile and is perfect for street scenes, landscapes, still-life shots, and even portraits, but we particularly love how it accentuates natural scenes. Use it to accentuate multiple photos for a cohesive Instagram theme.

The best black-and-white VSCO filters 

If you’ve been under the impression that all black-and-white filters look the same, you ought to experiment with some of these VSCO filters. No matter what you’re shooting, there’s a great black-and-white filter for you. 

11. B4/B&W Classic: The top black-and-white filter on VSCO

They don’t call it B&W Classic for nothing. This VSCO filter is great at retaining detail, adding contrast, and really making your photos pop. It’s great for everything from landscapes and cityscapes to portraits and pet photography. If you want a black-and-white filter that does it all, B4 is the one.

12. X2/B&W Fade: Subtle black-and-white VSCO filter

X2 reduces contrast for muted tones of gray that are reminiscent of old-fashioned black-and-white photography. While X2 may not be great for retaining details in landscapes and buildings, it’s lovely for creating a soft mood and capturing macro shots, vintage portraits, and artistic captures.

 13. KT32/Kodak T-Max 3200: A warm VSCO filter for black-and-white portraits

KT32 is a bright black-and-white filter with warm tones and dynamic highlights. It’s a great choice for capturing a single subject, such as a portrait without a busy background. The foreground is accentuated, and the background fades away. Shadows are lightened up a bit, too. 

14. IHF/Ilford HPF: A fun VSCO filter for winter scenes

The IHF VSCO filter lets you step back in time to an era when photographic details were less important and capturing the essence of a scene was critical. IHF does retain crisp edges, but it does so while minimizing tonal contrast for shots that seem like they were created decades ago. Buildings thrive under the IHF treatment, as do pastoral scenes, still-lifes, and macros.

15. FN16/Fuji Neopan 1600: Great VSCO filter for retaining details

If your photo has a lot going on, you’ll want to choose a black-and-white filter that will maintain all those different tones so that the details can be preserved. FN16 does a great job of this and is nice for street scenes and busy landscapes. 

If you’re looking for ways to easily edit photos with the press of a button, VSCO is a fun and thoroughly addictive choice. There are more than 200 presets to choose from, and you’ll no doubt find your own favorites after some time on the app.

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