Instagram filters are thematic presets (graphic templates) designed for superficial and semi-automatic processing of photos or videos before publication without using third-party tools. They appeared in the social network as early as 2011 and have since become an indispensable means of photo editing, allowing you to save time when preparing new posts.
What effect do filters have on photos: before and after?
Bloggers, novice photographers, and regular users of the social network Instagram often rely on automatic image processing tools when publishing new content. A separate section helps to forget about complex and confusing projects in Photoshop and quickly achieve the desired result through a foolproof experiment. Should algorithms be trusted? What consequences should be expected when using filters?
Before and after examples:
1. Depending on the selected effect, the predominant colors will change. Blue, green, brown, gray – separate settings will be useful for landscapes or studio shooting.
2. Some templates help to add soft shades and hide flaws in the face or skin with a peculiar “golden glow.”
3. Filters like Sierra reduce contrast and increase exposure, focusing the composition on the center of the photo.
4. Filters can add saturation and contrast, and change the depth of shadows.
Overall, the result of using enhancements in Instagram is mainly related to color, shades, and additional visual parameters, but not with the size of the images or their detail.
The best filters built into Instagram
The collection of pre-set filters for photos on the social network Instagram now includes just over 30 available templates that can automatically enhance landscapes, portraits, or individual frames with new shades and visual transitions. Due to the difference between shooting formats and the desired result, it is impossible to select the best filter.
It’s easy to find someone on the network who only adds black and white photos or vintage effects to their personal feed. As a result, instead of wanting to place templates in their proper places, it’s better to focus on artistic experiments and try out all the available content.
Which Instagram filters should not be missed:
- Lark. A graphic setting that emphasizes blue and green shades and pulls the photo out of saturated red. After application, the source becomes noticeably brighter. The method of application is to change the style of landscapes and decorations.
- Hefe. An experimental version of settings with a sharp emphasis on dark tones and individual details. Suitable for non-standard scenarios in daylight hours.
- Crema. Slightly discolors photos, adding a creamy tint to the environment. A first-class assistant in situations where it is important to emphasize certain specific fragments of the frame.
- Lo-Fi – a storm of photos of food and culinary art results. With the help of saturated colors and brightly expressed shadows, it has caused gastronomic madness on Instagram and has long become an indispensable tool for processing every edible piece that appears on the social network.
- Willow. A gloomy “theme” for photos that covers the entire source with gray shades.
Popular apps for using filter magic
Popular filters on Instagram are not the only way to add unique effects to your photos. It’s easy to find a whole collection of specialized software (both mobile and desktop) online that focuses not on superficial editing, but on global changes to each fragment.
Here is a list of services and editors for professional editing:
- LightX – a compact but advanced tool designed for preparing cartoons, double exposures, and portrait photos with selected settings and parameters. In addition to standard scenarios, the developers from AndOr Communications PvtLtd offer third-party effects that can color hair, blur the background, or rejuvenate the face.
- Snapseed – a multifunctional photo editor developed and maintained by Google. Among its important advantages are no ads, and no mandatory payments or subscriptions that can unlock mythical additional content. The entire set of features – 29 effects, work with source files of different formats, and the ability to choose your own working profile – is open immediately and without restrictions. It also easily works with RAW images, which it exports and saves without loss of quality.
- PicsArt Photo Studio – a Swiss Army knife in the world of photo editing helpers. It helps apply effects, allows you to use masks and augmented reality elements (those that apply beautiful makeup or whiten teeth), and also works in “collage” and “sticker” modes. Yes, anyone can now turn their photos into a set of emojis for Telegram or VK.
- Pixlr – a trendy and extremely popular service designed to search for non-standard creative ideas and bring fantasies to life. The offered functionality is diverse – collages, filters, automatic help in adjusting brightness and saturation, help in aligning the frame from the desired perspective. Masks and VR capabilities are also included. Direct publication of content to Instagram with hashtags and descriptions is also provided.
- VSCO – a separate social network focused on photo processing and communication between photographers and bloggers. The advantage of this approach is the chance to draw non-standard ideas and transfer them to your own canvas for publication.
- Afterlight – a trusted keeper of filters for Instagram posts, allowing you to almost continuously switch between available templates and discover new perspectives each time. The entire collection already includes 59 separate settings. Part of the content is always available, while the rest changes or is replenished depending on the season or upcoming trends.
- RookieCam – a colorful and intuitive photo editor that allows you to use graphic presets even before clicking the shutter. In addition to visual effects, it knows how to blur the background and combine materials with a collage.
- Aviary – processing photos has become even easier. This special editor from AppsForIG allows you to apply stickers, shoot in portrait mode, and then hide any flaws found in the montage with a variety of effects and filters.
- LensDistortions – a stylish tool with a predictable interface and high-quality technical implementation that eliminates crashes, errors, or resetting of current progress. Its key purpose is to work with landscapes and portraits. With new effects like rain, fog, and sun, unique results are easily achieved.
How to change photos on Instagram without using filters
In addition to templates specifically designed by developers for processing photos on Instagram in a matter of seconds, there are also manual quality control tools available in automatic mode.
The “Align” function helps to set the correct “horizon” and crop out unnecessary parts of the frame, while the “Contrast”, “Brightness”, and “Details” technologies are adapted to work with shadows and individual visual elements. The “Lighten” and “Color” settings help balance the image and eliminate dark sectors that can spoil the overall impression of the added publication.
Although the list of additional elements is extensive and diverse, even a novice can understand the proposed parameters. The main reason for this is the well-thought-out interface. A special interactive field that appears at the top of the screen helps to visually track the changes being made, and a movable slider displayed at the bottom allows for flexible adjustments. It won’t take even 15 minutes for even those who are far from photo editing enthusiasts to develop their own style and desire to perfect everything without using outside help.
Instagram filters are a common but not the only way to change and refine “gray” photos before publishing them on social networks. It is easy to find separate software online, and Instagram provides separate scenarios for changing color, shadows, and saturation. Is it worth looking for third-party solutions when automatic templates are already at hand and eager to be used?