Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (2023)

Instagram filters are a girl’s best friend.

I remember the first time a friend said to me, “Don’t post that without a filter!” Being new to Instagram at the time, I wasn’t quite sure what she meant. But just a few quick taps, and I immediately understood.

Filters go beyond personal social media posts. If you’re practicing Instagram marketing, filters are how you move your post from amateur to artistic with photos that have a professional feel.

First, let’s take a look some of the world’s most-loved Instagram filters.

The top 10 best Instagram filters

  1. Normal (No filter)
  2. Valencia
  3. Aden
  4. Skyline
  5. Slumber
  6. Kelvin
  7. Brooklyn
  8. Ashby
  9. Ludwig
  10. Inkwell

As we’ll discuss later, the best Instagram filter for your post will vary based on your audience and the photo itself.

In this article, we’ll touch on the following topics. Jump ahead to the chapter you need or start at the beginning with the world’s most popular Instagram filters.

  • The most popular Instagram filters worldwide
  • How Instagram comes up with filters
  • The best Instagram filters by industry
  • The top 29 Insta filters: Examples, comparisons, and descriptions
  • How to use Instagram filters
  • How to find hidden filters on Instagram
  • How to pick a filter
  • Editing your Instagram images and custom filters
  • Instagram story filters
  • Face filters on Instagram

Ready for some #filterfun? Let’s get started!

Around the world, there is one filter that wins time after time on Instagram: Clarendon.

According to a study by Canva, not only is Clarendon the most popular filter in every single state across the United States, it is also the favorite filter in 119 countries.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (1)

Image source: Canva

When looking at the Instagram filters that are the most popular, you may be wondering how the brand created those filters. Let’s take a closer look.

How does Instagram come up with filters?

Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom has a passion for photography. During a trip to Mexico, his girlfriend wasn’t satisfied with the picture taken on her iPhone 4.

Like so many of us, she was hesitant to share anything less than perfection on social media. The solution? Instagram filters we’ve come to know and love were born.

As Kevin shares, “She was like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to ever use this app... [M]y photos aren’t good... [T]hey’re not as good as your friend Greg’s.’ I was like, ‘Well, Greg filters all his photos.’ And she looks at me and she’s like, ‘Well, you should add filters then.’”

Recognizing a good idea when it presented itself, Kevin agreed and created X-Pro 2 then and there – the very first Instagram filter.

Kevin was kind enough to give some insight into Instagram’s creation of filters to a Quora question in January 2011:

“It's really a combination of a bunch of different methods. In some cases, we draw on top of images. In, others we do pixel math. It really depends on the effect we're going for.For instance, Lomo-fi really isn't much more than the image with boosted contrast. Whereas Toaster is one of the most complex (and slow, yet popular) filters we have with multiple passes and drawing.I'd give up more info, but it's our secret sauce :) Maybe someday…”

The best Instagram filters by industry

Some industries, especially B2C industries, rely heavily on Instagram to generate brand awareness and followers through beautiful photos.

These industries include nature (great for photographers and those in the travel industry), fashion, and food.

In Canva’s worldwide analysis of Instagram filters, the free design software platform found which filters are likely to get you the most likes in each of these industries.

After this section, you’ll find a chart comparing which filters get the most likes across food, fashion, nature, and selfies. Then, in the next section, you’ll find side by side examples of every filter on the list.

Best Instagram filters for nature posts

Running a business based on travel or tourism? Perhaps you’re a photographer who travels the world, or you’re just a fan of the earth’s pristine beauty.

Whatever the case, these are the best filters to use for your nature posts on Instagram.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (2)

Best Instagram filters for food posts

Whether you’re running a restaurant or food truck, cooking classes or a personal chef service, or you’re a full-fledged passionate foodie, here are the posts to use when posting food on Instagram.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (3)

Best Instagram filters for fashion posts

Whether you are a fashion brand, running a boutique, or a lifestyle blogger, fashion filters are without a doubt a sign of industry trends.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (4)


While Kelvin is popular for fashion posts, it doesn’t even make the list for any other industry. Huffington Post describes Kelvin as best for: “Using it ironically, because it’s Kelvin.”

Perhaps that’s exactly why it’s so popular within the fashion industry. Time will tell if (to echo the words of Project Runway), “One day Kelvin is in, and the next, it’s out.”

Comparing the best Instagram filters across all industries

As you looked at the filters that made the list for food, fashion, and nature, you may have noticed some names come up more often than others. Curious which filters work best across all audiences?

Most Popular Instagram Filters by Category

The following table breaks down the average number of likes per Instagram post with the #nature, #fashion, #food, and #selfie hashtags across all of the industry data.

x = Insufficient data

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (5)

TIP: Maximizeyour likes when choosing your hashtags with hashtag monitoring software.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (6)

Breaking down the top 29 Instagram filters

The filters chosen for this list of the top 29 Instagram filters are based on the Canva data previously mentioned. All filters either garnered the most likes within an industry or are popular worldwide.

Given how the popularity varies, the first filter is “Normal,” then they are listed alphabetically.

1. Normal (No Instagram filter)

While it’s not technically a filter, we’re going to start the list with “Normal,” or no filter, on Instagram, as this is the most popular type of post.

According to Iconosquare, 89.5 percent of posts in 2017 had no filter. Sometimes, people don’t use a filter simply to save time. (Which, speaking from personal experience, is smart. Get it posted instead of waiting for the time to find the perfect filter and the perfect caption; otherwise, you might never post that picture at all!)

Other times, pictures are so perfect, you want to share them in their unedited form. Not using a filter is even something to brag about, hence the rise of the #nofilter hashtag.

Some people also use photo editing software in programs like Photoshop before uploading their pictures to Instagram. You might also want to check out these stunning filters outside Instagram. In this case, the images appear as “no filter,” even though plenty of editing effort went into creating that perfection.

From here on out, we’ll go through the remaining filters in alphabetical order, starting with Aden.

2. Aden filter

The column on the left shows two original images with no filter. On the right, you can see the application of the Aden filter.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (7)


Aden gives a retro pastel tone to images. Both images on the right have a softer feel; the flowers are toned down. In the middle of the flowers, you’ll see some bright yellow lilies – notice how they aren’t quite as bright on the right.

The vibrancy is taken out of bold colors. The Aden filter gives a vintage feel by giving the image some desaturation. Warm colors are cooled down and harsh lights are softened with this filter.

The Aden filter is good for fall pictures, images with a lens flare, and portraits – thanks to its skin-smoothing effect.

Related: Try your hand at photography and learn how to use portrait mode on the iPhone.

3. Amaro filter

The Amaro filter brightens the middle part of your pictures. You can see this in the pictures in the top row; notice how much brighter the snow is on the right, especially in the center of the picture.

Amaro gives the effect of an aged picture with an airy feel and vintage glow.

This filter is good for selfies (especially for those with blue eyes), fall pictures, street art, and generally lightening up dark pictures.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (8)

4. Ashby filter

Ashby is another Instagram filter with a vintage feel. Look at the snow picture on the right: It has a soft golden glow, reminiscent of an old photo you’d find at an antique store. The stones appear brighter and more pronounced.

Unlike Rise and Sierra, Ashby gives that aged photo ambiance without increasing shadows. As a result, the filter is far from overpowering.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (9)

5. Brooklyn filter

The Brooklyn Instagram filter is popular for nature pictures and receives an average of 87 likes per nature post.

It is inspired by New York (hence the name!) and saturates the picture with warmth. In the right image, notice the shadows on that snow-covered ice are much less pronounced.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (10)

6. Clarendon filter

As shown in the data above, Clarendon is without a doubt the most popular filter on Instagram. It is considered the ultimate all-purpose filter. Why, you ask?

Kirsten Agnello-Dean, social media strategist and creative copywriter, explains, “Clarendon tends to be a universal favorite, as it amps up the contrast and has a cool look.”

Take a look at these side-by-side pictures showing the application of Clarendon:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (11)


Notice how, in the snowy picture, the rocks that make up the wall appear more defined and the shadows on the ice are intensified. In the same way, the flowers pop – the vibrancy is heightened.

Overall, Clarendon increases saturation and contrast, making photos vivid and beautiful with a slight cyan tint in the highlight areas.

Clarendon is great for portraits, as the effect is natural; people look truly effortless. Clarendon is also a great filter for sunsets.

7. Dogpatch filter

Dogpatch is an Instagram filter designed for bright images. It increases contrast while washing out lighter colors, giving your image an overall darker feel. This is why it’s not the best for already dark pictures, such as that nighttime skyline.

Dogpatch is best to use for light images that need an added boost of contrast and drama.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (12)

8. Earlybird filter

Like the rise of the morning sun, Earlybird is a filter designed to give your Instagram posts an aged feel with an old-school romantic mood.

Take a look at the two pictures on the right showing the Earlybird filter:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (13)


As you can see, the sepia tint gives the images a vintage vibe that can’t be ignored. (The browns in the snowy picture almost fool you into believing the picture was taken on film!)

Notice the vignette on both images, which darkens the edges. This draws your eyes to the center of the picture and allows your bright colors to shine through the faded feel.

Earlybird is a flattering filter; it gives your portraits a soft and warm glow while smoothing out skin tones. (Because we all know you totally woke up looking IG ready, right...?)

9. Gingham filter

Like the gingham dresses worn by your grandmother, Gingham also has a vintage feel. Unlike Earlybird, there isn’t a vignette to fade out the edges.

Instead, highlights are reduced by almost 50 percent across the entire picture, while saturation is reduced by approximately one-third.

Notice how, in the picture below, all of the flowers have gone down a notch, appearing slightly faded. In the same way, the dog (who happens to be my fur baby Bella) blends in more with the snow.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (14)


By taking some of the color out of the picture, your bright images will have more exposure, while darker photos will have a slight yellow tint.

The subtle warmth Gingham adds to your photos gives that vintage feel by washing out your pictures, giving a nostalgic impression.

10. Helena filter

Helena is an Instagram filter that adds warmth with a small amount of orange.

Take a look at the snowy picture with the Helena filter located in the top right:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (15)


In the bottom left corner of that photo, notice how your eye is drawn to the small pile of snow. The contrast in color and temperature, along with that bit of orange tint, draws your eye to the patch of light on the snow.

In the same way, your eye is drawn to the warm-colored flowers in the bottom-right picture.

The warmth of Helena makes it a good filter for portraits and outdoor pictures.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (16)

11. Hudson filter

Hudson is a filter known for making pictures look colder, just like taking a January plunge into the Hudson River.

The icy look brings out blues – so much so that the snow in the right column takes on a blueish/purplish feel:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (17)


In the bottom-right, the flowers appear more defined. The calm, sleek look of Hudson makes it a good filter for nature, cars, and architecture.

12. Inkwell filter

Like the little black dress hanging in every woman’s closet, Inkwell is Instagram’s basic black and white filter. The Inkwell filter increases contrast and gives your images an old-school vintage feel.

While it can be good for outdoor and nature shots, as you can see in the bottom-right image, you just might not want to use it on full-color flower pictures!

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (18)

13. Juno filter

When I want to pump up my Insta-pics, Juno is one of my favorite filters.

Juno is a general-purpose filter that brings out warm colors, increases contrast, and gives a glow to bright areas of your pictures.

While reds, oranges, and yellows are intensified, blues and greens get a cooler tint – making the warm colors stand out even more.

In the bottom-right image, you can see just how much those red rose petals stand out thanks to Juno:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (19)


The emphasis on those sunset tones makes Juno a perfect filter choice for fall.

14. Kelvin Instagram filter

Earlier, we covered that Kelvin is the most likely to get you likes on your fashion posts, which is a little bit ironic – considering that many people don’t consider Kelvin to be flattering.

In its previous life, Kelvin was known as “Lord Kelvin” and created a super-saturated image with a strong sepia effect. In the latest and greatest 2.0 version of Kelvin, you’ll find a filter that adds warmth and saturation.

Kelvin is known for adding a golden tone and boosting Mother Nature’s basic shades of browns, greens, and oranges – as you can see in the top right photo here:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (20)


Thanks to Kelvin’s golden glow, warmer tones are intensified and brightened, In the bottom right picture, you can see the purple and mauve flowers have changed drastically.

Kelvin is good for images that have a lot of light, including landscapes and cityscapes.

15. Lark Instagram filter

Some filters are designed to pump up the vibrancy on your Instagram posts. Lark is known for doing the opposite, as it decreases the saturation on shades of red.

Take a look at the pale-pink roses in the bottom-left picture:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (21)


On the right, you’ll notice how much of that pale pink shade is gone, making the flowers close to cream.

While the saturation of reds go down with Lark, cool tones, such as blues and greens, have their saturation increased.

Overall, pictures are calmed down with a cool atmosphere. In the top-right image, you can see how Lark adds depth and brightens the picture.

Lark is a filter good for food, outdoor landscapes, portraits, or any picture you want to add a bit of brightness to.

16. Lo-Fi filter

The Lo-Fi filter is another one of my favorites.

While not the most natural, Lo-Fi increases saturation and adds shadows.

Check out the shadows on the ice in the top right image. Thanks to Lo-Fi, those shadows are much more prominent, and gives the sunlight peeking through the trees onto the ice a nice contrast.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (22)


Lo-Fi is known for making pictures stand out. Thanks to those deeper shadows, the leaves in the bottom right fade into the darkness, giving the colorful petals more pop and power.

It is advised to use Lo-Fi with caution when it comes to selfies, but you be the judge. If you take a selfie with a Lo-Fi filter you love, go for it and publish that post!

Lo-Fi is an all-around good filter to add some drama to your Instagram posts, including food and nature.

17. Ludwig filter

The Ludwig filter is named after Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an architect with the mantra, “less is more.”

In this filter, reds have an increased saturation while the saturation on other shades – such as yellow, greens, and blues – decreases.

This, combined with a slight decrease in contrast, gives a warmer, lighter look.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (23)


In the pictures above, you can see how there is an increased emphasis on both lights and shadows.

In honor of its founder, Ludwig is a great filter for architectural pictures and strong, geometric shapes.

18. Mayfair filter

Using the Mayfair filter is like shining a nice spotlight in the middle of your Instagram picture. This filter has a vignette on the corners of your image, making them darker than the center.

Comparing the snow in the two images here give a perfect example of the lightness in the middle of the image:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (24)


In general, the colors of the photo are warmer, as shown by the flowers.

Mayfair is a popular filter, thanks to its reputation as a flattering choice for portraits. It’s also a great filter choice for pictures that are underexposed or too bright.

19. Nashville filter

Some describe Nashville as having a creamsicle color, others say it adds soft purples and pinks to your pictures. Whichever pastel shades you see, this is a filter with a retro and romantic aura.

The retro vibe comes from the ever-so-slight browning of the image, making it feel aged and overexposed in a very deliberate way.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (25)


You can see the aged touch on both pictures in the right column above; the colors don’t pop as much, but the pictures maintain a warm feeling.

20. Reyes filter

Reyes is a filter that desaturates and brightens images. It gives an old-time feel, but without the brown tint found in other retro filters.

As you can see in the bottom-right, while Reyes adds plenty of brightness, it takes down contrast and saturation.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (26)


Some people love Reyes for selfies. iIt’s great for hiding blemishes and smoothing out skin imperfections, which takes away the need for other retouching apps. As a pale person, I do, however, advise using this filter with caution –– it’s not for everyone!

21. Rise filter

The Rise filter is meant to invoke the same sensation of the rising morning sun. It adds brightness, but in a faded, subtle way. (It is the morning, after all. You don’t want anything too bright!)

This filter was named after its creator, Cole Rise, and is good for smoothing out skin, landscapes and nature, or any pictures you want to give that happy-family feeling.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (27)

22. Sierra Instagram filter

Like Rise, Sierra adds brightness while, at the same time, washing out the photo, giving it a subtle glow. This glow gets an extra boost – thanks to the vignette feature darkening the edges, drawing your eye to any colors in the middle of the photo.

Sierra is a sophisticated filter that brings out details and brightens pictures that are too dark. Some consider it a hipster filter, and it is great to use on pictures of nature, food, and singular objects.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (28)

23. Skyline filter

Given the bright lights of city skylines, it makes sense that the Skyline filter gives photos intensified color and brightness. It gives a pop while brightening colors in pictures of nature and eyes in portraits.

Use Skyline when you want to make the colors in your photos shine in all their glory.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (29)

24. Slumber filter

Slumber is another filter with an effect that matches its name.

Like a warm summer night gazing up at the stars, Slumber gives pictures a dreamy and romantic feel. Pictures are softened and colors are desaturated, covering images with a soft haze.

Use the Slumber filter for street photography, nature, or when you want an aura of vintage romance.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (30)

25. Sutro filter

Sutro carries a strong vignette that dramatically darkens images. It emphasizes the purples and browns in pictures, giving a gothic tone that (aside from Halloween) isn’t the best for portraits. This smokey filter creates a sepia effect and desaturates your pictures, giving nature photos a mysterious aura.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (31)

26. Valencia filter

If the colors in your Instagram post are feeling a bit dull and drab, it’s time to give Valencia a try. This filter increases exposure, brightening your pictures and giving them warmth with a subtle yellow tint. That yellow tone gives your pictures the look of daylight, and, as a result, makes skin look better in portraits. (In fact, one study even found that healthy people use the Valencia filter on their Instagram posts!)

In addition to pictures of people, Valencia is a good filter for pictures with pastels, nature pictures, architecture, and skylines.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (32)

27. Vesper filter

Vesper brightens your photos while substantially diminishing any darkness, as seen in the example below.

Like Valencia, Vesper has a slight yellow tint, giving that vintage feel. It smooths out skin and is great for portrait shots.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (33)

28. Willow filter

Willow is Instagram’s second of the two black-and-white filters. Inkwell, the first, is a more standard black-and-white filter, while Willow gives your images a softer, prettier feel.

The gentle white glow makes Willow good for portrait style pictures, as it hides flaws. The filter is also good for nature pictures, beach scenes, and architecture posts.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (34)

29. X-Pro II filter

X-Pro II is the Instagram filter with the highest contrast. One of the most noticeable aspects of this filter is the vignette, which darkens the edges while the colors in the center become warmer.

This is one of Instagram’s oldest filters that adds both saturation and contrast, resulting in intense colors and shadows in the darker parts of your photo.

The X-Pro II filter is good to use on images that are bright, especially those with blues and reds. While not always ideal for selfies, it’s a great option when capturing wide views of nature or skylines.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (35)


Now that you know what these Instagram filters look like, if you don’t know how to add an Instagram filter, here are your instructions, complete with images to guide you.

TIP: From Facebook and Instagram to LinkedIn and Twitter, there are plenty of social media platforms to choose from. Which is best for your marketing strategy? Get insights from other usersand find the best social network for your brand.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (36)

How to post on Instagram with a filter

Adding filters is simple – it only takes a few extra seconds when creating your Instagram post.

Here’s a quick overview of the process, then I’ll walk you through it with step-by-step pictures.

How to add an Instagram filter

  1. Open your Instagram app
  2. Go to your Instagram feed (where you see posts from other people)
  3. Top the “+” symbol at the bottom-center of your screen
  4. Select an image from your gallery or take a picture/video with the camera icon
  5. Pinch your fingers in to make your image smaller or out to zoom in
  6. Tap the “next” button in the upper-right corner
  7. Scroll through the filters at the bottom and tap your selected filter
  8. Tap the next button
  9. Add your caption and any hashtags, user tags, and location
  10. Tap the share button in the top-right corner

Not sure the meaning of those steps? Below you can see them with pictures.

From your Instagram feed, tap the “+” button:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (37)


“Gallery” will automatically be selected at the bottom of your screen. Scroll down to find and upload any picture you have taken.

Alternatively, you can tap “camera” to take a picture or “video” to take a video:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (38)


After you have selected or taken your picture, you can resize or move it.

How to resize a picture on Instagram

  • To move your photo: Tap and drag it with your finger
  • To zoom out: Make a pinching motion with your fingers on the image
  • To zoom in: Move your fingers away from each other – the opposite of pinching

Once you’ve selected your photo, and you’re happy with its size, tap “next” in the upper-right corner.

Now it’s time to pick your filter. You’ll see them all at the bottom of your screen.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (39)


After you’ve chosen your filter, tap the “next” button in the upper-right corner.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (40)


After that, you can tag someone in your Instagram post, add a location, your caption, and any Instagram hashtags. Once you’ve added any of those details, tap the “Share” button in the upper-right corner to publish your post.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (41)


Congratulations! You now know how to use filters when you post on Instagram!

How to pick an Instagram filter

With so many filters to pick from, you may find yourself wondering, “How do I know which social media filter to use?”

As our social media expert Kirsten Agnello-Dean explains, “The best Instagram accounts have a consistent look and feel. So, I always recommend keeping the filters you use limited to one favorite and not more than two-to-three in one account. My preferred technique is to tone photos myself so they always have the same levels of brightness, contrast, and sharpness. Just click edit (next to the filters tab) when you're uploading, and you can play with the sliders to your heart's content.”

I’ll show you how to create these custom edits later in this post.

First, take a look at one of the accounts Kirsten runs for Artisan Talent:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (42)


The consistent use of colors and filters lead to a cohesive look. There are plenty of apps and tools to assist you in creating the perfect Instagram grid with your filter of choice.

If you don’t need that custom-branded look for your Instagram account, feel free to choose your filter based on each individual post.

You don’t have to be a graphic designer, and there is no science: Choose what you like, and trust your gut! Add a vignette around the edge to draw attention to the center, saturate your image with more color, or go for an artsy black-and-white vibe.

I often find the filter I use depends on the lighting when I take my photo.

Ready to take your Instagram to the next level?

Download The Beginner's Guide to Instagram and get started 🚀

How to edit an Instagram post: Apply effects to your photo

As Kirsten mentioned, you don’t have to use the filters created by Instagram. You can use effects to edit your post and, essentially, create your own custom filter. (Note, these edits can’t be saved for future photos; you have to make any manual edits to your photo’s appearance with each post.)

The adjustments available through Instagram effects are the same results you’ll find in filters, but more personalized for your specific liking per photo, such as:

  • Saturation to bring out colors
  • Contrast to add light to the bright areas and make the dark areas darker
  • Adding a vignette to darken edges
  • Sharpening images (especially helpful to combat some blurriness)

I love bright colors, so I often increase saturation and contrast. These effects can be applied directly to your image or after you’ve chosen a filter. In total, there are 13 effects you can experiment with.

To apply effects to your posts, begin by following the above steps to create an Instagram post. When you reach the screen with filter options, tap the “edit” button:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (43)


All of the Instagram effects will show at the bottom of the screen. Scroll through them and tap on the effect you want to adjust.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (44)


In this example, I’ll be using the vignette feature, which adds shadows.

After you tap on an effect, a bar will appear. Slide your finger up and down along the bar to increase or decrease the intensity of the effect.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (45)

How to find hidden Instagram filters

As you scroll through your Instagram filters, you may notice that some of them are missing; including filters from the top 29 shared here.

Don’t worry; they’re still there –I promise!

How find hidden Instagram filters

  1. Scroll all the way to the right in your filters
  2. Tap the “Settings” icon under the word “Manage”
  3. Tap the filters you want displayed

Here’s what the settings button looks like:

After you tap it, scroll through all 40 of the Instagram filters. Tap the button to add a tick to filters you want to use and untick any filters you don’t want displayed.

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (46)

Instagram story filters

Filters aren’t just for Instagram posts – you can also use them on your Instagram stories. You can also grab some free instagram story templates to give the design of your stories a bit of a head start.

Here’s a list of filters you can use on your Instagram stories, named after famous cities throughout the world:

Instagram story filter names

  • Normal (No filter)
  • Oslo
  • Lagos
  • Melbourne
  • Jakarta
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Buenos Aires
  • New York
  • Jaipur
  • Cairo
  • Tokyo
  • Rio de Janeiro

The following picture shows a side-by-side comparison of each of these pictures during the day; the first picture is the original photo:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (47)


Alternatively, here are what Instagram story filters look like when taken at night:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (48)


In both cases, you may notice that some of the effects are consistent across all lighting and times of day.

For example:

  • Rio De Janeiro adds cool blues toward the top and warmer colors toward the bottom
  • Tokyo is black and white
  • New York has a faded city feel

How to use Instagram story filters

  1. Log in to Instagram
  2. Swipe right from your Instagram feed
  3. Capture your story one of three ways:
    Tap the white button to take a picture, Hold it to take a video, or Swipe up to upload from your gallery
  4. Swipe to scroll through filters
  5. Tap “Your story” in the bottom left to publish your story

How to use face filters on Instagram

Many people love Snapchat for the fun lenses you can add; you know, all of those flower crowns and puppy dog ears with cute tongues sticking out. (Fun fact: This also applies to my two-year-old niece, who sees my phone and cries “Funny faces! I want funny faces!”)

Social media users who prefer Instagram have been left wondering, “Does Instagram have face filters?”

Yes, it does! Instagram currently has 49 face filters to choose from. Face filters on Instagram work on the face closest to the camera, and, depending on the angle, sometimes two faces. In comparison with Snapchat, Instagram filters don’t distort your face as much.

How to use Instagram face filters

  1. Open Instagram.
  2. To use face filters in your story: Swipe right from your Instagram feed.
  3. To use face filters Instagram profile feed: Create a post and open the Instagram camera.
  4. In the bottom-right corner, tap the face icon.
  5. Face filters will appear on the bottom of your screen. Tap the one you’d like to use.
  6. Tap the white circle to take a picture or hold it to take a video.

This is what that Instagram “face icon” looks like when capturing your story:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (49)


Once you’ve tapped on the face icon, take your time and have fun scrolling through all 50 filters at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap the white button in the bottom-center of the screen to capture your image.

This video shows these steps put all together:


The filters in this video, however, may no longer be available, as Instagram updates its face filters over time.

From animal ears to glam glitter eyeshadow, and everything in between, here are just two of the current face filters available:

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (50)

Making the most of Instagram filters

Now that you know how to use Instagram filters, it’s time to put them to use. Whether you’re running a business account that needs to feel on-brand, or you just want to have some fun with your friends, you can spend endless time experimenting with filters and effects.

Here’s a quick summary of the points we’ve discussed:

  • Choose your Instagram filters based on each photo’s lighting and objects, your industry, or whatever you like best.
  • Many branded profiles and influencers stick with a few custom filters for a cohesive look.
  • Add some extra ambience to your Instagram stories by swiping left to add a filter.
  • Customize your stories and add some character with Instagram face filters. To do so, in your Instagram story, tap the face icon in the bottom-right corner.

If you use Instagram to build your brand, share your Instagram marketing tips, tricks, and feedback with others. Your peers will thank you!

Instagram Filters: How to Use and the Best Filters (51)

Kristen McCabe

Kristen’s is a former senior content marketing specialist at G2. Her global marketing experience extends from Australia to Chicago, with expertise in B2B and B2C industries. Specializing in content, conversions, and events, Kristen spends her time outside of work time acting, learning nature photography, and joining in the #instadog fun with her Pug/Jack Russell, Bella. (she/her/hers)

FAQs

What is the best way to use Instagram filters? ›

Add camera effects to your stories

Scroll to Story at the bottom. Swipe left at the bottom of the screen and select an effect. To see effects from independent creators, swipe all the way to the left and tap . Tap to take a photo or tap and hold to take a video.

What is the Instagram filter that asks you questions? ›

What is the Dumb Questions Filter? The Dumb Questions Filter appears as a box over your head and asks you a random question. You have to answer it, then the answer is revealed.

Which is the most best filter in Instagram? ›

8 Best Instagram Filter Apps in 2023 (Updated)
  • Colorful Cityscapes.
  • Creative Portrait Concepts.
  • Digital Photo Collages.
  • Fairytale Portrait Photography.
  • Landscape Editing.
  • Social Media.
  • Travel Photography.
  • Urban Photography.

How do you get the beautiful filters on Instagram? ›

Searching for the perfect Instagram story filter
  1. Open Instagram;
  2. Go to the "Camera" section with a swipe to the right or click on the camera icon;
  3. Click on the smiley in the lower right corner;
  4. Scroll the catalog of masks to the right to the end;
  5. Click on "View more effects."
Jul 3, 2022

What filters does everyone use on Instagram? ›

Here's a surprise: Clarendon tops the list of most used Instagram filters in every single state. Why? Probably because it's an all-purpose filter that brightens, highlights, and intensifies shadows for color that pops.

What is the new filter everyone is using on Instagram? ›

What is the AI photo app everyone is using on IG? Lensa is the AI photo editing app everyone is using on Instagram!

How do you get questions and answers on Instagram? ›

How to ask questions on Instagram Stories: Using the question sticker couldn't be easier. Simply select it from the sticker tray and type in your question or prompt. Users will be able to tap the text box on the sticker to type in their questions or responses.

What is a full filter question? ›

Filter questions are questions (typically formatted as “yes or no”) meant to help respondents avoid answering questions that do not pertain to them. Respondents who answer “yes” to filter questions are then asked more detailed follow-up questions, whereas those who answer “no” are not questioned further on the topic.

How do you ask questions and answers on Instagram? ›

When you post the questions sticker to your Instagram story, people can tap the sticker in your story and type a question to ask you. You can then answer the questions you receive in your Instagram story during a live Q&A with your followers.

Which filter is best for all photos? ›

10 Best Photo Filter Apps for iPhone & Android in 2023
  • YouCam Perfect: Best Free Photo Filter App.
  • VSCO: Popular Filter App.
  • Snapseed: Free Filter App.
  • Afterlight: Best for Customization.
  • Instagram: Best Social Filter App.
  • Prisma: Best Art Filter App.
  • Retrica: Vintage Photo Filter App.
  • A Color Story: Best Aesthetic Filter App.
Jan 31, 2023

What filter is the most popular? ›

Some of the most popular Instagram filters are Clarendon, Gingham, Juno, and Lark. The only downside of using these preset filters on your photos is that you can't customize them.

What filter brings pictures to life on Instagram? ›

The Life Filter (@the_life_filter) • Instagram photos and videos.

Which filter is best for selfies? ›

BeautyPlus Cam is one of the most popular face filter apps among both iOS and Android users, allowing you to instantly take perfect selfies from the built-in camera and touch up your photos.

Which Instagram filter is best for selfies? ›

Best Instagram filters for selfies
  • Duo Tone II by Instagram.
  • Cartoon face by triutra.
  • Menangis by hansraii.
  • Toonface by chmnda.
  • Babe Babe by mmmdy.
  • Catch the Snitch by harrypotterfilm.
  • Stack by keeator.
  • Word scramble by gu_christopher.
Jan 17, 2023

What filters make you look younger on Instagram? ›

The Lark filter on Instagram adds even highlights, reduces pink and red tones, and brightens up the background. It's an all-around great filter for various shooting conditions, even for low and indoor light. In selfies, the Lark filter's subtle highlights will minimize wrinkles and blemishes, making you appear younger.

What filter does Celebrities Use? ›

What app do celebrities use for selfies? YouCam Makeup is the best beauty filter app for celebrity selfies. It gives you seamless, natural edits to smooth your skin, reshape your face and body, and add incredible makeup looks you'll want to show off.

Do filters really change your face? ›

Face filters overwhelmingly tend to alter your face in the following way: They make you appear to have bigger eyes, a thinner face, a pointy chin, a small nose, and clear skin.

Where are all the face filters on Instagram? ›

Instagram app for Android and iPhone

Tap or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile. Tap in the top right, then tap Settings. Tap Privacy, then tap Face and hand effects. Tap or next to Turn on face and hand effects to turn this setting on or off.

How do you get skin like a filter? ›

Exfoliate. Exfoliation is the crux of achieving an ethereal skin finish – “AHAs help exfoliate and clear dead skin cells so that your skin is naturally fresher and more radiant,” says Dr. Shotter. Whether you choose to exfoliate in the morning or evening is up to you but, either way, make sure you do it after cleansing ...

Why can't I see answers to questions on Instagram? ›

Even if it's been a few hours since your posted the question, it's possible that you just stumped your followers and won't receive any replies. If you have a professional account, though, you might not be seeing your responses right away because your Insights tab is open.

How can I see my Instagram answers quiz? ›

To see the results of your quiz, simply tap “Your Story” again on the homepage and when you get to the story with your quiz, swipe up. You'll be able to see who's viewed it, who's answered, what they said, and what the most popular answers are.

How do you add an answer on Instagram? ›

Let's start:
  1. Swipe up on your Instagram Story Question box. ...
  2. Press on “See all” to see all the responses. ...
  3. Choose one Response and share it. ...
  4. Design your Insta Story response. ...
  5. Press on the Save button. ...
  6. Press on the “x” button to exit the Story. ...
  7. Choose another response to put in your Instagram Story.
Sep 17, 2021

What are the 3 basic method of filtering? ›

There are several filtration methods : simple or gravity, hot and vacuum filtrations. The selection of the appropriate method is typically dictated by the nature of the experimental situation.

What are the 5 types of filters? ›

The 5 Types of Filters
  • Mechanical Filters.
  • Absorption Filters.
  • Sequestration Filters.
  • Ion Exchange Filters.
  • Reverse Osmosis Filters.

What are 3 types of filters? ›

Filters can be active or passive, and the four main types of filters are low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch/band-reject (though there are also all-pass filters).

How do you ask for suggestions? ›

Stop asking, 'Can I pick your brain? ' Harvard researchers say this is how successful people ask for advice
  1. Start with a positive tone. ...
  2. Identify the type of advice you're seeking. ...
  3. Come prepared with specific details. ...
  4. Ask the right person. ...
  5. Don't ask everyone. ...
  6. Don't assume you already know the answers. ...
  7. Be grateful.
Jul 9, 2019

How do I filter my photos like a pro? ›

  1. Develop a personal style. There is no “right” way of editing photos like a professional. ...
  2. Choose a photo editing program. ...
  3. Use filters and presets. ...
  4. Take advantage of automatic modes. ...
  5. Crop the scene. ...
  6. Straighten lines. ...
  7. Bring colors to life. ...
  8. Adjust the white balance.
Apr 1, 2020

What app makes you look beautiful? ›

YouCam Perfect is the best selfie photo editing & beauty camera app. Download YouCam Perfect for all the selfie and photo editing & beautifying tools you need – face beautify, teeth whitening, collages, filters, frames, effects, templates, HSL, fonts, stickers, and more!

Which filter method is best? ›

Reverse osmosis systems are best suited for domestic use and provide a highly efficient way to purify your drinking water at home. Increasingly, these systems are also used in hospitality environments to treat water made for coffee as they offer the finest level of filtration available.

What filter makes photos smile? ›

YouCam Makeup is the best app to try smile filters on photos. First, download the YouCam Makeup app. Then, tap Photo Makeup on the main screen and select the photo you want to work with. Then, tap Retouch and scroll through the tools until you see Smile.

What filter makes your pictures move? ›

A Plotagraph is a still photo enhanced by image animation software that makes a picture look as if it's moving. Similar to a GIF, users can pick which parts of an image to animate and loop, which can then be shared on social media.

What app makes pictures look real? ›

YouCam Perfect: Best Free App to Bring Pictures to Life

YouCam Perfect is the best photo editing app available for making quick and seamless edits to your photos. Its AI technology instantly identifies the parts of your photo that you want to change based on the edits you select and applies them to your photo.

Do filters make photos look better? ›

Filters not only help your photos stand out from the crowd, but they also help bring out your creative side. Allowing you to turn an everyday average photo into something much more special! So, go out there and express yourself and how the world your unique style.

What filter do influencers use? ›

America's favorite filter is unanimously Clarendon. It's also the #1 filter among Instagram users all across the world. This filter brightens, highlights, and intensifies shadows for images with colors that really pop.

What filters are girls using for Instagram? ›

Take a look at some of the filters women wish they had on Instagram.
  • TanVille. How cool would be to get a tan without having to sunbathe and to get sunburnt? ...
  • Ab-Pro X. We know you love those donuts that go well your latte and messes with your diet plan. ...
  • Nailsonpoint. ...
  • Blush-well. ...
  • InstaTattoo. ...
  • CurvesPlus. ...
  • Hairflo.
Oct 11, 2014

How can I make my face look younger in pictures? ›

How to Look Younger in Pictures
  1. Wear Bright Colors.
  2. Whiten Your Teeth.
  3. Show Your Smile.
  4. Add Highlights to Your Hair.
  5. Use Teabags to Brighten Your Eyes.
  6. Play with Your Outfits.
  7. Smoothen Your Skin.

What feature makes you look younger? ›

Increased facial contrast (According to a study, observers perceive females with increased facial contrast as healthier, more youthful, and more feminine).

What filter makes you look like a girl? ›

FaceApp's filter goes viral on TikTok in the hashtag #filtergakadaakhlak. Using this filter, users can change the appearance of the face, from boy to girl or vice versa. The results that were considered funny and surprising even made many TikTok users flock to try.

Should you always use the same filter on Instagram? ›

If you constantly alternate your filters, your Instagram content will begin to look disjointed. Instead, by using a few similar filters, your content will look more cohesive in the feed and even create a subconscious alignment with your brand.

Should you put filters on Instagram? ›

Instagram filters are used to make your posts more pleasing and attractive. The use of Instagram filters takes your post to another level. If you are posting the best moment of your life on Instagram, the picture you post should also have the finest look and Instagram filter gives that alluring look to your picture.

Which Instagram filter looks natural? ›

The Oslo story filter on IG keeps your photo looking natural and enhanced. Think “auto-enhancement”, but on steroids. This filter will make everything from the background to your skin in your photo pop, while keeping it natural.

Do most people on Instagram use filters? ›

Using the sample of about 40 million posts we can conclude that 18% of all photos use a filter.

How do I choose a good filter? ›

Things to consider when choosing a filter:
  1. Filter size and model.
  2. Original vs. aftermarket.
  3. Home air quality.
  4. Specific breathing needs.
  5. Type of filter.
  6. Filter performance.
  7. Filter cost and replacement.

Does it matter what type of filter you use? ›

The short answer is, no, they're not all the same. In fact, there are many different types of air filters available and choosing the right one can make a real difference in the lifespan of your HVAC system. To understand the differences in the filters available, there's a couple of things you need to know.

What is the photo filter everyone is using? ›

What filter app is everyone using? YouCam Perfect has been downloaded over 600 million times. It's available for iOS and Android, so you can edit your photos on any mobile device.

What is the best Instagram filter for selfies? ›

Best Instagram filters for selfies
  • Duo Tone II by Instagram.
  • Cartoon face by triutra.
  • Menangis by hansraii.
  • Toonface by chmnda.
  • Babe Babe by mmmdy.
  • Catch the Snitch by harrypotterfilm.
  • Stack by keeator.
  • Word scramble by gu_christopher.
Jan 17, 2023

What Instagram filter makes you look younger? ›

The Lark filter on Instagram adds even highlights, reduces pink and red tones, and brightens up the background. It's an all-around great filter for various shooting conditions, even for low and indoor light. In selfies, the Lark filter's subtle highlights will minimize wrinkles and blemishes, making you appear younger.

What type of people use Instagram the most? ›

As of 2022, the majority of Instagram's audience are Millennial or Gen Z users. In fact, overall, Instagram is Gen Z's favorite social platform. Global internet users aged 16 to 24 prefer Instagram to other social platforms — yep, even ranking it above TikTok.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated: 09/18/2023

Views: 5921

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.