Finding the best photo filters on Instagram.

Summary/Overview

Ever wondered why sometimes your photos just don’t have the same “Pop!” as your friend’s or followers? Instagram filters are a great way to give images life, and can even be transformational. Instagram story and post filters are fun, funky and can make content more engaging too. If used poorly though, Instagram filters can quickly turn your touch-up into a touch-down – and not in the sports sense.

Don’t settle for plain images or garish filters – give your photos the right touch. Discover how to search, find and use filters effectively on Instagram with Adobe Express.

How to search for and find filters on Instagram.

It’s easy to learn how to search for and find filters on Instagram – the only hard part is choosing the ones you want to use. Instagram filters may be accessed in a few different ways, depending on the function you’re using:

Instagram Camera:

1. Open Instagram.
2. With the main homepage open, swipe left.
3. On the camera screen, swipe right or left to navigate the filters at the bottom.

Instagram Stories:

1. Open Instagram.
2. Tap on your profile in the bottom right corner, and then tap on your display picture (there should be a small, white circle with a plus icon if you haven’t got an active story).
3. As above, you can swipe left or right on the bottom of the screen to navigate your Instagram filters.

Make amazing Instagram Story designs with Adobe Express

Instagram Reels:

1. To add filters to Instagram Reels, first open Instagram.
2. On the main page, look for the plus icon in a square – tap this to get to the Reels Page. You can also make a live Instagram Reel by opening the Instagram Camera and selecting the option.
3. Choose your image or video.
4. Once you’ve selected your reel, you can edit it with text, music and other effects, including Instagram filters.
5. Choose the icon that looks like three stars. This will open a grid, where you can choose your desired Instagram filter.

Discuss some tips for searching filters by name or keyword using Instagram’s search bar in the effects gallery. You could also mention saving favourite filters and how to access them easily later.

You can bookmark any filters you like by clicking the bookmark icon, located on the bottom of the screen, left of the name of your chosen filter.

Some Instagram filters might let you alter their strength; if they do you’ll see a white slider bar on the upper-right of the screen.

Find the perfect Instagram post template.

How to add filters to your Instagram posts and stories.

There are a lot of Instagram filters to choose from – so it’s not just about answering how to add filters to your Instagram posts and stories, but what to add and when. After all, those rolling hills don’t need a facelift filter.

The main types of Instagram filters are:

• Story filters. These filters are designed to boost engagement and often come in the form of AR effects that can add 3D elements, face-tracking and more. They’re not the only things you can use on a story, but you won’t be using them on a photo.
• Face filters. Face filters are designed to change the appearance of your face in some way. They could add some funny and entertaining effects to your face, interact with your expressions, or smooth out and enhance your features.
• Photo filters. Think of photo filters as a “catch-all” type of filter – these could be as simple as making your image sepia tone, amending the brightness of an image, or adding a retro look. This type of Instagram filter is universal and could be used in combination with other filters, too.

Adding filters to Instagram posts.

Adding filters to your posts is easy:

1. Begin the upload process by tapping the Upload Symbo [+] (a square icon with a plus in the middle, in the centre-bottom of the main page).
2. Select Post and then tap Next.
3. Get the right vibe by looking through all the creative options, including filters.
4. When you’re happy, just go ahead and post your image.

Adding filters to Instagram stories.

Adding filters to Instagram stories is quick and easy, and you can do it before or after capture.

To add filters before capture:

1. You can swipe left on the Instagram app main page to open your camera.
2. Then, select your filter and record or snap a photo.
3. Go ahead and post – voila! Filters.

You may want to add Instagram filters to pre-edited video footage, old captures or even photo collages. If you want an Instagram filter after you’ve already taken a photo:

1. Upload your Instagram story by clicking on the Upload Symbol [+].
2. Choose Story from the available options.
3. Once you select your image, you can retroactively add any filters you like.
4. Finally, post your image.

You may want to add Instagram filters after capture.

Adding filters to Instagram photos with Adobe Express.

You don’t need to limit yourself to Instagram filters – you can alter, amend and enhance your image long before they’re uploaded. To get started:

1. Visit the Adobe Express image filter page.
2. Select the image you want to add a bit of fun and flair too.
3. Open the Effects menu and apply your filter.
4. Edit, adjust and fine-tune your filter – you can even add it to any Adobe Express project you’re working on.

You can even edit photos and then schedule them with our Instagram content scheduler, so they’re good to go in advance.

The best Instagram filters for different uses.

Not sure what the best Instagram filters are to use for selfies, or which look better on landscapes? Maybe you’re wondering what the point of that Lo-Fi filter is?

• Best filters for selfies. If you want a natural boost to your selfies, Clarendon, Juno and Lark can be subtle, warm and soft choices. If you want something strong, there are also beauty filters but these are not as natural, and will alter your face by smoothing your skin, removing imperfections and sometimes slightly enhancing or altering your features. So, it depends on whether you want natural, warm, soft or enhanced.
• Best filters for stories. There is no hard and fast rule on what the best filters for stories are, but choosing filters that are trendy, fun or relevant could boost story engagement or put across the vibe you want. It might be okay to go saturated and sparkly for a Valentine's post, or a bit retro for your outing to a secret speakeasy, for example. You could even try fun anime filters, to turn yourself into an animated character on your way to a convention. There’s also plenty of holiday filters and other edits that mark major cultural events.
• Custom filters. With Meta’s Spark AR Studio, you can create customer filters or you can add filters before your images ever go live with photo-editing apps. Remember, you can add photo filters to your images for free with Adobe Express.

Always try to think about the vibe you want to put out there and don’t be afraid to experiment with Instagram filters. It’s so easy to save your favourite looks too, so you can keep some consistency on your profile.

Tips for using Instagram filters like a pro.

Instagram filters are incredibly fun, turning a nightscape into a neon-lit low-res lomo-style shot, or just making that crystal clear lake look just a bit bluer than it actually is. It can turn bland photos into striking images, sure to grab people’s attention.

Or, it can turn them into an artificial mess that’ll have people talking for the wrong reasons about the wrong things – like, “when did you get so orange?” Or, “I didn’t realise that mountain had astroturf installed.”

Don’t fret, we’re here to ensure you’re ready to start using Instagram filters like a pro, with these helpful tips:

• Balance between enhancing and over-editing. Don’t go too hard on the filter strength, unless that’s an intended look! Think very carefully about the difference between enhancing something, increasing shadows a bit, or smoothing things out, versus going full throttle on the contrast or saturation.
• How lighting and photo quality affect filter results. Overexposure can be a stylistic choice, but giving your Instagram filter an eye-searing brilliance that rivals the sun isn’t a good idea. It’ll wash your photo out at best. On the flip side, going too dark can have the same effect, or render the images illegible.
• Mixing filters with manual adjustments (brightness, contrast, saturation). Brightness (the intensity of light), contrast (the difference in colour values between light and dark areas of an image) and saturation (the intensity of colours) form the basis of photo editing and filters. Manually adjusting brightness, contrast and saturation in addition to your filter effects can help you balance your image out.
• When to skip filters for authentic looks. If your Instagram filters are at risk of misrepresenting something, especially products, you might want to be careful applying them. Sometimes, it’s just nice to put things forward in a natural way – whether that’s an honest selfie, a beautiful environment, or just your dog moments before a pool-related disaster. You can always make little edits to brightness, contrast and saturation if you want to keep the original look of an image, with only a little enhancement.
• Best filters for story engagement. There are so many filters – but using ones that are trendy or artsy can be a good way to drive story engagement. There are also some classics – Clarendon, Gingham and other warm-toned filters. It really depends on your audience and what you’re after. You can also include stickers, polls or question boxes to get people involved.

Explore free Instagram Story templates.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Useful things to know.

Can you create your own Instagram filters?

Yes, you can design your own Instagram filters. You design and publish your own Augmented Reality filters in Meta’s Spark AR Studio. Or, you could make your own filters with Adobe Express and apply them before you upload.

What is the most popular Instagram filter?

It’s hard to determine exactly what the most-used Instagram filters are, but one of the most popular is Clarendon. This filter brightens photos and boosts colours, giving them that eye-catching pop that works on portraits, food snaps or even landscapes.

What filters do influencers use on Instagram?

Influencers use a range of photo filters on Instagram, ranging from popular in-built filters like Clarendon or Juno to third-party filters used through video apps. They may even create their own filters with these apps before uploading.

Explore more related posts.