TikTok and Instagram are two of the most popular social media platforms that allow users to edit their videos and photos using filters. TikTok is focused on short-form videos while Instagram is centered around photos and short videos. Both platforms have their own sets of built-in filters that users can apply to change the look and feel of their content.
However, Instagram’s filters have become extremely popular over the years, with some filters like Clarendon, Gingham, and Lark becoming synonymous with the Instagram aesthetic. As TikTok continues to grow, many users are interested in applying Instagram’s iconic filters to their TikTok videos. This allows them to leverage the nostalgia and familiarity of Instagram filters while creating content optimized for the TikTok platform. Overall, the interest in using Instagram filters on TikTok stems from users wanting to recreate the iconic Instagram look and feel on TikTok.
Default TikTok Filters
TikTok comes with a variety of built-in filters that users can easily apply to their videos. Some of the most popular default filters include:
- Beauty – Smooths skin and adjusts facial features
- Vivid – Boosts color saturation for a vibrant look
- B&W – Converts video to black and white
- Sparkle – Adds a shimmering effect
- 1970s – Gives video a retro look
- Strobe – Creates a strobe light effect
- Pixel – Adds a pixelated effect
- Light Leak – Simulates light rays and lens flares
- Glitch – Distorts the video with digital artifacts
- VHS – Emulates the look of retro videotapes
TikTok is continually adding new filters, with some being limited-time options tied to seasonal events or trends. But these core filters tend to remain available for all users. Applying TikTok’s built-in filters is a quick and easy way to stylize videos before sharing.
Popular Instagram Filters
Some of the most popular Instagram filters include:
- Clarendon – This filter brightens photos and boosts contrast and saturation for a clean, crisp look. Clarendon is one of the most widely used filters on Instagram.
- Gingham – Adds a pastel, flower shop-esque overlay that boosts warmth. Gingham is great for food photos or a dreamy, romantic aesthetic.
- Valencia – Gives photos a vintage, faded look by lowering contrast and saturation. Valencia is perfect for throwback or nostalgic posts.
- Juno – Subtly brightens and warm up images. Juno is popular among influencers and content creators.
- Ludwig – Desaturates and adds faded black edges for a moody aesthetic. Ludwig embodies a dark and dreamy vibe.
- Aden – Boosts saturation and contrast for eye-catching brilliance. Aden makes colors pop for vibrant images.
Some filters like Clarendon have become universally popular for enhancing any type of photo. Meanwhile, filters like Ludwig cater to specific aesthetics and moods that align with particular niches and audiences.
Why Users Want Instagram Filters on TikTok
Instagram filters have become extremely popular and are a big part of the platform’s appeal. According to The Verge, Instagram’s filters and editing tools make photos and videos more visually appealing. Filters offer quick and easy ways to enhance visual appeal, as noted by SocialBu.
TikTok users want to leverage the same filters that have made Instagram content stand out. The vintage, high-contrast, and other aesthetic effects provide an artistic flavor that appeals to many social media users. Applying Instagram filters to TikTok videos can help creators make their content more engaging and compelling.
Additionally, some filters like Clarendon have gained immense popularity on Instagram. TikTok users don’t want to lose out on trending filters that could give their content a boost. Enabling cross-platform filter use satisfies user demand while allowing TikTok creators to put their own spin on Instagram’s hallmark filters.
Third-Party Apps
Since TikTok doesn’t natively support using Instagram filters, some users turn to third-party apps as a workaround. One popular option is Inshot, which lets you apply filters from Instagram and other apps to videos before uploading them to TikTok.
To use Inshot:
- Download the Inshot app on your iOS or Android device.
- Import the video you want to edit into Inshot.
- Tap “Filter” and browse the extensive collection of Instagram-like filters.
- Adjust the filter strength and select your desired filter.
- Export the edited video and upload it directly to TikTok.
The app provides an easy way to get the aesthetic look of Instagram’s filters applied to your TikTok videos. However, there are copyright concerns over directly using other platforms’ filters that users should keep in mind.
Direct Cross-Platform Filter Use
Unfortunately, you cannot directly use Instagram filters on TikTok without the help of a third-party app. This is because Instagram and TikTok are separate platforms with their own native filters. The two apps do not natively integrate or allow sharing filters across platforms. According to this online help guide, you first need to download the Instagram filters you want to use before uploading them to a third-party app that can then apply the filters to your TikTok videos.
TikTok and Instagram filters are proprietary to each platform. So there is no official way to directly use Instagram filters within the TikTok app itself. The platforms do not allow direct integration or cross-use of each other’s filters or editing tools. This separation is likely due to competition between the apps as well as technical constraints.
TikTok’s Stance
TikTok’s terms of service do not explicitly ban or restrict the use of Instagram filters on videos. However, the terms do prohibit certain types of content, including anything that infringes on intellectual property rights.
While TikTok likely cannot detect the direct use of Instagram filters, their terms require users to have the necessary rights and permissions for any content they upload. Using another platform’s proprietary filters without permission could violate TikTok’s rules.
In general, TikTok aims to provide creators with a wide array of built-in filters and editing tools. Their stance seems to be focused on empowering users to create original content using the capabilities already within TikTok, rather than importing effects from other apps.
Copyright Concerns
One major issue with using Instagram filters in TikTok videos is potential copyright infringement. Many of Instagram’s filters are proprietary and using them in other apps could violate Instagram’s terms of service. As one Reddit user asked on r/COPYRIGHT, “Is it against copyright laws / Instagram TOS to add one of their filters to my own commercial video?”
The short answer seems to be yes, it likely does violate Instagram’s terms, but the law is murkier. Instagram’s terms prohibit “copying, modifying, reproducing, selling, or distributing” any of Instagram’s content. This suggests using the filters elsewhere would be prohibited. However, whether Instagram could legally enforce its terms is questionable since filters are more functional than creative works.
Instagram would need to demonstrate its filters are sufficiently original creative works protected by copyright. But many argue filters are simply basic image editing tools. As copyright attorney Mathew Higbee told ScreenRant, “I do not believe that Instagram would be able to successfully argue that their filters are copyrightable.”
So while repurposing Instagram filters may technically violate its terms, the legal risks seem relatively low. But for maximum caution, it’s best to create original filters or effects rather than copying Instagram’s.
Workarounds
While TikTok doesn’t allow direct use of Instagram filters, users have found creative ways to mimic the look of popular Instagram filters using TikTok’s native editing tools.
One approach is to adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and warmth settings in the “Edit” section of TikTok to recreate Instagram’s high-contrast, saturated filters like Clarendon or Gingham. Lowering brightness while boosting contrast and saturation can closely match an Instagram-filtered aesthetic.
TikTok’s Color Customizer tool also lets you isolate and shift specific color tones, helping mimic Instagram filters focused on color shifts, like Moon or Lark. You can make blues more teal, for example. Playing with Color Customizer and Edit tools together enables more advanced filter recreation.
Using TikTok’s beauty and makeup effects is another workaround. The “Glam” and “Runway” effects add Instagram-style glowing skin and smoothed complexions. The “Pop Art” effect mirrors Instagram’s comic book-like Nashville filter. Mixing and layering effects builds more unique looks.
While taking extra editing steps compared to one-touch Instagram filters, TikTok provides the tools to recreate popular filter aesthetics and styles for those seeking the highly stylized, curated Instagram look.
Conclusion
In summary, while TikTok and Instagram both offer filters to enhance videos, there is no direct way to use Instagram’s filters on TikTok. The platforms have separate, proprietary filters created specifically for their apps. However, some third-party apps claim to allow direct cross-use of filters between the platforms. Users have also found workarounds like screen recording videos with Instagram filters applied and then uploading to TikTok.
But in general, TikTok does not allow the official use of Instagram filters within its app due to copyright and branding concerns. Each platform wants to maintain its distinct identity and filtering capabilities. So the direct use of Instagram filters on TikTok videos is not officially supported. However, users have options like third-party apps and recording workarounds if they wish to emulate the style of Instagram filters on their TikTok videos.
