TikTok is a popular social media app known for its fun filters and video effects that users can apply to their videos. The app offers a wide variety of built-in filters like black and white, retro, vibrant, glow, and more that enhance videos in creative ways.
However, some users may want to turn filters off while recording TikTok videos for a more natural look. Reasons for turning off filters include showcasing makeup skills or fashion outfits accurately, creating tutorial or informational videos, or simply preferring unaltered videos.
In this article, we’ll go over different ways TikTok users can turn off filters when recording videos in the app. This includes locating the filter options, disabling specific filters, turning off beauty effects, using the rear camera, adjusting app settings, utilizing green screen mode, and editing after recording.
Locate Filter Options
To locate the filter options in the TikTok app, first open the app and tap the plus icon or camera button to go to the capture screen where you record videos. At the bottom of the screen, you will see multiple tabs. Tap on the “Effects” tab to open the filters and effects menu.
In this menu, you will see rows of different filters to swipe through. The filters include color filters, beauty effects, face effects, stickers, distortions, and more. You can tap on a filter thumbnail to preview it on your camera view. The currently selected filter will be highlighted with a checkmark.
Turn Off Specific Filter
One way to remove a filter from your TikTok video is to tap on the filter icon to open the filter selections, then choose the ‘No Filter’ option. This will disable any filters that were previously applied to your video clip (source).
To do this, first record your TikTok video as usual. After stopping the recording, tap on the filter icon which looks like three overlapping circles. This will open up the filter menu. Scroll through the options until you find ‘No Filter’ and select it. Tapping ‘No Filter’ will remove any of the artistic filters that were previously applied, leaving you with an unfiltered original video clip.
It’s important to disable filters before finalizing and posting your TikTok if you want viewers to see the unmodified video footage. Tapping the ‘No Filter’ option in the filter menu is a fast and easy way to remove filters and reset your clip back to the original look. Just remember to hit ‘No Filter’ before completing your video.
Disable Beauty Effects
TikTok automatically applies subtle beauty effects to videos by default to smooth skin and enhance facial features. Here’s how to turn these off:
Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page. Tap the three dots in the top right corner to open your Settings menu. Go to the “Beauty” tab in Settings.
Here you will see toggles for various beauty effects like “Smooth” skin, “Eye Enlargement”, “Teeth Whitening”, and more. Tap on each effect to disable it.
Once you have turned off all the beauty filters, your videos will record without any touch-ups or enhancement effects applied.
Disabling beauty filters ensures your videos show your natural look. This allows viewers to see the real you and creates a more authentic viewing experience.
Use Rear Camera
Filters and effects on TikTok are only available when using the front-facing selfie camera. This is by design – TikTok’s filters are meant for adding visual flair to videos of yourself. If you want to avoid filters when recording, the simplest solution is to switch to using your rear/back camera.
On iOS, tap the camera icon in the bottom right and select “Rear Camera”. On Android, tap the camera swap icon in the top left. Now when you record, no beauty filters or effects will be applied, giving you an unfiltered view from your back camera (source). The disadvantage is you can’t appear in your own video this way. But for recording other subjects, your surroundings, or making tutorial/informative videos, the rear camera is ideal to avoid filters.
Adjust App Settings
You can adjust the app settings in TikTok to turn off filters while recording. Here are the steps:
First, open the TikTok app and tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will take you to your profile page.
Next, tap on the three horizontal lines icon in the top right corner to open the menu. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
In the Settings page, tap on “Camera.” Then disable the “Default to Front Camera” option. This will make the rear camera the default when opening the TikTok camera.
With the rear camera set as default, beauty effects and filters will be turned off automatically. The rear camera provides a more natural look without any enhancements.
You can toggle between the front and rear cameras during recording, but the rear camera will now be the default option when you open the camera in TikTok.
Disabling the “Default to Front Camera” in settings is the easiest way to remove filters while recording your TikTok videos.
Use a Green Screen
A green screen allows you to layer virtual backgrounds behind yourself while recording. The green screen color gets removed and replaced with the desired background image or video. Here’s how to use a green screen on TikTok:
Set up a solid green backdrop behind you while filming. This needs to be a bright, lime green color. Hang up a green sheet or blanket, or use a pre-made collapsible green screen.
Make sure the green backdrop extends around your body with at least 1-2 feet of space on all sides. This allows the background to be cleanly removed.
Light the green screen evenly from the front to avoid shadows. Use soft box lights or natural daylight for best results.
In the TikTok app, select “Effects” and tap the green screen icon. This removes the green and enables backdrop selection.
Browse TikTok’s library of virtual backgrounds or use your own photos and videos. Position and scale the background as desired.
Check the preview to ensure your body is cleanly separated from the new virtual background.
Record your video while freely moving and gesturing as normal. The app handles the background compositing.
The resulting effect looks like you’re actually in the chosen scene or location! Using a green screen opens up many creative possibilities.
Try Third-Party Apps
App developers have created several third-party alternatives to TikTok that allow recording videos without filters applied. These apps aim to provide a similar short-form video experience as TikTok, while giving users more control over video effects and editing.
Some top apps like TikTok that let you record without filters include:
- Vinkle – This app has a simple interface and records videos without any beauty filters enabled by default. You can add effects and stickers after recording.
- Firework – Firework emphasizes “real videos” without filters. The app has special effects but they are added after recording.
- Chingari – An Indian alternative to TikTok, Chingari has a “no filter” option to disable beauty effects while recording.
The main advantage these apps provide over TikTok is giving users more creative control, especially for those who want completely unfiltered videos. However, they tend to have smaller user bases than the hugely popular TikTok, so it may be harder to gain views and followers on third-party platforms.
Edit After Recording
If you want to apply a filter while filming your TikTok video for creative effect, but remove it before posting, you can edit the video after recording to eliminate the filter.
To do this:
- Record your TikTok video using the filter you want. Make sure to save the recording to your drafts.
- After recording, go to your draft videos in the TikTok app. Tap on the draft you want to edit.
- Tap on the “Edit” icon in the bottom menu bar. This will open up the editing screen.
- Tap on “Effects” at the bottom of the editing screen. This will show you all the filters and effects currently applied to your video.
- Tap the “X” icon next to the filter you want to remove. This will delete that filter from the video.
- Repeat this process to remove any other filters or effects you don’t want. When finished, tap “Save” to overwrite your draft video without the filter.
- You can now post the edited video without the filter applied!
Editing the TikTok after filming gives you full control to creatively use filters when recording, while still sharing a final product to your liking. Just be sure to save videos with filters to drafts initially so you can access the editing screen.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered the main methods for turning off filters while recording TikTok videos. This includes locating the filter options, disabling specific filters before recording, turning off beauty effects, using the rear camera, adjusting app settings, using a green screen, editing after recording, and trying third-party apps.
Here are some additional tips for recording TikToks filter-free:
- Use natural lighting instead of filters to enhance your videos
- Film in landscape/horizontal mode which has fewer default filters
- Adjust camera settings like exposure before recording
- Clean your camera lens to reduce the need for smoothing filters
Turning off filters allows you to show your authentic self on TikTok. While filters can be fun, natural videos help viewers connect with the real you. Start embracing your own beauty, and aim to inspire others to do the same through filter-free content. Thanks for reading!
