TikTok is a popular social media platform known for its short-form videos and array of filters that can alter a user’s appearance. TikTok filters apply visual effects like smoothing skin, changing facial features, or adding sparkles and colors. Some users embrace filters as a fun way to transform their look, while others feel pressure to use filters that promote unrealistic beauty standards.
There are valid reasons one might want to remove filters from a TikTok video. For example, a user may prefer how they look without filters or want their original appearance preserved. Removing filters restores authenticity. Or perhaps someone wants to reuse content without the original filters. By downloading and editing a video, you can eliminate filters applied by another user.
Obtain the Original Video File
The first step is to download the original TikTok video you want to edit. To do this, you’ll need to use a TikTok video downloader tool. Some popular options include:
ssstik.io – This free online tool allows you to enter the URL of a TikTok video and download it without a watermark.
TikDownloader – Another easy-to-use website for downloading TikTok videos in high quality without the TikTok watermark.
These tools allow you to download the original video file to your computer or device for editing. Make sure to download the highest resolution possible for maximum quality.
Downloading the video directly from TikTok is important, as this will provide the unfiltered original file before any edits were made. Having the original source video makes it easier to analyze the composition and remove any filters or effects.
Once downloaded, you can move on to uploading the TikTok video into a video editing program to start the editing process.
Upload the Video to a Video Editor
Once you have obtained the original video file, the next step is to upload it to a video editing application. There are many great options for mobile video editing apps such as Kapwing, Vita, Inshot, and more [1]. These apps allow you to upload a video from your camera roll or download one directly into the editor.
When selecting a video editing app, look for one that is user-friendly and offers features like trimming, filters, text/sticker overlays, transitions, and audio editing. Key things to evaluate are the app’s interface, editing precision, export options, and pricing model. Some top picks like Kapwing offer robust editing capabilities for free.
Once you’ve selected a video editor, open the app and locate the upload button, which is usually prominently displayed on the home screen. Apps may allow you to upload videos directly from your phone’s gallery/camera roll or give you options like recording video directly in the app. Upload the original TikTok video you want to edit. The video will now be ready for you to edit and remove filters in the next steps.
Analyze the Video Composition
The next step is to carefully watch the original video and analyze its composition for any signs of filters or effects that have been applied. According to TikTok’s support page, filters can apply changes to color, add visual effects, or modify audio [1]. When watching the video, look for the following telltale signs of filters:
- Color changes – The colors may look more saturated, brightened, or modified in some way. Skin tones in particular may appear smoothed or perfected.
- Visual effects – You may notice stylized blurring or sharpening in parts of the frame, added sparkles or glimmers, or other visual enhancements.
- Audio changes – The music or sounds could be distorted, echoed, amplified, or modulated in some way by an audio filter.
Make sure to watch the entire video from start to finish to catch all uses of filters or effects. Some may be subtle and used sparingly in certain sections. Pay close attention and document when and where you notice any alterations to the raw video composition.
Remove Visual Filters
A key step in removing filters from a TikTok video is to adjust the visual effects that have been applied, such as color overlays, contrast changes, or saturation adjustments. This can be done using video editing software on a computer.
Most video editors like Filmora or Adobe Premiere Pro have built-in tools to adjust color properties, including hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. Load the original filtered TikTok video into the editor’s timeline. Then find the color adjustment filters and manually reduce the intensity of any applied effects.
For example, if a heavy color overlay or filter has been added, try lowering the saturation to desaturate the colors. If the contrast was increased, bring the contrast level back down closer to the original video. Go through each visual effect methodically and dial it back to remove the filter.
Preview the changes to see the filter removal in real-time. Some trial and error may be needed to find the right balance. The goal is to get the video looking as close to the original, unfiltered version as possible. Applying the opposite adjustments of whatever filter was used can often cancel out the effect.
Use the editor’s tools thoughtfully and make incremental changes to avoid over-correcting. With some time and practice, the filters can be imperceptibly lifted off the TikTok video.
Remove Audio Filters
Once you have the original video file imported into your video editing software, you can start removing any audio filters that were applied. This includes effects like reverb, EQ, compressor, limiter, etc. Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro have tools to analyze the audio and identify any effects, making it easy to target just the filter effects and leave the original audio intact.
In Premiere Pro, open the Applied Effects panel and look for any audio effects listed under the clip. Select the effect and click the Remove button. You can also right-click the clip in the timeline and choose Remove Attributes to strip all audio and video effects at once.
In Final Cut Pro, select the clip and open the Audio Inspector. Here you can view any applied audio filters. Turn off the filter’s checkbox to disable it or click the minus icon to delete it from the clip. You can also choose Edit > Remove Effects in the menu bar to strip all audio and video effects.
The goal is to isolate just the filter effects so you don’t remove any of the original audio qualities. With practice in the editing software, you’ll be able to target and eliminate any unwanted audio changes, leaving you with a clean version of the original audio.
Export the Edited Video
Once you have finished removing all filters from the video in your editing software, the next step is to export the final edited video without filters. When exporting, it’s important to choose the proper export settings in order to maintain the highest video quality. Most video editing software like Clideo and Adobe Premiere Pro allow you to export videos in different resolutions and formats.
For the best quality, you’ll want to export the edited TikTok video in a high resolution format without compression, like ProRes for Mac or AVI for Windows. Avoid compressed formats like MP4 or MOV if possible. For resolution, 1080p or 4K will ensure maximum video quality. The higher the resolution, the larger the file size but the better the video will look on any screen. Refer to your video editor’s documentation for specific export settings.
Finally, make sure to save the exported video file to your computer. Avoid re-encoding the video multiple times as this can degrade quality. Now you’ll have the original TikTok video without any filters or editing effects applied.
Re-upload the Filterless Video
Once you have edited the original video and removed any filters, the next step is to re-upload the filterless version to your own TikTok or YouTube account. This allows you to share the video with your own followers and subscribers. However, it is crucial that you properly credit the original video creator when re-uploading.
To re-upload the video to TikTok, open the TikTok app and select the “+” icon to create a new video post. TikTok allows videos up to 60 seconds in length. Upload the edited, filterless version you exported from the video editing app. In the caption, provide credit to the original video creator by mentioning their @username and using hashtags like #repost. You can also include a note explaining that you removed filters from the original video.
To re-upload to YouTube, go to YouTube Studio and select “Upload video.” Choose the edited version from your files. In the description, credit the original TikTok creator by name and @username, provide a link to their original video, and explain that you removed filters. You can also put this credit information in the first comment pinned under your video.
Giving proper attribution is crucial when reposting someone else’s content. By crediting the original creator, you stay within TikTok and YouTube guidelines and maintain trust with your audience.
Credit the Original Creator
When you re-upload an edited version of someone else’s video, it’s important to properly credit the original creator. Add a note in the description stating that you have edited the original content. For example:
“This is my edited version of [original creator’s] TikTok video. Please check out their awesome original content at [link to original video].”
Giving credit is the right thing to do, and provides context on the editing changes you have made. The original creator likely spent time and effort making their content, so they deserve acknowledgement. Proper crediting also shows that you have permission to re-upload the edited version.
Some additional tips on crediting the original video creator:
- Mention their @username in the description so people can find them.
- If you know their real name, include that too.
- Link directly to their original video if possible.
- Use their original caption or hashtags if relevant.
- Ask them if they would like to be credited in any other way.
Giving credit demonstrates respect for other creators and enables TikTok viewers to trace the origins of any repurposed content. It’s a best practice that enables ongoing creativity and collaboration within the TikTok community.
Conclusion
In summary, removing filters from someone else’s TikTok video allows you to see the original, unaltered footage. This can be beneficial if you want to analyze the video composition or do your own editing. By downloading the video file, uploading it to a video editor, analyzing the composition, and methodically removing any applied filters, you can export a clean version of the video without the original filters.
The main benefits of this process are: being able to see the true original video, having full control over any editing or filters applied, and being able to repost an unfiltered version while still crediting the original creator. This allows you to showcase the content itself without excessive filters or effects distracting from the core video.
While TikTok filters can be fun, removing them as outlined here gives you more creative freedom and control. Just be sure to avoid reposting the unfiltered video as your own original content, and provide credit to the creator.