TikTok is a popular video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Since launching in 2016, TikTok has grown to over 1 billion monthly active users globally, making it one of the most popular social media apps in the world. TikTok Popularity Statistics show it is especially popular with teens and young adults.
A key feature of TikTok are the filters that allow users to easily edit and transform their videos. Filters on TikTok provide effects like adding music, stickers, visual overlays and distortions to change the look and feel of videos. Filters help creators stylize their content and make it more engaging. According to TikTok, filters were used in over 70% of the videos uploaded to the platform in 2021, which highlights their popularity and importance as a creative tool.
What are filters on TikTok?
Filters on TikTok are effects that alter the appearance of videos in creative ways. Users can apply filters to change the color tones, add visual effects, modify facial features, and more. Filters provide an easy way for TikTok creators to stylize and enhance their videos.
Some examples of popular TikTok filters include the Disney filter that gives a cartoon makeover, the inverted filter that switches light and dark colors, and the timewarp filter that creates a slow motion effect. The possibilities are endless thanks to TikTok’s collection of filters spanning various categories like beauty, fun, travel, food, and more.
Filters work by using advanced computer vision technology to analyze the features and lighting in each video frame. The filter effect is then seamlessly overlaid onto the original video to alter its visual style. This all happens automatically once a filter is selected, allowing creators to quickly transform the look of their videos with just a tap.
Accessing the filter menu
The filter menu in TikTok allows you to browse and select different filters to apply to your videos. Here are the steps to access the filter menu on TikTok:
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Open the TikTok app on your mobile device and go to the upload screen where you create a new video. Tap the camera icon in the bottom center.
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Before you record a video, tap on the “Effects” button at the bottom of the screen. This opens up the filters and effects menu.
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At the bottom of the effects menu you will see the “Filters” tab. Tap on this to open the filter menu.
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You can now scroll through the different filters categories like “Trending”, “Preferred”, and “Effects” to browse filter options.
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Tap on any filter thumbnail to preview the filter on the camera viewfinder. When you find one you like, tap “Use This Filter” to select it.
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The selected filter will now be applied to any videos you record. You can change or remove filters at any time by going back into the filter menu.
Following these steps gives you easy access to TikTok’s wide range of filters to creatively edit your videos!
Browsing default filters
TikTok has a variety of fun and creative default filters built into the app that you can easily browse and use. Here are some of the most popular default filter categories:
Food – These filters make your videos look tasty! Some examples are the Popping Popcorn, Delicious, and Ice Cream filters.
Vibe – Set the mood with vibe filters like Fairy Dust, Disco, and Groovy. These give your videos a magical or retro feel.
Portrait – Enhance skin, adjust lighting, or touch up your look with portrait filters such as Natural Beauty, Soft, and Strength.
Landscape – Add interest to travel and outdoor videos with landscape filters. Try Horizon, Dusk, or Daydream.
TikTok is constantly adding new default filters in themed collections. Browse through them to find the perfect look for your next video.
Searching for filters
You can search for specific filters on TikTok using keywords. Here’s how:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on the camera icon to access the filters.
- At the bottom of the filters menu, tap on the search bar. This allows you to search for filters by name or keyword.
- Type in your desired keyword, such as “space” or “beach.” TikTok will display filters related to that keyword.
- You can scroll through and preview the filter results. When you find one you like, tap on it to apply it to your video.
- Favorite any filters you want to save for later by tapping the bookmark icon.
Searching for keywords is a great way to find filters related to a specific theme, like holidays or locations. You can get very specific too, down to searching for a particular color or aesthetic. This makes it easy to find the perfect filter to match the vibe of your TikTok video (source).
Saving favorite filters for quick access
To save your favorite filters so you can easily use them again and again, follow these simple steps:
- Open the filter menu and browse until you find a filter you like.
- Tap on the filter to preview how it looks.
- If you want to save the filter, tap on the bookmark icon in the bottom left corner.
- This adds the filter to your Favorites section.
- To access your Favorites, open the filter menu and tap on the Favorites tab.[1]
- All your favorited filters will be there for quick selection.
Saving frequently used filters to Favorites makes them readily available so you can quickly apply them to any new videos. This saves you time hunting for filters you love.
Creating your own filters
One of the best parts of TikTok is the ability to create your own custom filters to use in videos. There are a couple different ways to make custom TikTok filters.
You can use the Effect House in the TikTok app to create filters from scratch. This gives you options like uploading an image, adding visual effects, and customizing the filter name and icon. The Effect House is only available to users with a TikTok Pro account.
Another option is using Snapchat’s Lens Studio desktop app. You can design full augmented reality lenses and effects in Lens Studio. Then you can submit them to be published as official Snapchat lenses that also work as TikTok filters. This takes more work but provides the most customization options.
There are also third-party apps like FILTA and Filter Maker that offer simplified tools for building custom TikTok filters. These let you create filters by uploading photos or videos and adding overlays, colors, and textures.
Overall, TikTok provides great creative tools for users to make unique custom filters. With some effort, you can design fun personalized filters to use in your own videos or share with friends and followers.
Using filters in videos
You can use TikTok’s filters both when recording a new video or by adding them to an existing video. To add a filter before recording your video:
1. Tap the “+” icon to start recording a new video.
2. Select “Filters” on the bottom of the screen.
3. Browse the filters and tap the one you want to use.
4. Adjust the filter intensity with the slider if desired.
5. Tap the record button to start capturing your video with the filter applied.
To add a filter to an existing video:
1. After recording your video, tap “Effects” at the bottom.
2. Select “Filters” and browse the available options.
3. Tap the filter you want to apply to the video.
4. Use the slider to adjust the filter intensity.
5. Tap “Next” when finished to move on to editing the rest of the video.
TikTok makes it simple to find and use filters to enhance your videos and make them more visually appealing before sharing.
Sharing videos with filters
Adding filters to your videos can help make them more engaging and entertaining for viewers. This can increase your chances of going viral. Some best practices for using filters to boost engagement include:
Choose filters that enhance or complement your content. Don’t just randomly select filters. Pick ones that help reinforce your video’s theme or mood. For example, use a fun, playful filter for a comedy video. Use an elegant filter for a makeup or fashion video.
Use popular or trending filters. Check what filters are commonly being used by top influencers in your niche. Leveraging the same filters can help put your content in front of audiences already looking for those effects.
Combine filters for a unique look. You can layer multiple filters to create an original vibe. Just be careful not to overdo it. Two filters layered tastefully is better than five filters that look haphazard.
Change filters with transitions. Don’t just use the same filter throughout the whole video. Switching filters at appropriate times during video transitions can add extra flair.
Use filters subtly when appropriate. Filters don’t always have to be prominent effects. For certain videos, apply filters lightly so they subtly enhance without overpowering. For example, use a delicate filter to softly boost colors and lighting for a beauty tutorial.
Test different filters before publishing. Experiment with various filters before publishing your video live. See which ones generate the most excitement and engagement when shared with test audiences.
Follow trends strategically. If a new filter blows up, ride the wave but put your own spin on it. For example, combine the trending filter with other effects to make it unique.
By strategically incorporating filters, you can breathe new life into your content. The right filters enhance videos in visually appealing ways that grab attention and promote sharing.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok offers users a fun and creative way to find and use filters to enhance their videos. The filter menu provides quick access to TikTok’s default filters sorted into categories like New, Trending and Fun. Users can browse through these filters or search for specific filters by keyword. Any filters you particularly like can be saved to your Favorites for easy access later.
For even more customization, TikTok allows users to create their own customized filters through the TikTok Effect Studio. Once you’ve found or created the perfect filters, they can easily be applied to your videos before sharing. Using filters is an impactful way to showcase your personality and style on TikTok. With this guide, you now have the key tools to explore filters and make your videos stand out!
