How to Add Instagram Filters to Existing Photos

So you‘ve taken an amazing photo that you want to share on Instagram. But it feels like it‘s missing a little something – that special Instagram magic. What you need is to add one of Instagram‘s iconic filters to take your photo to the next level. But did you snap that pic weeks or months ago? No problem! Thanks to an Instagram update, you can now add filters to existing photos already in your camera roll.

In this in-depth guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about sprucing up both old and new photos with Instagram‘s editing tools. Consider me your Instagram filter guru – I‘ve tested all 51 of the app‘s preset filters and countless creative effects. I‘ll share my top tips for selecting the perfect filter, editing photos to perfection, and even using third-party apps to take your filter game up a notch.

By the end of this guide, you‘ll be an Instagram filtering pro ready to transform your feed. So grab that timeless throwback snapshot or recent camera roll gem, and let‘s get filtering!

How Do Instagram Filters Actually Work?

Before we dive in, let‘s do a quick overview of how Instagram filters do their magic.

When you take a photo through Instagram‘s in-app camera, you have the option to add a filter. Tapping on a filter previews it atop your photo. Selecting one applies an edit that changes aspects like:

Brightness and contrast
Saturation and color vibrance
Highlights and shadows
Warm and cool tones
Fade amount
And much more

The filters transform the look and feel of your image through these adjustments made to color, light, and other qualities. But here‘s the key fact many don‘t realize – the editing is non-destructive. Instagram always saves your original, unfiltered photo first. The filter creates a copy of your image with edits applied on top.

This means you can remove filters or try different ones without damaging your photos. Think of filters as enhancers that add a stylized twist, not alterations that overwrite the actual image.

Instagram started with a small set of vintage-inspired filters, but they‘ve vastly expanded the selection over time. There are now over 50 preset filters ranging from faded film looks, to bright and pop art styles, to subtle color correctors.

Beyond those standard options, Instagram allows you to browse thousands of other filters and effects created by users. So whether you want to achieve a retro camera feel or use something trendy and modern, Instagram has you covered.

The Benefits of Using Filters on All Your Photos

Initially, Instagram filters could only be added to photos captured live through the app‘s camera. But as of 2019, you can now filter photos already in your phone‘s camera roll too.

This update opened the doors to editing all sorts of existing photos with filters, not just ones taken through Instagram. But you may be wondering – why would I want to filter any photos I‘ve already taken? What are the benefits? Let‘s dig into the top reasons:

Give Photos a Makeover

Filters can breathe new life into tired, old images. They provide an instant face lift for lackluster photos. This lets you revisit and revive nostalgic throwback pics from years past. I love taking dull old photos and experimenting with filters until I achieve a stunning transformation.

Create a Consistent Look

Applying the same filter to multiple photos in your Instagram feed gives them a consistent, cohesive look. Your entire profile benefits from a unified editing style when your photos have a similar feel.

Salvage Mistakes

Sometimes filters can mask mistakes in photos like incorrect exposure, poor lighting, cluttered backgrounds, and more. They‘re like a magic wand to wipe away imperfections. I‘ve saved many flawed photos with filters that hid the issues.

Quick Edits

It‘s often faster and easier to just filter a photo rather than manually fixing individual aspects with editing tools. If you need to edit a batch of images quickly, a few taps of a filter effect can streamline the process.

Spark Inspiration

Experimenting with an array of filters on a photo can spark ideas for other edits. The different filtered versions give you a clearer vision of possibilities. I love seeing all the creative directions I can take a photo when exploring filters.

Non-destructive Changes

Adding filters never alters your original photo – just saves a copy with the filter applied. So feel free to go wild testing filters without worrying about ruining your images!

Having the power to filter any photo you already have, rather than just new ones taken through Instagram, opens up a treasure trove of options. Next let‘s dive into how to actually add filters to existing photos in your camera roll.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Filters to Photos

The process of adding filters to photos already on your phone is simple and straightforward. But it does work a little differently on iPhones versus Android devices. Let‘s break down how to do it on both platforms:

For iPhone

Open the Instagram app and tap on your profile picture in the bottom navigation bar to access the in-app camera.
Either tap the small gallery icon in the bottom left corner, or swipe up from the very bottom of your screen. Both will open your full camera roll and photo gallery.
Browse and select a photo from your existing camera roll that you want to edit with filters.
Tap the smiley face icon toward the top of the screen to open Instagram‘s filter options.
Swipe left and right with your finger to preview different filters. Tap on a specific filter to apply it to your photo.
Once you have the filter you want, tap ‘Done‘ to confirm the changes and finish editing. The filtered version will be saved!

For Android

Open the Instagram app and tap on your profile picture, then select ‘Gallery‘ from the bottom icons to choose an existing photo.
Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner to open more options.
Select ‘Edit‘ from the popup menu to open editing mode, including filters.
Tap on ‘Filters‘ at the very bottom of the screen. Swipe left and right to preview filter options.
Tap on a filter you like to apply it to your photo.
Hit the checkmark icon at the top right to confirm your edits and changes.

And that‘s all there is to it! The filtered version of your photo will be saved, separate from the original. Let‘s look at some examples:

Step-by-step screenshots showing how to add an Instagram filter to an existing photo on an iPhone

See how easy that was? Now you can give amazing transformations to photos of any age right from your camera roll. Next let‘s go over some pro tips and tricks for selecting and managing filters…

Expert Tips for Working With Instagram Filters

Take your filter skills to the next level with these professional tips:

Save favorites – Long press on any filter you love to add it to your favorites bar. This makes frequently used filters much easier to access.
Adjust strength – Tweak the intensity of any filter up or down after applying it to your photo. Often lowering strength around 30% looks more natural.
Reorder filters – Long press and hold on filters in your favorites bar to drag and reorder them. Put go-to filters at the front.
Browse trending – Check Instagram‘s Discover tab to see recommended filters and effects that are trending now. Great for inspiration!
Search for filters – Use the search bar to find specific filter effects quickly by name. Handy when you know exactly what you want.
Can‘t browse new ones – Note you can‘t search or browse for brand new filters from the editing screen of existing photos like you can with Instagram‘s live camera.
Remove filters – Don‘t like a filter on a photo? Simply tap on the filter icon again and select ‘No Filter‘ to remove it.
Fine tune filters – Use Instagram‘s other editing tools to adjust brightness, warmth, and more after applying a filter. Perfect for polish.

As you can see, there‘s an art to mastering filters. Next let‘s talk about working around limitations…

Finding New Filters to Use on Existing Photos

One annoyance is you can‘t browse or search Instagram‘s filter catalog when editing photos already in your camera roll – only when taking new live photos.

But there are a couple of workarounds. Here are my top tips for finding new filters to use on existing photos:

Preview first – Open Instagram‘s live camera, browse filters there, preview ones you like, and bookmark favorites to your saved effects. Then you can access and use those new saved filters later when editing photos in your camera roll.
Third party apps – Apps like Afterlight, Snapseed, Mextures, and many others have huge filter collections you can customize and save. Then edit your photos in Instagram with those third party filters.

Speaking of third party apps, let‘s explore all the options beyond Instagram for filters and effects…

Top Apps for Applying Filters & Photo Editing

While Instagram‘s built-in filters are great, you have more creative control and variety by using third party editing apps. Some of my favorites include:

VSCO – A favorite for photographers, with a massive library of filters and precision editing tools. I‘m obsessed with their vintage film filters.
Snapseed – Google‘s powerful photo editor with great filter effects as well as healing and brush tools for localized edits.
Afterlight – Over 100 filters plus tools to adjust specific elements like exposure, color, and more. One of the best for flexibility.
Lens Distortions – Beautiful filters adding natural light effects like sunrays and fog, rainbows, and much more. Truly transportive.
Mextures – Applies textures, gradients, film grain, and lighting effects. Perfect for getting that editorial, high fashion magazine look.
Adobe Lightroom – The gold standard in photo editing for professionals, with mobile apps that sync with desktop software. Unparalleled editing power.

The possibilities are endless! Try out a variety of apps to build your filter repertoire. Now let‘s tackle some common questions…

FAQs and Troubleshooting Filters

Here I‘ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about using Instagram filters:

Can I add filters to photos I already shared on Instagram?

Absolutely! You can go back and edit any photos previously posted on your Instagram feed. Just tap the three dot menu on it, select ‘Edit‘, then apply filters and other edits.

Do filters lower image quality?

Nope, filters don‘t degrade or reduce the resolution of your photos at all. They simply save a copy with the filter effect applied. The original stays in tact.

Can I also filter photos for my Instagram Story?

Yes! After capturing or selecting a photo for your story, tap the filter icon at the bottom and choose from effects and favorites just like editing your feed photos.

What‘s the difference between filters and editing tools?

Filters apply preset effects to the entire photo all at once. Editing tools let you manually tweak specific elements like brightness, contrast, warmth etc. Use both together!

How do I know which filters are trending right now?

Check the Discover tab in the effects gallery to browse recommended filters that are popular worldwide and among accounts you follow.

Final Tips for Filtering Photos

Thanks for sticking with me on this in-depth guided tour of elevating your Instagram photos with filters. Here are a few final tips to leave you with:

Don‘t be afraid to experiment and try bold, whacky filters – you can always change them!
Pay attention to how filters look on different photo subject matter and locations. A filter that pops on scenery might overpower a portrait.
Be purposeful about your edits – think about the mood, style, and story you want to convey. Don‘t just randomly apply filters.
Use common filters consistently on your posts for a refined, cohesive Instagram feed.
Go back and filter old photos you‘ve already shared to give your entire profile a lift. Improving past posts helps too!
Mix and match your favorite filters from different apps to create signature styles. Custom combos make your work instantly recognizable.
Brush up periodically on trending filters and effects so your work always feels fresh, current, and engaging. But also develop your own timeless style.

Conclusion

I hope this guide served as your masterclass in elevating any photo with the right Instagram filters and effects. Apply my pro tips and tricks to artfully enhance both new pictures and existing shots from your camera roll.

Transforming lackluster photos into share-worthy social media eye candy is so satisfying. Use filters to bring new life into old photos and develop your own aesthetic style.

Remember – the most important filter is your unique perspective and vision as a photographer. Technical edits merely enhance what‘s already captured. Focus on taking great photos first, then sprinkle filtering magic on top to take them to the next level.

Now get out there, break some filter rules, and give your Instagram feed the makeover it deserves!