How to Get More Effects on Instagram

Tired of endlessly scrolling through the same ten Instagram filters for your Stories and Reels? If you're ready to move beyond Clarendon and Gingham, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through three simple methods to find and save thousands of unique, creative, and brand-defining AR effects made by creators all over the world.

Three Ways You Can Find Thousands of New Effects

Forget the guesswork. Finding new filters and effects on Instagram isn't about aimless searching, it’s about knowing where to look. Most users only ever use the basic filters that come pre-loaded in their camera, but there are three main pathways to unlock a universe of better, more unique options. The first method uses Instagram's built-in directory, the second involves finding them organically through content you already watch, and the third is about going straight to the source: the creators themselves. Let's break down each one.

Method 1: Browse the Official Effects Gallery

This is your official starting point. Instagram has a massive, searchable library of effects called the Effects Gallery, but it's hidden behind a few taps. If you’ve never been there before, you're about to unlock a treasure trove. It's the most organized way to find new filters based on category and style.

Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing the Effects Gallery:

1. Open the Instagram Stories Camera: Swipe right from your home feed to open the camera, just like you're about to create a Story.
2. Swipe Through Your Current Effects: At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the circular icons for the filters you already have. Swipe them all the way to the right until you reach the very end.
3. Tap "Browse Effects": At the end of the carousel, you'll see a magnifying glass icon with the prompt "Browse Effects." Tap this.

You are now in the Effects Gallery. From here, you can easily discover new filters:

• Explore Themed Categories: The gallery's main page is organized into helpful categories like "Selfies," "Funny," "Appearance," "Color & Light," and more. Tap on any of these to see effects related to that theme.
• Use the Search Bar: Have something specific in mind? Use the search icon in the top-right corner to search for keywords. Try searching for terms like "vintage camera," "retro," "y2k," "glitch," "butterflies," or "golden hour." This is the fastest way to find a filter that matches a specific aesthetic.
• Find Effects From Creators You Follow: Look for the "Following" tab at the top. This section neatly collects all the effects made by accounts you already follow, making it a great way to discover new creations from people whose style you already like.

How to Save an Effect You Like

Once you tap on a filter in the gallery, you'll see a preview of how it works. From this screen, you have a couple of options:

• Try It: Tap the "Try It" button in the bottom-left to immediately test out the filter in your camera.
• Save Effect: See the small-down arrow or bookmark icon? Tap this to save the effect permanently to your main camera carousel. Now, it will appear alongside your other saved effects every time you open the Stories camera, ready to use whenever you want.

Method 2: Grab Effects Directly from Stories and Reels

The best and most popular effects often go viral because you see them being used by other creators in their content. Thankfully, Instagram makes it incredibly easy to "grab" an effect you see in someone else's Story or Reel. This is arguably the best method for finding trendy, relevant filters that you know are resonating with audiences right now.

How It Works:

1. Spot the Effect a Creator is Using: When you're watching a Story or a Reel that uses an AR effect, look at the top-left of the screen, directly under the creator's username. You’ll see the name of the effect and the username of the person who created it (e.g., "Boho Filters by creatorxyz").
2. Tap the Effect Name: Tapping on this text will open up a descriptive bottom menu with more information about that specific effect.
3. Save It for Yourself: From this menu, you'll see a few options:
   • Try It: Instantly opens the Stories camera with the effect activated for you to try.
   • Save Effect: Adds the effect to your effects carousel for future use. This is the most important button - get in the habit of saving cool effects the moment you see them!
   • See Effect Page: Takes you to a dedicated page for that filter, where you can see other public Reels and Stories that have used it. This can be great for inspiration.

This is the most natural way to build your filter collection. Just by consuming content you already enjoy, you can cherry-pick the exact effects that fit your brand’s personality and save them on the fly. Don't hesitate to save one, even if you don't have an immediate plan for it. Your future self will thank you when you’re looking for the perfect final touch for a post.

Method 3: Go Straight to the Source by Following AR Creators

Behind every filter is a talented creator. Many artists and developers specialize in making AR effects for Instagram and TikTok. By following them directly, you get a direct line to the latest, most creative filters - often before they start trending.

When you discover an effect you love using Method 2, make a note of the creator's username. Navigate to their profile, and you'll probably find a gold mine.

How to Find and Benefit from AR Creators:

• The Special "Effects" Tab: Most active AR creators have a dedicated Effects tab on their Instagram profile, which looks like a small icon of three stars or sparkles. It’s located in the same navigation bar as their feed, Reels, and tagged photos tabs. Tapping this takes you to a gallery of their entire filter portfolio. You can browse, try, and save any of them right from their profile.
• Find New Creators Through Hashtags: Active creators and accounts that curate effects often use specific hashtags. Search for tags like `#ARfilter`, `#IGfilter`, `#SparkARcreator`, `#Instagramfilters`, or `#facefilter` to find posts that showcase new effects and their makers.
• Get Early Access: The biggest benefit of following an AR creator is that you'll see their new effects as soon as they're released, often promoted through their own Stories. This gives you a chance to use cool new filters before they become widely saturated.

Some popular creator accounts worth checking out to start your collection are @paigepiskin, @johwska, and @filt.ar, but the real fun is finding artists whose style perfectly aligns with your own.

Organizing Your Growing Effect Collection

Once you start saving effects, your camera carousel can get crowded quickly. Finding your favorite "go-to" filter can turn into a tedious scrolling session. Thankfully, you can easily remove effects to keep your camera tidy.

1. Navigate to your Stories camera.
2. Select the effect you want to remove from the carousel at the bottom.
3. Tap the effect's name, which appears at the bottom-center of the screen.
4. In the menu that pops up, tap "Remove."

Don't worry, this doesn't delete the effect forever. It just takes it out of your active carousel. The filter will remain in your "Saved" tab within the Effects Gallery, so you can always reactivate it later if you change your mind.

Next Level: Make Your Own Custom Effects

If you've browsed the gallery, followed creators, and still can't find that one perfect effect, there's always one final option: make it yourself.

Meta offers a powerful and free software called Spark AR Studio for Mac and Windows. While it has a learning curve, it's the same tool that all of your favorite creators use to build and publish effects on Instagram and Facebook. It includes templates for beginners who want to build something simple (like a branded photo frame) all the way up to advanced tools for creating complex, interactive 3D experiences. It's the ultimate way to get an effect that is 100% unique to your brand.

Final Thoughts

Now you have everything you need to break free from the basic filters and elevate your Instagram content. Whether you're carefully sorting through the official Effects Gallery, grabbing the latest trends from other creators' Reels, or following talented filter artists directly, you have the tools to build a collection of AR effects that truly matches your brand's unique style.

Of course, once you find the perfect effects, consistently creating amazing content is the next step. At Postbase, we designed our visual content calendar to solve this exact problem. You can plan and schedule out all your video-first content, like Reels and Stories, weeks or even months ahead of time. It makes it simple to see your whole strategy at a glance, so you can focus more on creating with your new effects and less on the chaos of remembering to post every single day.