How to Use Filters on TikTok

TikTok filters and effects are more than just a fun feature, they're a core part of the platform's creative language. This guide breaks down exactly how to find, apply, and save effects to make your videos stand out. We'll cover everything from the basic color-grading filters to the AR effects that spark new trends.

What Are TikTok Filters vs. Effects (and Why Do They Matter?)

On TikTok, the terms "filter" and "effect" are often used interchangeably, but it's helpful to know the distinction. While TikTok bundles most of these features into the "Effects" gallery, they traditionally serve two different purposes.

• Filters: These are color overlays that change the aesthetic feel of your video. Think of them like presets you'd find in a photo editing app. They can make your video look vintage with a grainy film look, bright and saturated for a summer vibe, or black and white for a dramatic tone.
• Effects: These are more dynamic and interactive. Effects use augmented reality (AR) to alter your appearance, change your background with a green screen, or add interactive elements and games to your videos. A talking dog, a quiz above your head, or eyes that pop out of your skull - that's an effect.

So, why bother learning the ins and outs of these tools? For content creators and brands, they are incredibly useful for several reasons:

• Join Trends: Many viral TikTok trends are built entirely around a specific effect. Using them is the easiest way to participate in popular conversations and get your content in front of new audiences.
• Enhance Your Storytelling: The right filter can instantly set the mood. A sparkly effect can add a touch of whimsy, while a glitchy effect can create a feeling of suspense.
• Increase Engagement: Interactive effects, like quizzes or "choose a character" filters, encourage viewers to watch your video multiple times and comment with their own results.
• Show Personality: Funny face-morphing effects or unique green-screen backgrounds are a great way to showcase your brand's sense of humor or creativity without a big production budget.

In short, mastering effects shows you understand the platform's native culture, making your content feel more authentic and relatable.

How to Find and Apply TikTok Filters: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to start? The process of adding a filter or effect is straightforward. Here's how you can do it right from the TikTok camera screen.

Step 1: Open the TikTok Camera

Tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom center of your screen to open the creation interface. This is where all the video recording magic happens.

Step 2: Access the Effects Gallery

On the bottom-left of the recording screen, you'll see a button labeled "Effects" with a sparkling icon. Tap it to open the vast effects library. This gallery is where you'll find everything from subtle beauty enhancements to wild AR transformations.

Step 3: Browse and Choose Your Effect

Once you open the Effects gallery, you'll see several tabs designed to help you find what you're looking for:

• Trending: This is your go-to tab for finding what's popular right now. Using effects from here is a great way to increase your video's potential visibility.
• New: Check this tab for new effects that have been recently added to the platform.
• Favorites: This is where any effect you've bookmarked will live (more on that later).
• Category Tabs: You'll also see categories like Green Screen, Funny, Beauty, Interactive, and more. These are perfect when you have a specific video idea in mind.

To preview an effect, simply tap on its icon. The effect will instantly apply to your camera feed, allowing you to see what it looks like in real-time before you start recording. Once you've found one you like, tap outside the gallery onto the screen to close it, and you're ready to record your video with the effect active.

Step 4: Using the Classic Color Filters

If you're looking for simple color-correction filters instead of AR effects, you'll find them in a different spot. On the right-hand sidebar of the camera screen, look for the "Filters" icon.

Tapping this will open a menu at the bottom with categorized filter presets like Portrait, Landscape, Food, and Vibe. You can scroll through these and tap one to apply it. A slider will appear above the menu, allowing you to adjust the filter's intensity from 0 to 100. This is super helpful for achieving a subtle look that enhances your video without overpowering it.

Pro Tip: You can layer these color filters on top of the AR effects from the main gallery. For example, you can use a Greenscreen effect and then add a 'Vibe' color filter to give your background a warm, vintage feel.

Finding Your Next Favorite Filter (Beyond the Gallery)

The Effects Gallery is a great starting point, but the best way to discover trending effects is to find them "in the wild" on your For You Page. TikTok makes it incredibly easy to use an effect you see in someone else's video.

Steal Effects Directly From Videos

Have you ever scrolled through your FYP and seen a hilarious or cool effect you wanted to try? Here's how to use it in seconds:

1. When you see a video with an effect you like, look for the effect's name displayed just above the creator's username. It's usually preceded by the same sparkling icon from the Effects Gallery.
2. Tap on that yellow text.
3. This will take you to the official effect page, where you can see other popular videos using the same effect.
4. At the bottom of this screen, you'll see a big red button that says "Use this effect." Tap it, and TikTok will take you straight to your camera with the effect already applied and ready to go.

This is the fastest way to jump on a trend while it's still hot.

Save Effects for Later

If you find an effect you love but aren't ready to use it right away, you can save it to your Favorites for easy access later.

When you're browsing the Effects Gallery or you've visited an effect's page, look for a small bookmark icon. Tapping this icon will save the effect to your "Favorites" tab within the Effects Gallery. The next time you open the gallery, you can just tap on the bookmark tab to see all your saved effects in one convenient place.

Creating a collection of your favorite "go-to" effects saves a lot of time and helps you develop a consistent look and feel for your content.

Best Practices for Using Filters and Effects

Knowing how to find filters is only half the battle. Using them effectively is what separates a good TikTok video from a great one. Here are a few strategic tips.

Match the Effect to the Vibe

The effect you choose should always complement your video's message or tone. Are you telling a nostalgic story? Try a grainy, retro film filter. Filming a comedy skit? A face-morphing or silly voice effect could make it even funnier. If you're doing a GRWM (Get Ready With Me) or a makeup tutorial, a subtle beauty effect can smooth things over without looking unnatural.

Participate in Filter-Based Trends

Keep an eye on trends where the effect is the trend. Challenges like the "Versailles Run" filter, the "Teenage Dirtbag" photo montage, or any of the hundreds of popular quiz filters are prime opportunities. You can adapt these trend formats to your specific niche by relating the trend back to your industry, products, or services.

Combine Effects with Trending Audio

A great effect becomes even better when paired with the right trending sound. Often, a specific effect will be almost exclusively linked to a particular song or audio clip. Using them together signals to both the algorithm and the viewer that you're "in on the joke." When you find a trending effect you want to use, check the sound other creators are pairing it with.

Remember, You Can Add Effects After Recording

While most AR effects must be applied before you record, you can add color filters and certain motion effects after you've already shot your clips. Once you finish recording and land on the preview screen, look at the options on the right-hand sidebar. You'll see the same "Filters" option to add color, as well as an "Effects" tab that houses timed, post-production effects like slow-motion, glitches, and sparkles that you can apply to specific parts of your video.

A Quick Note on Using Filters on TikTok LIVE

You can also use effects and filters during a TikTok LIVE broadcast to make your stream more engaging. Just before you go live, or even during the broadcast itself, you can access effects in a similar way to the standard camera:

• Tap the "Enhance" button to access beauty filters that can smooth skin, brighten your appearance, or even add a touch of virtual makeup.
• Tap the "Effects" button to bring up a curated library of AR effects that work in real-time.

Final Thoughts

On TikTok, filters and effects are foundational creative tools for engaging your audience and bringing your ideas to life. Whether you're using a simple color filter to set the mood or jumping on an AR trend, understanding how to find, apply, and save these assets is a key skill for any creator focused on building a presence on the platform.

Mastering TikTok's creative tools is the crucial first step, but staying organized and consistent is how you build a real following. We believe that planning out video ideas - including the specific filters and viral sounds we want to pair with - is much easier when laid out on a visual content calendar. When everything is set, we use Postbase to schedule our videos, so our feed stays active and on-trend, even when we're busy creating whatever's next.