Not Satisfied With Available TikTok Filters? Make Your Own!

TikTok video creators have hundreds of filters to choose from while editing content to post on the social media platform. Experienced creators, though, may not find an available filter that provides the exact look they want to see in their TikTok post.

There’s another option: they can make their own TikTok filter.

It’s not the easiest thing to do, and it’s probably not something a beginning TikTok user should attempt – because it requires downloading and learning how to work in a separate app. Some influencers, experienced creators, and perfectionists, though, may find that creating their own TikTok filter is worth the time and effort needed.

What Are TikTok Filters?

For those who are just getting into TikTok video editing, here’s a quick explainer.

Filters are custom visual effects that can be added to TikTok content to change the look of that content. The app provides hundreds of filters for users to choose from as they edit a video; most alter the color, tone, and contrast of content to create a different or improved aesthetic.

Many creators use filters to hide flaws in a video’s lighting, background, composition, or mood. Some use them to improve the subjects’ appearance by softening or changing the look of their eyes, skin, or makeup. Filters can transform a harsh video shot in a kitchen into one that was seemingly filmed at sunrise or sunset, or give an “ordinary” user a “supermodel” look.

Filters shouldn’t be confused with TikTok effects, which take editing possibilities to the next level. Effects are what allow creators to do things like simulate green screens to put themselves in front of different backgrounds, make their videos appear like they’re filmed in a time warp, add cute stickers, or turn people into anime characters.

Some companies use filters for a very different purpose. For a hefty fee, TikTok allows them to create specialized filters with imagery that promotes their brand and are made available to users as “trending filters” for a short period.

Interested enough to try your hand at making your own TikTok filter? Read on.

Introducing the TikTok Effect House Tool

Unfortunately, you can’t create a custom filter in the TikTok app. The platform has designed a separate app for that purpose, and it’s called the TikTok Effect House.

Effect House is an augmented reality tool that’s free for all TikTok users. They just have to download it from the Google Play Store or Apple Store (depending on their device), install it, and log in with their regular TikTok username and password.

There are comprehensive tutorials right in the app, but here’s how it works in a nutshell. We’ll use a simple example, adjusting the eyes on the person appearing in a video.

1. Import a photo into the app.
2. Tap (+) to add an object and choose “Face Effects.”
3. Now, choose “Eye Effect.”
4. Adjust the color, texture, and opacity of the effects, and play with them in “Blend Mode” to achieve the exact look you want.

You can perform the same basic actions to add mascara, change the person’s hair color, or adjust any other element of the person’s face. Once you save the filter, you can then apply it in TikTok to create the desired appearance in any video.

It takes a little practice, and many more Effect House features can be used to create TikTok filters; you can also choose a starting templates and adjust the effects as desired. But once you’ve got the hang of it and create a filter, you’re on your way to refining the look of your TikTok content even more than you could with the standard filters available in the editor.