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10 Dazzling Photo Filters in Create and When to Use Them

10 Dazzling Photo Filters in Create and When to Use Them

Looking to create a particular mood with a photo? Want to add a subtle touch of polish to an otherwise “normal” picture snapped on your smartphone? Photo filters are the answer! 

Even in photos that appear completely natural (i.e. digitally untouched), photo filters are often present—the secret ingredient to an evocative, memorable, and emotionally resonant end result. 

Below, we’re sharing what you need to know about photo filters along with 10 creative recommendations to level up your pictures in Shutterstock Create


What Is a Photo Filter?

What we call “photo filters” today are the digital equivalent of lens filters on traditional film cameras (or even on drones!). 

Instead of placing a physical colored filter over a glass lens before the shot is taken, digital photo filters are applied to the image file after it’s taken—during the digital editing or “post-processing” phase. 

The jargon may sound fancy but, in reality, it’s as easy as uploading your photo to Create and choosing a photo filter with one click. You don’t need a separate photo filter app or any special software.


Why Use Photo Filters?

Photo filters are used for the same reasons that traditional lens filters have been used for decades now: To emphasize and/or de-emphasize different parts of an image for artistic or visual effect.


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Dusk.” License this image via Pavel Kovacs.

Think about it like this: The same picture of a barn owl could look dark and mysterious . . . or it could look bucolic and inviting. It all comes down to the photo’s details—its color balance, shadows and highlights, contrast, dominant hues, saturation, and more.

These elements are what establish the visual mood—and they’re exactly what photo filters are designed to tweak.

Different photo filters do different things to images, which is why the end result can look so different.

Some filters add brightness, some decrease color saturation, some increase the shadows, and some apply bold colors and effects that make photos look less realistic and more artistic, illustrated, or branded.

The trick is to find the filter that matches your intended mood and that plays up the photo’s natural strengths.

More suggestions and tips below!


How to Add a Photo Filter in Create

Before we jump into a list of recommended filters for pictures, let’s start with a quick how-to for accessing these filters in Create:

  1. Open a new project, either from the Create homepage or from the template library.
  2. Upload your photo (by clicking Images > Upload) or choose from unlimited stock assets instead.
  3. Click on your image from the canvas.
  4. With the image selected, click Effects from the top menu.
  5. Choose any filter from the left and adjust the settings, as desired. (The specific settings vary depending on the filter you choose.)
  6. Click Apply.

Create’s photo filters are divided into categories—like New, Tried and True, Camera Look, Artsy, and more—to help you quickly find the right effect for any image.


Whether you’re looking to strike a joyful tone or a dramatic mood, it all comes down choosing the right filter for photos.

Below are just a few of the 50+ photo filters available in Create; we’ve chosen one from each category to give you an idea of the many unique looks you can achieve.

1. Santorini


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Santorini.” License this image via Hryshchyshen Serhii.

Santorini (under Effects > New > Santorini) is the perfect filter for a modern lifestyle blogger, as it captures that crisp, bright, and smooth look that’s so popular for blogs—especially those related to motherhood, fashion, kids, and home.

2. Tranquil


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Tranquil.” License this image via Reiseschatzi.

Tranquil (under Effects > Tried and True > Tranquil) is a filter that evokes instant nostalgia in photos. Its warm tones evoke a 1970s Polaroid and work especially well for warm, summery scenes or FOMO-inspiring vacation shots.

3. Soften


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Soften.” License this image via Inga Gedrovicha.

Soften (under Effects > Basic > Soften) is a blurring filter that’s perfect for artsy dreamscapes or for social media content with a text overlay, like an inspirational quote or an intriguing question.

Play around with the Softness and Fade levels to achieve the right look: Lots of Softness and Fade for a dreamy halo effect, or lots of Softness and no Fade for blurring only. 

4. Super B&W


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Super B&W.” License this image via Fractal Pictures.

Super B&W (under Effects > Black and White > Super B&W) gives a sense of weight and drama to any photo—ideal for photojournalism, social issue blogs, or artistic endeavors. 

Super B&W gets its name from its dramatic contrast—much darker shadows and much brighter whites. For a more traditional black and white look, try the standard Black and White effect instead.

5. Gradient


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Gradient.” License this image via Gilmanshin.

Gradient (under Effects > Paintbox > Gradient) is the perfect filter for social media content creation. Take any photo, add a gradient pulled from your brand’s color palette, and then layer text, icons, or graphics on top.

Branded content, done!

Because this filter adds a fun burst of color, it’s perfect for combining with other bold photo edits! Try removing the background of the photo first or adding some hand-drawn glitter details. 

6. Sepia


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Sepia.” License this image via milatas.

Sepia (under Effects > Camera Look > Sepia) turns any modern photo into a timeless treasure.

With its instantly recognizable reddish-brown cast, the Sepia filter is a great look for any photo with a sense of Old World romance or vintage beauty.

7. Sunglow

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/glamorous-african-american-woman-warm-fur-1929957104


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Sunglow.” License this image via AS photostudio.

Sunglow (under Effects > Light > Sunglow) adds a spot of sunlight to any photo. Increase the focal size to add a direct and obvious spot of bright warm sunlight, or decrease it to achieve a much more subtle glow, as we’ve done in the example above. 

Other photo filters under the Light category provide similarly illuminating effects including a stage-style spotlight and radiant beams of sunlight.

8. Fancy Focus

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-black-man-steps-outside-walking-1910953360


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Fancy Focus.” License this image via Bricolage.

Fancy Focus (under Effects > Area > Fancy Focus) allows you apply a selective blur to any area of your photo while also desaturating the colors outside of that blurred area.

The end result feels elevated and artistic, naturally drawing the eye toward the focal point of your choice.

For a similar effect without the color desaturation, try Focal Soften instead.

9. Arcade

Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Arcade.” License this image via Travel mania.

Arcade (under Effects > Artsy > Arcade) transforms your photo into a retro video game! You can even select between 32-bit, 16-bit, and 8-bit, depending on the era you’re going for. Adjust the pixel size, sharpness, and saturation until you hit the sweet spot.

Other filters in the Artsy category will give you equally dynamic results, turning photos into illustrated posters, metal etchings, and Warhol-esque pop art designs.

10. Auto Adjust


Right image: Photo filtered with Shutterstock Create’s “Auto Adjust.” License this image via golubovystock.

While not technically an Effect like the others on this list, Create’s Auto Adjust feature certainly deserves an honorable mention! It’s a one-click solution to make your photos just look better—similar to the “enhance” feature you’re probably already used to using on your smartphone camera app.

To use Auto Adjust, select any photo and click Adjust from the top menu. Then click the button for Auto adjust.

As you can see in the example above, the effect is often quite subtle, but will result in a brighter look with more vibrant colors.


Wondering which photo filter will make your images shine? The best way to find out is to experiment! 

Jump into Create, upload your photo(s), and quickly click through the dozens of photo filters available. Increase the Fade of any filter to lower its strength and then play around with the additional settings until the look is just right.

Whether you’re creating custom images for social media, a viral meme, or a family photo book, the right filter will showcase your pictures in their best light.


Cover image edited with Shutterstock Create “Burst” and “Sunglow” filters. License this image via K-Angle.

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