VSCO’s elegant filters and powerful editing tools have made it a darling in the photography and video world (and on social media). Here are a few tips to get started:
1. Go analog
VSCO is famous for its photo and video filters (known as Presets), many of which are modeled after old-school film. (KC25 is based on Kodachrome, for example.) Overwhelmed by all the choices? When selecting a Preset, swipe over to For This Photo—VSCO will use machine learning to analyze the dominant colors and suggest six ideal options.
2. Create your own recipe
After you make a series of edits—increasing exposure, adjusting skin tone, upping clarity—save the changes as a Recipe to quickly apply them to your other images. Just tap the circle with an arrow pointing backward at the bottom of the screen to see your past edits and add them as a Recipe.
3. Record a looping video
VSCO makes it easy to record a short looping video and give it a signature look: Tap the plus sign button at the bottom of the screen, then the camera icon on the upper right. Swipe over to DSCO and touch and hold the shutter button to record. When you’re done, add one of VSCO’s beautiful analog filters, then tap Edit to add text, adjust speed, and more.
4. Make a montage
VSCO is your key to creating artful stories for your social media feed. Leverage elegant templates that mix video and photo, create cool color-blocked backgrounds with the shape tool, fade one video into the next using layered exposures, and more. To get started, tap the plus sign button at the bottom of the screen, then tap the film icon on the upper right.
5. Apply an artful border
A bold border can add drama to a photo—especially when it contrasts with the image’s dominant color. Here’s how to apply one: After you’ve taken or opened a photo, tap the edit icon at the bottom, then tap the same icon that appears on the following screen. Swipe through the parameters (Adjust, Exposure, etc.) until you see Borders.