Instagram 2.0 Filters

Owen Billcliffe has a comprehensive look at the filters in Instagram 2.0:

Across the board distinctive elements of each filter have been compromised. Filters that were washed out are now more contrasty. Filters that were contrasty are now more washed out. They’ve all drifted towards the same look.

I agree with his conclusions. Live previewing of filters and larger image sizes are nice ideas, but they’ve yanked the carpet out on the old filters. Say what you want about the whole idea of applying gimmicky retro-style filters to camera photos, but at least previously, Instagram’s assortment of filters was distinctive. With these new ones, most of them are indistinguishable from one another. I find it way harder to choose one because the differences are so subtle, and that makes the app less fun to use.

That’s the bottom line: they made Instagram less fun.

★ Tuesday, 27 September 2011