Instagram 9 New Added Features You Need To Know
Instagram initially made a name for itself with its filters, but it has come very far from its early days. The social network keeps on adding new features, and some of the latest ones look awfully familiar.
1. Face filter
Face filters is the newest feature in Instagram Stories. Just like in Snapchat, these filters apply goofy effects to your face. Whether Instagram copied it or not isn’t a matter of concern for consumers. All that matters is how well it works. The filters execute perfectly. Even in Stories, the feature works in selfie mode and ideally, you need a good front-facing camera. As long as the camera can track your face, the applied filter will move in real time. To see your face filters, start a new story, switch to selfie mode and tap the face icon next to the camera button. Flick through different filters to check them all out.
2. Rewind and hashtag
Rewind and Hashtag are other new features and again, these are only available in the new Instagram Stories too. Hopefully, they’ll come to the regular mode soon enough, but there’s no guarantee. Record something as you normally would, then swipe right in the 'modes' in Stories. Thankfully, neither Rewind nor Hashtag are restricted to the selfie camera. You’ll find both after Boomerang. Rewind, as the name suggests, plays any video in reverse. Hashtag lets you add a new sticker to any Story and type a hashtag in it. Your Story is then tagged with that hashtag. Don’t overload the Story with multiple stickers — use only the best hashtag.
3. The new erase brush
Instagram Stories has also added a new brush: the Eraser. It’s yet another creative tool to edit images. Take a photo in Stories and use the other brushes to add anything you want. Tap the eraser brush and erase just the parts that you want. It can be a cool way to highlight something by darkening out all the other parts of the image.
4. Save or bookmark
When you come across a photo that you like, you can save it for later. Instagram now has bookmarks and in many ways, this is like a better version of Pinterest. You can save any image with a single tap on the bookmark button, found at the bottom-right corner below an image or video. But the cool part is that you can make 'collections' like you used to on Pinterest. Tap and hold the bookmark button to add the post to a collection or create a new collection for photos like it.
5. Add multiple photos
A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes, you need a series of images to tell a story. Instagram now lets you add multiple images to a single post. To do this, start by uploading an image from Gallery or Camera Roll. Once you’ve selected it, tap the 'multiple images' button. You can add up to 10 images or videos. Tap the 'Next' arrow to add filters or rearrange the order of the images. There are two benefits to this. First, you no longer spam your followers with a series of images on their timeline. Second, you no longer have to use the Layouts for Instagram app to create collages. As good as that app is, it’s not the ideal way to narrate a tale.
6. Use Instagram offline
1. Face filter
Face filters is the newest feature in Instagram Stories. Just like in Snapchat, these filters apply goofy effects to your face. Whether Instagram copied it or not isn’t a matter of concern for consumers. All that matters is how well it works. The filters execute perfectly. Even in Stories, the feature works in selfie mode and ideally, you need a good front-facing camera. As long as the camera can track your face, the applied filter will move in real time. To see your face filters, start a new story, switch to selfie mode and tap the face icon next to the camera button. Flick through different filters to check them all out.
2. Rewind and hashtag
Rewind and Hashtag are other new features and again, these are only available in the new Instagram Stories too. Hopefully, they’ll come to the regular mode soon enough, but there’s no guarantee. Record something as you normally would, then swipe right in the 'modes' in Stories. Thankfully, neither Rewind nor Hashtag are restricted to the selfie camera. You’ll find both after Boomerang. Rewind, as the name suggests, plays any video in reverse. Hashtag lets you add a new sticker to any Story and type a hashtag in it. Your Story is then tagged with that hashtag. Don’t overload the Story with multiple stickers — use only the best hashtag.
3. The new erase brush
Instagram Stories has also added a new brush: the Eraser. It’s yet another creative tool to edit images. Take a photo in Stories and use the other brushes to add anything you want. Tap the eraser brush and erase just the parts that you want. It can be a cool way to highlight something by darkening out all the other parts of the image.
4. Save or bookmark
When you come across a photo that you like, you can save it for later. Instagram now has bookmarks and in many ways, this is like a better version of Pinterest. You can save any image with a single tap on the bookmark button, found at the bottom-right corner below an image or video. But the cool part is that you can make 'collections' like you used to on Pinterest. Tap and hold the bookmark button to add the post to a collection or create a new collection for photos like it.
5. Add multiple photos
A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes, you need a series of images to tell a story. Instagram now lets you add multiple images to a single post. To do this, start by uploading an image from Gallery or Camera Roll. Once you’ve selected it, tap the 'multiple images' button. You can add up to 10 images or videos. Tap the 'Next' arrow to add filters or rearrange the order of the images. There are two benefits to this. First, you no longer spam your followers with a series of images on their timeline. Second, you no longer have to use the Layouts for Instagram app to create collages. As good as that app is, it’s not the ideal way to narrate a tale.
6. Use Instagram offline
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