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VSCO Basics: How to Edit Photos with Filters

VSCO is known for its natural, film-like filters. Here's the basic flow for editing a photo.

  1. Import the Photo You Want to Edit

    Open the VSCO app and select the photo you want to edit from your gallery.

  2. Apply a Filter Preset

    Choose a filter preset that matches the mood you're going for and apply it to the photo.

  3. Fine-Tune Exposure and Contrast

    After applying a filter, manually adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation to fine-tune the exact look.

  4. Save and Share to Social Media

    Once you're happy with the edit, save the photo, or share it directly to other social apps from within VSCO.

  5. Why It's Worth It

    VSCO's filters lean toward a natural, film-like look rather than an obviously processed one, which is why it's popular with people who want a subtle, aesthetic tone without an over-edited feel.

Presets are a starting point, not a finished edit

A filter preset applies a consistent baseline look, but photos taken in different lighting rarely need identical adjustments. Treating a preset as step one and adjusting exposure, contrast, and temperature afterward for each photo's specific lighting usually produces a much more polished, consistent result across a full set of photos.

Building a personal editing style over time

Many VSCO users settle on one or two go-to presets and a consistent set of small manual adjustments, which gives their photos a recognizable, cohesive look across a profile or feed. Saving your own custom adjustment settings, where supported, makes it faster to apply that same style to future photos without starting from scratch each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for VSCO to use filters?

VSCO offers a number of free filters and basic editing tools, but many of the most popular presets and advanced tools require a paid membership; it's worth trying the free tier first to see if it covers what you need.

Does editing in VSCO reduce the photo's quality?

VSCO edits are generally non-destructive within the app and export at your device's photo resolution, so quality loss is minimal; exporting at a lower resolution setting or repeatedly re-compressing a file when re-sharing is what typically causes noticeable quality loss.