The Color Selector Filter on TikTok Focuses on Just 1 Color in Videos, and the Effect Is So Cool

By Emily Weaver

Updated on 4/28/2020 at 11:40 AM

From DIY hacks to delicious recipes, we're extremely grateful for the plethora of content TikTok has gifted us. Although going viral can be as easy as choreographing a new dance challenge, it really boils down to grabbing viewers' attention, and the best way to do that is with visual effects, the newest being the color selector filter.

The color filter has quickly become popular among TikTokers, the most common way of use being to debate someone's hair or eye color. When applied, the color selector focuses on only one color and graying out the rest. Apart from settling hair- and eye-color debates, the selector is used to filter a single hue color to videos like pink or purple. Think of it as a preset or a way to uniform your content (if that's the vibe you're going for). Otherwise it's just another fun color filter to play around with.

But how do you get it? The filter can be a little difficult to locate and apply. Here are two easy ways you can add the color selector filter to your TikTok:

  1. Head to the "Trending Tab" of the effects and scroll until you see an icon that resembles a horizontal rainbow placed over a white face outline. Select what color you want isolated. If you hit green, only green hues will be highlighted in your video.
  2. Or, in the search bar, search "color selector" and find someone else's TikTok that is using this filter. Click on the share arrow and select "use this effect" among the sharing options. The filter will automatically pop up.

Once you have the hang of it, it's pretty simple, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. If you're focusing on eye or hair color, it's best to be in a sufficient amount of natural light or else correct colors won't be picked up. Most importantly, make sure a color is actually selected as the rainbow spectrum will disappear once you begin TikToking. To add a color hue filter, follow the same steps but click on the icon with the face outline and rainbow background. Have fun!