Process

What was once a two-, three-, even four-app processing nightmare is now pretty much a self-contained procedure. In the past I’d have a dedicated app for editing tools such as sharpening and exposure adjustment, and another set of apps for filters. Recently, however, my heart has been set upon a single tool that combines all these features into a single app; something with the raw power of specific editing tools with tasteful and, most importantly, adjustable photo filters. Yes, like many before me, I have fallen for VSCO CAM.

What started as a Lightroom filter preset pack is now my de facto processing app; from a camera module, to social-grid functionality, there’s a lot to this app. When it comes to weeding out the genuinely subpar photos, I’m relentless; life’s too short to spend time on out-of-focus or poorly framed images, let alone share them with the world. The VSCO library makes it a simple process to import multiple photos, flag the good ones, and delete the second-rate ones in bulk.

As you sharpen, more noise bubbles to the surface

Once you’ve selected your shot you’re presented with an array of filters. I usually hold off on filters initially and dive right into the editing tools. From sharpening to highlight tinting, there are over a dozen tools to choose from, each with a 1–12 slider for strength. Like many things in life, the key here is moderation; I rarely go past 4 or 5 using any individual tool. While the camera hardware is pretty great on the 5S, you’re still dealing with compressed files that you can only push so far before they start to get noisy. One not-so-obvious tip about the editing tools: you can rearrange these filters on the “preferences” pane.

Sharpen:

Most of the time my first step is to apply the sharpen filter. It’s usually out of sheer habit, but it gives me a good sense of how far I can push an image overall. A strength of 1 or 2 on this filter is usually enough to make a photo pop, unless it’s out of focus, in which case you can sometimes get away with pushing it to 5 or 6 to try to cover it up — sometimes. As you sharpen, more noise bubbles to the surface. Also keep in mind what might look super sharp and crisp on a tightly pixel-packed mobile screen might not look as stunning on a larger display.

Exposure:

Next I’ll push my exposure a notch or two in either direction, but this filter in particular is sensitive to compression, so while you can save a shot that’s really underexposed and get something out of it, plan to use this filter extra sparingly.

Proper color balance makes a huge difference

Color Temperature:

The color temperature tool is super useful and I lean on it all the time. By dragging it to the left and right you can adjust the image’s overall warmness or coolness, respectively. Proper color balance makes a huge difference, especially when you’re referencing a small screen in an uncontrolled environment; an image that appears natural and balanced outside can look artificially warm as soon as you view it under incandescent lights.

Using just these three tools, you can do a lot to quickly improve an image. They’re my main moves. I also gravitate towards the “highlight save” feature, which reduces the brightest points of an image. You have to be especially careful with this tool, as you can never fully recover blown-out highlights, but you can make the effect less jarring. Sometimes however, letting the highlights blow out naturally can be tasteful, and occasionally downright awesome.

Though I sometimes have to hold myself back from using it, I also reach for the vignette tool often. It helps draw the eye to the center of the image, but it’s also one of the most overused tricks in the bag. It can be enormously effective, especially given the limited canvas of an Instagram post. I usually add a hint of vignette to make skies more dramatic and to hide noise in underexposed shots.

Filters

VSCO has opted for the in-app purchase route, so you’re going to have to pony up some cash to take full advantage of this otherwise free program. I recommend the “launch bundle”, which has an assortment of very usable filters. Like the editing tools, you can customize the order in the preferences pane. I’m a big fan of the free Levi’s presets, LV1 being my number one pick, with B1 and B5 being my go-to black and white presets. The intensity of these filters can be adjusted on the same 1-12 range as any of the tools, and often benefit greatly from a bit of restraint.

Once I apply a filter, I’ll generally return to the editing tools and tweak my contrast and saturation, usually dialing both down a few notches to make the filter a bit more subtle. If it needs it, I’ll use the “shadow save” tool to bring back some detail lost in the filtering process. It’s definitely a dance between these two modules, but a bit of back and forth makes all the difference. Once I land on a look I’m satisfied with, it’s a simple process to export the full-resolution image back to the camera roll. The app does have hooks into third-party sharing options, allowing you to pipe your images directly to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, email, or Weibo, although I usually opt for a full-resolution export, which plays well with my backup strategy.