Tips for Designing Professional Looking Geofilters
I took a cartooning class at the Rhode Island School of Design when I was younger.
That’s the closest I’ve come to any sort of artistic training.
But I create professional looking geofilters.
It didn’t require moving to Brooklyn, a 52" iMac, or a matcha-only diet. Here’s what it did require:
- Time. Creativity takes time. Creating something good takes a LOT of time. Be willing to spend time honing your craft. And ENJOY that time. This is supposed to be fun, after all.
- Tools. Michelangeo had his chisel. Pollack had his massive canvases. Chris Burden had his trusty rifle. Maybe that last one’s not such a great example. The point is: you need the right tools for the job.
When we’re talking about Geofilters, what is the right tool for the job?
Geofilter design is unique because of the unknowns. You can’t control the environment. Sure you can pick the location and the date, but you can’t anticipate every potential photo or video someone will take using your geofilter. You’ll need to design with environmental context in mind.
So how do you make sure that regardless of the background, your geofilter stands out and still looks good?
You must test it. Scout the location and take pictures if you can. If not, go on Google, find a photo that matches the environment, and overlay your geofilter. It is crucial to have this environmental context in mind when designing because your geofilter will not be displaying against a solid background when active.
What else can I do?
You can also create high-quality graphics called vectors that will stand out from the background of your users’ photos. They are extremely high resolution. They have clearly defined edges. They look professional.
There is a bit of a learning curve with vector graphics apps, but if you persevere you will add a powerful tool to your arsenal.
How can you get started with vector graphics?
Inkscape. It’s free. It’s available for Mac and Windows. It exports to PNG. It has a large community of users who post instructional videos on how to create anything. I’ve used it to make some of my most successful geofilters. Did I mention it’s free?
You don’t need to be a professional to make compelling geofilteres. You just need the right tools for the job, and to be willing to commit the time to learn how to use them.
Do you agree? Disagree? Have a question about these tips? Want to request a topic/write one of your own? Send me an email, I always reply. Until next time.
Matt
