This Is How To Get Filters On Facebook Stories

On March 28, Facebook announced a major overhaul of the way photos and videos will be shared on the social media site; and with a new in-app camera and the integration of a Stories feature, there's a lot to explore. For those wondering how to get filters on Facebook Stories and add camera effects to images snapped using the app, the new features will be pretty intuitive for Instagram and Snapchat users — so get ready to trade that regular ol' vacation album for something a bit more unique.

Since Facebook acquired Instagram for the hefty sum of $1 billion dollars in 2012, the two social networks have remained fairly distinct in their features. Users had to link their Instagram and Facebook accounts in order to share posts created using Instagram's tools directly with Facebook. Now Facebook is bridging the gap, adapting some of the popular photo-sharing app's key features for Facebook users. The new features are rolling out this week on both iOS and Android — so be sure to continue to update the app and don't fret if you can't access them right away.

Users will know that they have the latest update when a camera icon appears in the top left corner of the Facebook app (where the link to Messenger currently resides). The camera can also be accessed by swiping right from the New Feed and will make your posts shine with excitingly fresh photo editing tools with facial recognition technology.

So what can you look forward to exactly? "The Facebook camera is packed with dozens of effects like masks, frames and interactive filters that you can apply to your photos and videos," Facebook Product Manager Connor Hayes writes in a press release. "Reactive effects let you interact with dynamic objects— like falling snow—and style effects apply an artistic filter to your video in real time, letting you turn your everyday selfie into a Picasso-style work of art."

Like Instagram and Snapchat before, Facebook is integrating their own version of an ephemeral swipe-through slideshow feature. The photos and videos included in Facebook Stories will appear atop the main New Feed, separated from regular posts by the status update prompt. This separation is reflective of Instagram, giving these collections of images and videos a more relaxed and fun feel. The Facebook Stories will disappear in 24 hours, though users can save each photo or video on their camera roll to be posted individually on their Timeline later. Like Instagram, you can also see analytics for your stories, including how many views they have received and the names of those who have viewed it.

To create a Story in Facebook, tap the “Your Story” icon on the left side of the Stories bar, or open the in-app camera. To add filters to your photo or video, tap the magic wand icon on the far left side at the bottom of the screen. To scroll through different filter and mask options, Facebook users will swipe their thumbs up and down (on Snapchat, it's left and right) to find the perfect way to turn your post into a work of art.

The Stories feature is currently only viewable on mobile devices, so if you don't already have the Facebook app, it's definitely worth downloading it here for free.