On Trend: Butterfly Filters on Instagram
Our On Trend series explores different trends in the world of augmented reality filters through concepts, creators, and a selection of examples. In this article, we explore the trend of butterfly Instagram filters. For all links to filters included, please ensure that you are opening on a mobile device to test them out!
How Butterflies rose to IG Stardom
Search “butterfly” in the Instagram effect gallery, and we can guarantee that you will be overwhelmed by the options. This choice overload is real, and doesn’t even take into consideration the Instagram filters with butterfly content that is not specifically named or tagged with “butterfly”. Further, some Instagram filters creators have made butterfly Instagram filters a key part of their brand. Others are rather creating one-off designs that simultaneously piggyback off of and contribute to this trend.
Butterfly Instagram filters are such a trend because they are an easy animation to add that brings life and movement into beauty filters. In general, butterflies are considered beautiful and cute, and moreover, are an everlasting symbol of growth, change and freedom. People around the world can connect to their visual aesthetic and symbolism, all the while enhancing the sensory appeal for Instagram butterfly filter users and their followers alike.
One of the first butterfly Instagram filters to go viral was ‘Stormi Butterfly’. You have for sure seen this iconic filter- made famous by the two faces behind it. ‘Stormi Butterfly’ is Kylie Cosmetics’ Instagram filter, and can be found on the company’s social media page. We have in fact featured this filter before in our 5 Favourite Brands that are using Custom Face Filters on Instagram article. When carrying out a Google search, ‘butterfly filter instagram kylie jenner’ is even a suggested search item! If that doesn’t speak to its popularity, well then…
When the filter ‘Stormi Butterfly’ launched in January, it saw a huge level of adoption among celebrities. Seeing how celebrities and the general public alike have flocked to these filters has made the beauty industry realize the potential of augmented reality (AR), as Teen Vogue reports. That is no surprise, considering how viral AR filters can be.
IG Creators and the Butterfly Filters Trend
While Kylie may be the face of the filter, it was created by Dubai-based augmented reality (AR) artist and influencer Sophie Katirai (@sophie). At 492k followers at the time of writing, she has amassed a strong following through her 75+ filters. She is one of the AR artists that have made butterflies a central theme of her IG filter design brand. Within her collection, 23 of 75 are butterfly Instagram filters. The rest are mostly general beauty filters, incorporating subtle beauty features into her designs- eyeliner, mascara, blush. Other than butterflies, Sophie’s IG filters often also feature flowers. A couple of our favorite butterfly Instagram filters created by Sophie are:
- ‘Two Butterflies’ (tap for different eye features)
- ‘Summer Butterflies’ (check out your different colored eyes!)
It is important to note that it is easy for creators to make multiple different filters once they have a base. This applies to Instagram butterfly filters as well. While Sophie does have many different Instagram butterfly filters, she undoubtedly uses the same base animation for several filters. It is also easy to make separate filters just by changing size, color, length of wings etc. of the butterflies.
For example, creator Paige Piskin (@paigepiskin) uses the same eye feature tap through options and butterfly animation placement for her Instagram butterfly filters named ‘LiL Pink Butterflies’ and ‘Kira Butterflies’. She also has over 70 filters, many of them featuring butterflies, and 815k followers at the time of writing. Many celebrities, such as Bella Hadid, Grimes, Ariana Grande, Adam Lambert, Noah Cyrus, Billie Eilish and GigiGorgeous have used Paige’s filters.
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Butterfly Filters to Try Next
Now that this trend and some notable creators have been explored, let’s feature a few more of our favorite butterfly Instagram filters:
1. 'animal crossing’ by @juliaroga
Plays tribute to the 11+ million person community of Animal Crossing gamers, featuring the adorable butterfly animation from the virtual world.
2. ‘mariposa butterflies’ by @juliaroga
Features a multitude of cute butterflies in different colors, sparkles, freckles and option eye makeup.
3. ‘Butterfly’ by New Future Creative for @max4thepeople
Named for his new album, Butterfly, this Instagram filter plays the album’s namesake song automatically when used and/ or posting, highlighting Instagram filters as a great way for musicians to spread their new music.
4. ‘Butterflies’ by @elinamig
Gently fluttering butterflies in bold colors, skin smoothing, and eye-feature free.
5. ‘Butterflies’ by @carolcandido
Cerulean butterflies, pink fluffy clouds and thick freckles.
Want a filter of your own? Reach out to us at info@newfuturecreative.com! Check out our other articles here, and see our past client work.
