Instagram's new editing tools allow users to alter photos they capture on the app.
According to the social media company's blog, consumers can adjust the picture's brightness, contrast, saturation, warmth, and more. Touching the app's added wrench icon gives users more editing options to choose from.
"Inspiring creativity is incredibly important to us - and as the Instagram community grows, we've been excited to hear requests for more ways to creatively take hold of how your photos look and feel," the company said in the post.
The company said the improvements allow people to relive the times the photos were taken.
"You take a photo to capture a moment, but often what you see in the photograph doesn't feel the same as what you remember," the company said in the post. "From brightening up a photo of your dinner party to better capturing the warmth of a sunset portrait, these new creative tools help you bring out and share the beauty of the moment as you remember it - right inside the same simple Instagram you already know. We can't wait to see what you'll share next."
According to Reuters, Instagram implemented a direct messaging option Dec. 12 that enabled users to transmit photos or videos between one to 15 other people for the first time.
Instagram's co-founder and chief executive told attendees of a New York presentation that the feature caters to users who want to privatize their content.
"Sometimes you want to be able to share, not with everyone, but just with a specific group," Kevin Systrom said. "Instagram Direct is a simple way to send photos and videos to your friends."
Over 150 million people used Instagram a month, according to December data obtained by Reuters. Instagram followers also shared 16 billion photos at the time.
