Y2K Photo Filter Online
Turn photos into a real Y2K aesthetic: iridescent highlights, cyan-magenta pop, subtle web-era compression, and soft vignettes that add glossy depth.
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Drop, paste, or click to upload · JPG/PNG/WebP ≤ 15MB
1200px WebP export · small bottom-right watermark · perfect for social posts
Open in Full EditorFine-tune your Y2K aesthetic (live preview)
Grain
Adds fine luminance texture so images don’t feel overly clean. Keep it light for product shots and glossy makeup; increase slightly on CRT/arcade scenes to blend tones while maintaining edge legibility. For metallic plastics and chrome, tiny grain prevents plastic flatness.
JPEG Artifacts
Introduces period-correct compression blocks and a touch of mosquito noise—think early forums and messenger avatars. Dial until the image has character but UI text, icons, and hair strands remain crisp. Avoid heavy artifacts on gradients to prevent banding.
Color Shift
Pushes toward the signature Y2K palette: cool cyan shadows with magenta/pink accents. Great for chrome, holographic materials, flip-phones, and CRT glow. Use lightly for daylight; push more for club/arcade scenes or CD rainbow surfaces.
Vignette
A soft fall-off that frames the subject without obvious spotlighting. Works well with direct-flash portraits, desk setups, or game consoles—just enough to guide the eye and enhance that nostalgic depth. Combine with light grain for a cohesive finish.
Y2K Aesthetic Examples
Neon Arcade Reflection Portrait
Neon arcade reflections and candy-colored light strips—signature Y2K club/mall energy. Use light grain plus subtle compression to stabilize large flats; lift highlights, cool the shadows, and keep logos legible for a sleek, future-millennium sheen.
Arcade Snapshot – Candy Neon Teen
A casual direct-flash snapshot under arcade neon: saturated tubes, semi-transparent plastics, and clean, hard edges. Add a gentle vignette to trim the frame, keep logos/text sharp, and bias color toward teal and pink for a tidy Y2K studio-meets-street look.
Direct-Flash Night Street Portrait
Classic Y2K direct-flash portrait: hard-edged shadows, bright skin, and cool-cyan shadows with magenta highlights. In the editor, add fine grain and restrained JPEG texture so hair and fabrics stay crisp; finish with a soft vignette to land that Web-1.0 small-file vibe.
Paparazzi Arrival – Red-Carpet Flash
A 2000s paparazzi aesthetic: multiple flashes, glossy fabric, mirror-like speculars. Keep compression tasteful so jewelry edges, eyelashes, and signage remain readable; nudge the palette toward cyan–magenta for an early-web, high-gloss Y2K look.
How to Create a Y2K Look
Step 1
Upload a JPG/PNG/WebP. Ideal subjects include flip phones, CDs/DVDs, CRT screens, chrome/plastic gadgets, glossy makeup, and arcade or mall interiors under cool lighting.
Step 2
Add light Grain; increase JPEG Artifacts until texture is visible but text/icons remain sharp, then nudge Color toward cyan/magenta. Finish with a subtle Vignette to polish the frame.
Step 3
Export instantly. Processing is on-device for speed and privacy—no account or uploads required. Preview at phone scale to verify UI elements stay crisp.
Related styles
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The editor runs entirely in your browser with live preview. Images are not uploaded and no account is required. Your assets remain on device.
Think iridescent or metallic materials, cyan-magenta palettes, subtle JPEG texture, CRT glow, and a slightly glossy finish—clean but a little compressed.
Flip phones, CDs/DVDs, consoles, CRTs, chrome plastics, glossy makeup, and mall/arcade interiors all respond well to this treatment under cool lighting.
Keep artifacts visible yet restrained. View at phone scale—text, logos, and UI elements should remain readable; avoid heavy vignettes on busy scenes.
Ready to make a Y2K-style image?
Open the free filter, tweak four sliders, and export in seconds—no signup, no uploads.