Instagram reel discolored?

If your Instagram reels appear discolored or have a color cast, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try. The discoloration is likely an issue with the video itself, rather than the Instagram app.

Check your camera and lighting

One of the most common reasons an Instagram reel may look discolored is due to improper lighting or camera settings when filming. Here are some tips:

Ensure you are filming in a well-lit environment with ample natural light or proper artificial lighting. Low light can cause graininess or discoloration.

Adjust your camera’s white balance setting to match the lighting conditions. Auto white balance can sometimes result in incorrect color casts.
Try filming outdoors or near windows for natural daylight. Indoor lighting like fluorescent bulbs can skew color tones.
Diffused lighting is better than harsh direct light. Use bounce boards, reflectors or diffusers to soften harsh shadows.

Clean your camera lens regularly. Dust, smudges and dirt on the lens can affect image quality.

Test your camera with some test footage. If the colors look accurate when filming, then the issue likely lies in post-processing rather than the original video capture.

Edited color grading

If you edited your video and altered the color grading, this could be the source of the discoloration. Try resetting the color adjustments back to normal:

In editing apps like Premiere Rush or iMovie, look for color correction effects and reset any dramatic changes.
Disable any color LUTs (Lookup Tables) you may have applied.
Lower the Saturation if you boosted it excessively in post-production.

Adjust the Temperature if the video skews too yellow or blue.
Reset any color transforms like duotones, tri-tones or split toning.

Try to avoid over-editing colors and aim for a natural look, as too much saturation or dramatic filtering can degrade quality.

Exporting and compression

How you export and compress your video can also introduce color issues like banding, blocks or washed out tones. Here are some export tips:

Export using high quality settings instead of ultra-compressed low bandwidth presets.
Choose MP4 or MOV format for best results, avoid GIFs.

Maintain higher bitrate, at least 8 mbps for HD video.
If available, export in 10 bit color depth over 8 bit for richer color.
Use the 2-pass encoding option for better optimization.

Try changing the Profile Level to High (4.1 or higher) if supported.

Lower quality and higher compression levels can severely degrade color accuracy. Find a balance between quality and file size.

Phone camera limitations

Smartphone cameras have gotten very advanced, but inherently have some limitations:

Small image sensors can only capture a reduced color gamut compared to DSLR cameras.
Limited dynamic range makes it harder to retain details in shadows and highlights.
Digital video compression can introduce banding artifacts in gradients.

Lower bit-depth means less color accuracy.
Some cameras oversharpen images to compensate for quality, causing color shifts.

Try filming on the highest resolution and color settings possible. But phone cameras do have physical limits compared to professional gear.

Instagram compression

In addition to your export settings, Instagram itself also compresses videos to optimize bandwidth:

Instagram re-encodes uploads to H.264 at low bitrates around 3 mbps.
This highly compressed encoding reduces color accuracy.

Bit-depth is lowered, sometimes down to 8-bit from 10/12-bit sources.
They prioritize fast streaming over color quality.
Gradient banding artifacts can appear from low-bitrate H.264.

This means pristine video can show some compromise after uploading. Check your video before uploading to be sure the colors look as desired.

Troubleshooting tools and tricks

Here are some additional tips for diagnosing discoloration issues in Instagram reels:

Compare the video clip before and after uploading to Instagram to pinpoint where the issue arises.

Try uploading short test clips instead of full videos to experiment.
Upload the same clip at different resolutions like 720p and 1080p to check if higher resolution maintains better color.
Use video analyzing software to inspect the color gamut, gradients, saturation and bitrate.

View your video on multiple devices to check if the discoloration persists across screens.
Seek professional consultation if working with high-end production equipment and workflows.

With some targeted troubleshooting, you should be able to identify the root of the discoloration and take steps to improve video quality before uploading to Instagram.

Adjusting preferences in the Instagram app

While the issue is likely on the video production side, you can also check preferences in the Instagram app:

Go to your Profile and tap the 3 line Menu > Settings > Account > Original Posts to avoid quality loss from compression on uploads.
Under Settings > Data Usage, ensure High quality uploads and High resolution uploads are enabled.

Check that Settings > Data Usage does not have Reduce data usage toggled on.
Under Advanced Settings switch on HD Video Uploads.

However, poor video quality cannot be fixed after uploading to Instagram if the source video has issues. Focus on troubleshooting the original footage first before considering app settings.

When to seek help

If you’ve tried all the above steps extensively and the discoloration persists, a few final tips on when to seek help:

Consult video production experts if working with professional gear and unable to determine the issue.
Search for your specific device model and the color problem reported online by others for known flaws.

Contact Instagram Support through the in-app options for upload troubleshooting.
Ask other creator friends to examine your workflow for things you may be missing.
Compare with footage from other cameras – your device sensor could be defective.

Video color issues can be tricky to pinpoint yourself. Seek assistance from specialists in photography, videography and color grading if you’ve exhausted personal troubleshooting options.

Preventing discoloration in future uploads

To avoid repeated color issues, implement best practices in your workflow:

Use camera settings suited for the lighting conditions.

Aim for well-lit environments for filming.
Employ proper color grading techniques and avoid over-editing.
Export at high quality settings, at least 1080p resolution.

Inspect footage closely on multiple screens before uploading.
Do short test uploads first before longer videos.
Analyze comparable content from other creators for color quality benchmarks.

Refine your content creation process keeping color accuracy as a priority throughout video production and uploading. This will help elevate quality and prevent discoloration.