Before-and-after reveals work when both states align cleanly and the audience can compare the same subject, angle, or composition.
Starting settings
Dial in the effect, then adapt it to your source.
Reveal strength76%
Blur3 px
Contrast+14
Saturation+10
These values are a starting point, not a fixed recipe. Image brightness, edge detail, and destination compression can change the best result.
Four-step workflow
Build a reveal that still reads before it changes.
01
Align both states
Match crop, scale, and viewpoint before building the reveal.
02
Choose the comparison edge
Use a natural boundary or paint around the transformed area.
03
Keep the baseline honest
Do not over-process the before state in a way that misrepresents the change.
04
Label outside the mask
Place essential context where it remains readable in both states.
Transformation
Make the difference easy to compare in a single glance.
Before-and-after images are useful for editing breakdowns, restoration, design revisions, product updates, art progress, room changes, and visual experiments. The reveal format removes the need for a carousel while preserving a deliberate second state.
The comparison becomes stronger when the camera angle, crop, and scale remain stable. Misaligned states create motion rather than evidence, forcing the audience to search for what changed.
Trust
Use the effect to reveal change, not to exaggerate it.
Keep the baseline state representative of the real starting point. Heavy darkening, blur, or color removal can make the transformation feel manipulated, especially for products, restoration, and personal results.
Use captions to explain the time span, process, or variables that changed. The image can carry the visual comparison, while the post text supplies the context needed to interpret it accurately.
Publishing prompt
A caption you can adapt.
Same subject, two states. Expand the image to reveal the transformation.
Before you export
Template questions
Do the before and after images need the same dimensions?
Matching dimensions, crop, scale, and viewpoint produce the clearest comparison.
Should I label the two states?
Add short labels only when necessary and place essential context where it remains readable in both states.
Can I use this for editing breakdowns?
Yes. Photo edits, art progress, restorations, redesigns, and product changes all fit the format.
How do I keep the comparison credible?
Use an honest baseline and explain relevant time, process, or condition changes in the post caption.