We’re all familiar with a Polaroid picture, it came into existence in the 1970s and usually required an expensive camera along with large quantities of Polaroid film. Recently, the Polaroid trend has made a huge comeback, and thankfully, you no longer need pricey equipment or film to achieve the look.
You can easily turn pictures photos into polaroid with a cool, retro, vintage touch in just a few taps with the YouCam Perfect app. When we say you can create a Polaroid picture, we don’t just mean adding on a Polaroid-esque frame. We mean Polaroid filters, Polaroid templates, Polaroid collages, and much more!
What Is Gemini Polaroid Trend?
The Polaroid trend is everywhere right now, especially on Threads, thanks to Gemini’s new Nano Banana model.
People are loving it because it can create super realistic composite shots that actually feel like casual Polaroids — think hanging out with a friend, snapping a moment with your favorite celeb, or even generating an AI boyfriend photo.
However, Gemini Nano Banana is web-only, requires a Google account, and the features are fairly limited. If you want a smoother, more flexible option, YouCam Perfect makes it easy to hop on the Polaroid trend right from your phone!
Beyond AI composite photos, it also comes with filters, collage layouts, scene swaps, and built-in Polaroid-style frames — all in one app, with a simple interface that doesn’t need prompts.
Here's how to use YouCam Perfect-Editing Agent to create your Polaroid Trend:
1. Open YouCam Perfect and choose "Editing Agent"
2. Upload Two Photos
Select a clear photo of yourself, then upload another image of anyone you’d like to appear with — it could be a celebrity, a family member, or a friend. For the most natural results, make sure both photos are high-quality portraits with good lighting.
3. Enter the Prompt
Copy and paste this prompt into the Editing Agent:
“Take a photo taken with a Polaroid camera. The photo should look like an ordinary photograph, without an explicit subject or property. The photo should have a slight blur and a consistent light source, like a flash from a dark room, scattered throughout the photo. Don’t change the face. Change the background behind those two people with white curtains. With that boy and me make a cute poses”
4. Save Your Polaroid Photo
Once the AI generates your image, simply save it to your phone. You can keep it as is for that instant Polaroid aesthetic, or use YouCam Perfect’s filters and frames to add an extra personal touch.
Best Free Polaroid Photo Filter to Turn Pictures Into Polaroids
The YouCam Perfect app is widely known as the best photo editing app thanks to its many free features. It has all the tools you might expect like cropping and background removal, but did you know you can also create awesome old-fashioned Polaroid pictures?
Read on to find out how to make photos look like Polaroids for free with the YouCam Perfect app - best polaroid photo maker and just a few minutes of your time!
How to Make a Photo Look Like a Polaroid
The most recognizable characteristic of a Polaroid photo is that unique white picture frame. However, you don’t need to have a Polaroid or film camera to create Polaroid photos that have that cool old-fashioned look. You can easily get Polaroid filter and templates with the YouCam Perfect app in just 3 simple steps.
- Step 1: Navigate to Collage
- Step 2: Select 1 photo for editing, and find the Polaroid layout in Grid's Store page.
- Step 3: Then, adjust the layout like border, color, and background to get your Polaroid-type picture!
Polaroid Frames: Add Polaroid Templates to Photos
Another option to consider when looking for polaroid templates is to add a frame to your photo to give it an 'Instant Camera' feel.
How to Make Your Picture Look Like a Polaroid?
- Download the YouCam Perfect app (free on iOS & Android)
- On the home page find 'Photo Edit' > Select 1 photo
- Find 'Frames'
- Scroll to your right and find the polaroid frame templates
- Enjoy!
How to Make a Polaroid Collage Template?
- Download the Polaroid template app, such as YouCam Perfect.
- Navigate to Poster in Collage, and find Polaroid collages in Polaroid category.
- Choose the Polaroid collage you like and edit your photos.
- Download your Polaroid pictures!
Create Your Own Polaroid Wallpaper
With these polaroid wallpaper ideas, you have the power to curate a custom wallpaper using your own collection of Polaroid-style photos.
Polaroid Wallpaper - Idea #1
Polaroid Wallpaper - Idea #2
Another idea is to find a colorful background and choose and animated sticker with an instant camera effect, like the one above, save the photo and use it as your wallpaper.
Customize with Polaroid Photo Templates
An easy way to achieve the Polaroid effect is to use a Polaroid template in the YouCam Perfect app. To use this feature you’ll simply need to choose one of the Polaroid templates to create a Polaroid edit in one tap.
- Under Edit, scroll until you see Template.
- At that point, there are plenty of options to choose from: Life Moments, Holidays, Love, and many others.
- With these many template options, the possibilities for editing your photo are endless!
- With any of the templates in the YouCam Perfect app, you can adjust the template features, change the template ratio, and also change the template background.
- The hardest part is picking which templates to use because there are so many wonderful ones.
👉 Read More>> Free Invitation Maker: App to Make Digital Invitations
Create Out-of-Bounds Polaroid Effects
The third and most creative way to add the Polaroid look to your photos is with a cool out-of-bounds Polaroid picture. If you’re up for a creative challenge, look no further! Follow our steps below:
- First, choose a cool background.
- Next, add a Polaroid picture and then use the cutout tool to cut it out.
- Next, you’ll want to add the photo and erase it to fit the Polaroid.
- Then, move the layer down the Polaroid.
- From there, you should import the same photo again.
- Next, use the cutout tool to cut the portrait out.
- Finally, move the cutout person around to match the position of your original image.
With this advanced process, you’ll have a truly out-of-bounds Polaroid edit that looks just like the real thing!
Out-of-Bounds Polaroid Template Tutorial
Out of Bounds is a really cool effect to show the movement of your photo. Watch the tutorial and learn how to create an out of bounds image in just a few steps!
YouCam Perfect: Best Polaroid Filter App to Turn Photos into Polaroids
Polaroid cameras and their resulting images are probably the most recognizable in the photography industry. Their characteristic white frame and often vintage-looking result make them a classic for creators of all experience levels.
Today, the Polaroid trend is stronger than ever — and the good news is you don’t need an actual Polaroid camera to achieve the look.
If you’re looking to get this nostalgic template for your photos, you’re in the right place because turning pictures into awesome Polaroids is easier than ever with the YouCam Perfect app! Download the YouCam Perfect app for either iOS or Android today!
Polaroid Filter FAQs
What app makes your photos look like Polaroids?
YouCam Perfect is the best app that provides hundreds of collage templates for users. You can easily turn a photo into a Polaroid collage using aesthetic Polaroid templates in the app and even decorate the edits with stunning stickers and animations to share on social media.
How do you get a Polaroid filter?
You can get a Polaroid filter in the Polaroid filter app, YouCam Perfect. With the Polaroid frames and Polaroid templates in it, you can turn photos into Polaroids easily.
Follow the below steps to turn your pictures into a polaroid:
- Download the Polaroid filter app, YouCam Perfect.
- Open the app and upload the photo.
- Navigate to Collage and find the polaroid layout template in Collage's Grid store
- Save & share with friends!
How do I make my pictures look like Polaroids?
To make your picture look like Polaroids, you can try the Polaroid templates in YouCam Perfect, which is the Polaroid filter app.
- Get YouCam Perfect on App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app and upload the photo.
- Find Collage and search for the polaroid layout template in Grid store
- Save & share with friends!
How do you get the Polaroid filter effect?
You can get the trendy polaroid filter in the best photo editing app - YouCam Perfect. Just download the app, navigate to the polaroid template, and apply it to your photos. You can also decorate your polaroid edits with various filters and stickers to make them even more eye-catching.
What is the Polaroid trend?
The Polaroid trend brings back the nostalgic look of classic Polaroid photos — white frames, retro tones, and a casual, candid vibe — now popular on social media thanks to AI and mobile apps.
It’s especially trending on Threads with Gemini’s Nano Banana model, which creates realistic composite Polaroid-style shots, from friends to celebrities or even AI companions.