If you’ve been using Instagram for long enough you are most probably aware of the limiting photo filters that they have on offer. Although there are now 20 different filters to choose from, the high contrast, glaring, vintage look can become tiresome after a while. If you are looking to post more interesting looking pictures that look like they have been through a high quality edit then you should consider using a photo editing app. This is a review of 3 of the best photo editing apps to help you create better photos on your iPhone or smartphone. All you need to do is download the app, edit your pic and then post on Instagram without a filter.
VSCO cam
Available for: iPhone and Android
Price: Free
What users have said: “The filters and adjustments are beautiful and simple to apply.”
VSCO cam has fast become a popular app for editing smartphone photos. You have probably seen the VSCO cam at work on Instagram as VSCO cam photos are quite distinctive. VSCO cam allows you to create images that have a dreamlike quality, with soft edges and a white overlay. This app is perfect for making mundane objects look beautiful.
Another feature of the app is that you can use it as a camera to capture a great looking image before the editing process. VSCO cam’s camera allows you to control focus and exposure when you take a photo which can result in a better quality image capture than using the standard camera app on the iPhone.
This app is highly recommended for not only posting great images on Instagram but as a tool to build a library of interesting and beautiful images.
Snap seed
Available for: iPhone and Android
Price: Free
What users have said: “Very pleased with this app, especially the ability to alter brightness / contrast etc to correct or highlight parts of the photo. Love using it.”
If you get tired of the VSCO cam style of images a great app to have on hand is Snapseed. Snapseed is not so much about providing filters to add over your images but providing a high quality application that allows you to make targeted edits to your images. Think of Snapseed like a simplified Photoshop for iPhones. You are able to tweak and alter the contrast, brightness, saturation, white balance, focus, blur and much, much more.
The best part of this app is that you don’t need to be a photography wizard to use it effectively. Snapseed is designed with an easy to use interface so that anyone can quickly take a photo, easily edit and then instantly upload to social media. To edit contrast, brightness and the like you simply drag on across levels on the screen. You will be able to instantly see the effect of your edit on the image.
This app is recommended if you want to edit photos but don’t necessarily want to add preconfigured filters on your images.
Camera +
Price: $1.99
Available: iPhone
What users have said: “The Clarity filter is iPhone photography’s secret sauce—it adds pro-camera crispness to almost any shot.”
This app is design to replace the default Camera app on the iPhone, hence the Camera “plus”. Camera+ main function is to take photos with clarity and precision with control that is not possible on the default camera. You can tweak focus, exposure, continuous flash and utilise a 6x zoom. The app comes with a stabiliser that helps prevent blurriness from handshake, a self timer so that you leave the camera and take a photo and burst mode which allows you to take quick, multiple images in succession.
This app is best for those who want a more accurate and clear photo capture application. This app should minimise the need to edit the photo once taken so you should be able to instant unload.
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