BreakingModern — Smartphone photo apps have really taken off. Simple edits, like resizing or lightening a photo, are a snap, while more serious editing techniques are at your fingertips. Here are our top 10 smartphone photo apps.
1. Snapseed
Why not start with Snapseed, one of my favorites. It’s a full-featured free photo editing program that’s available for both Android on Google Play and Apple iOS. This app features a great interface that’s optimized for the touch screen, and it lets you do just about everything.
2. Afterlight
Afterlight has editing tools for all the basic functions, but it also lets you adjust color temperature, saturation, levels and other advanced functions. It’s available for both Android on Google Play and Apple iOS for $.99. It also offers dozens of filters and frames for Instagram lovers.
3. Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe Photoshop Express is a free photo editing app that is available for both Android on Google Play and Apple iOS. Its auto-fix and one-touch filters are great for quick fixes. It also includes all the basics like red-eye correction, cropping and individual adjustments.
4. Touch Retouch
You can touch up photos like a pro with this app. It uses healing and cloning tools like those in Photoshop. For $.99 it also shows you exactly what’s under your fingertip. It’s available for Android on Google Play and Apple iOS.
5. Handy Photo
It’s not free, but at $2.97, Handy Photo is a worthwhile purchase. The app offers some serious HDR effects and auto-editing with the swipe of a finger. You can also retouch and move objects from photo to photo. Available for Android on Google Play and Apple iOS.
6. Instagram
Instagram and their vibrant community provide an easy way to capture and share your photos. This free app for Android on Google Play and Apple iOS is a must for social photographers.
7. VSCO Cam
VSCO Cam is free and used by smartphone photographers all over the world. It saves images to an internal camera roll so you can perform non-destructive editing. It’s got all the normal editing tools plus some wonderful presets. Available for both Android on Google Play and Apple iOS.
8. StuckOnEarth
This unusual photo app from Trey Ratcliff is a visual photography adventure that takes you around the world. It’s clever, fun and will give you lots of great ideas. Free for both Android on Google Play and Apple iOS.
9. Daltonizer
Photography is all about how we “see things.” If you’ve ever wondered what a color-blind person actually sees, this app is for you. It’s a free color blindness simulator for Android on Google Play that allows you to compare color blindness with normal vision using a split-screen view. A similar app called iDaltonizer is available on Apple iOS for $2.99.
10. Paper Camera
Paper Camera by JFDP Labs is a $2.99 app that displays real-time cartoon and painting effects overlayed right onto your camera as you are using it. It may not be suitable for serious photographic work, but it sure is fun. Available for Android on Google Play and Apple iOS.
These days, no matter what your photographic goal or skill level is, there’s an app to help you. Try out a few of these and you’ll see what I mean.
For BMod, I’m Sandy Berger.
Featured/Header image: “Samsung Galaxy K Zoom” by Kārlis Dambrāns via Flickr Creative Commons
All screenshots: Sandy Berger