Filters for Photos! Ten iPhone Camera Apps with Cool Filters
September 1, 2011 | Andy Boxall
Loved by some, hated by others, the art of applying a special filter to a picture taken with your iPhone has exploded in popularity over the past year or so. In fact, it has become so popular, there’s talk of a similar feature becoming standard in iOS 5. In the meantime, those wanting to add filters to their pictures should take a look at any one of the following apps, all of which have a catalog of filters to give even the dreariest of snaps a new lease of life.
A great cross-platform photo-sharing social network. Take a photo from within the app, or select one from your Camera Roll, then add a filter of your choice. There are nine to choose from, each with the option of adding a border, and the chance to share your uploaded pic through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and many others. Free.
One of the very best camera and photography applications you’ll find, which should be purchased whether you want the filters or not – it’s really that good! A wide variety of filters are included in the standard app, plus another selection is available through an in-app purchase. $0.99/£0.69.
Like PicPlz, Instagram is a photo-sharing social network with plenty of filters included for you to try out. The difference is, it’s for the iPhone only. In addition to the filters, a tilt-shift blur feature has recently been added, and like PicPlz, your pictures can be shared on other social networks too. Free.
With an emphasis on the ‘little plastic toy camera’ look, here you can ‘change’ lenses, flashes and film to give your pictures a unique look. Along with social network sharing, Hipstamatic holds monthly competitions and offers the chance to print out real photos too. The app also has various in-app purchases for other effects. $1.99/£1.49.
Recently updated, this newly refreshed app provides the chance to combine filters together to create even more eye-catching designs. The app is free to download, but if you want to add more filters you’ll have to pay an in-app purchase. Free.
Like Camera+, Photogene is more than just a few filters in an app, it has color adjustments, cropping, frames, effects and a very effective resize option – perfect for sending photos from your phone. $1.99/£1.49.
A universal app for the iPhone and iPad 2, this official Photoshop app works in conjunction with Photoshop.com, and offers filters, cropping, resizing, effects and borders; along with online storage if you feel the need. The basic app is free, but other tools are available as an in-app purchase download. Free.
A simple app with a wide range of interesting photo filters. Pictures can be taken in the app, or selected from your Camera Roll, filtered and then shared. $1.99/£1.49.
A highly attractive universal app for the iPhone and iPad 2, with plenty of image filters and corrective adjustments, plus basic editing tools including rotation and cropping. Effects can be blended in and combined with other tools too. $2.99/£1.99.
Another full effects studio, with a huge range of filters and effects, plus the option to create your own preferences and save them for later use. Most areas have a manual adjustment option, plus images can be imported from Facebook and shared with Instagram. $1.99.£1.49.
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