Have you ever scrolled on Instagram and wondered how some people get those ‘perfect’ shots? These aesthetically-pleasing photos that pop up are not just well shot, they are well edited as well. Even if you don’t have the world’s best camera with you, a great photo-editing app comes to the rescue. While all phones have an in-built photo-editing software, there are far more superior apps that can do the job way better.
If it’s basic editing you need, such as increasing the brightness, reducing the contrast, or playing around with the highlights and shadows, your phone’s app might suffice. If you still need more features, here’s a list of photo editing apps that can handle RAW files, remove unwanted elements from the image’s background, or change how the entire thing appears with their smart AI-based filters.
These photo editing apps are quite useful, but do you know what can help you refine your photos better? A bit of professional help, which you can actively seek at Kool Kanya’s still photography program.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The best photo editing apps for Android and iOS
The best photo editing apps for Androids and iOS
- PicsArt
This photo editing app works seamlessly on Android and iOS phones. It’s fun, easy to use, and gives you a lot of creative control, great image-editing tools and several attractive filters to choose from. There’s more to it- you can also select or create fun stickers, combine your pictures to form collages, add text and share them with your friends. The full-featured camera module includes pre-capture effects and photo tools.
Moreover, the Remix Chat allows you to share and collaboratively edit photos with the 150 million monthly users of PicsArt, or only with your friends. So, whether you are clicking plandids or simply taking a selfie, this app can give you the best possible version of the same.
P.S. You can always look at the In-app tutorials that are easy to follow and can help you navigate the app easily.
2. Snapseed
Snapseed is for serious photographers, who aim to create the best possible image while on the go. It offers an array of top-notch editing tools, such as selective edit brushes, and several film-related filters, such as Lens Blur, Retrolux and Double Exposure.
If you are all about details, then Snapseed can become more fun but also addictive. You can explore a range of exposure, colour, masking and reshaping tools, brushes, and filters. Also, the editing is non-destructive, and you can always go into the Stack, which are the layers of edits and adjust or eliminate any edit. Moreover, you can also use a Stacks brush to apply an effect to only a portion of your picture.
Do you know what makes Snapseed an excellent option? It's the traditional tools and nondestructive editing which make this app ideal for serious photographers who wish to spend time fine-tuning their pictures. The app is free and there is no premium version and works well for both Android and iOS.
3. Pixlr
Pixlr has an intuitive interface that is easy to get used to and is ideal for a photographer who wants to do just a bit of fine-tuning or add some neat effects. The gorgeous pictures can then be shared on whichever social networks you use.
Pixlr offers a variety of easy-to-use photo adjustment tools and does not overwhelm you with too many options. You get to choose which brushes can be used to apply selective edits, special effect filters, borders, and overlays that are quite eye-catching. You can create collages with preset layouts or designed templates and shuffle your photos, as well as zoom and move them within the placeholders.
4. Adobe photoshop camera
Owing to its AI, Adobe Photoshop Camera can be hailed as one of the best photo editing applications. The app applies special effects and photo corrections before or after you shoot with your phone’s camera.
This camera uses filters, called “lenses,” that apply special effects and make adjustments to colour, lighting, and clarity. However, what makes this Camera extraordinary is the use of Adobe Sensei which identifies the type of photo you are aiming to click and creates masks for key aspects. Also, some lenses have “sprites”, which are smart objects that can be pinched, zoomed and moved within a Sensei-identified area of the picture. This makes it possible to position and resize lens-placed objects, while other lenses have smaller animations.
This Camera is a delightful app that is essentially push-button photography, even though you can make some adjustments to the effects.
5. Afterlight
If you wish to edit individual photos, Afterlight 2 is the perfect app for you. The tools this app has to offer for colour, exposure, composition and structure are rather comprehensive, and include layers, curves, and selective hues as well. It even has stickers that are simple but varied, and text has numerous fonts for you to select from; both of which can be edited for colour, opacity, placement, size, and rotation. Also, it offers multiple levels of undo and redo, which you can use to roll back your image to a specific stage. You can even use the layers screen to select, edit or delete a particular edit.
Photo editing apps tend to fall into two categories: those for regular consumers, and those who aim to become professional photographers. While you can always click beautiful pictures, whether at home or during the golden hour, a little helping hand from one of these useful photo editing apps might be a good idea.
