It seems the iPhone is more ubiquitous than ever. With the iPhone 6 setting
records and seeming to appear everywhere, it’s safe to say that the iPhone is
near the top of the list when discussing the world’s most popular smartphone.
Because iPhones are so common, it also means that the iPhone’s camera is among
the most commonly used cameras in the world. While the specs alone in the iPhone camera won’t blow anybody away, the
simple fact is that it takes some of the most consistently great photos of any
smartphone on the market. Sometimes, however, the stark offerings in the
iPhone’s stock camera aren’t quite enough. In cases like this, knowing where to
turn for extra editing options can be
extremely helpful. Here are some of the best editing apps for iPhone 6.
VSCO Cam
This app is free
to download, although you do have the option to purchase additional filters.
What’s great about this app is that it allows all sorts of editing options,
from subtle to extreme. Whether you’re just looking to enhance your photos or
change them completely, VSCO Cam can help you along the way.
After you’ve selected a filter, you can edit your photo more precisely
using the robust options presented. Everything from exposure to saturation to
shadow and highlight level can be adjusted. After you’ve finished editing your
photo, you can upload it directly to
social media (Instagram, obviously, but also Twitter and Facebook) to share it
with your followers.
One drawback is that, when selecting filters, there really isn’t
anything in the way of an explanation regarding what each filter does. It’s
really a trial and error process, as you have to select each option to see what
effect is had.
With its editing options and simplicity, VSCO Cam is definitely one of
the best ways to edit photos taken from your iPhone camera and is my personal
favorite.
Using the app
Launching the app will show you a “dashboard” that essentially shows all
the photos you’ve worked on so far, with an option to add a new photo at the
top:
After selecting the photo you want to edit, you’ll be given the option
to select a filter:
After which you’ll be given the option to fine-tune your image:
It may seem like a lot of
steps, but as you’re actually doing it, it’s quite intuitive and easy and
results in some great photos.
ProCamera
While other editing apps
seem to focus largely on post photo editing, the $3.99 ProCamera focuses just as much on
the actual snapping. With quite a few editing options available as you take
your picture, ProCamera is one of the best ways to edit your photos both during
the picture-taking process, as well as after.
While you shoot your
photos, you can easily modify things such as white balance, color temperature,
shutter speed, and more. This makes it easier to have photos come out closer to
what you intend and makes ProCamera a more customizable alternative to the
standard iPhone camera.
One of the coolest features
ProCamera offers is its advanced HDR (which is a $1.99 in-app purchase), which
enhances images automatically:
Using the app
Opening ProCamera takes you directly to the camera itself, which
immediately shows a few editing tools:
Clicking on the “list” (shown in the upper right-hand corner in the
above image) allows you to add more editing options:
These allow you to add
precise edits to your photo prior to taking it (although you’re also able to
add in edits after the fact). This makes ProCamera a great alternative to the
standard iPhone camera, which can be lacking at times.
Camera Noir
Some of the best apps used
for editing iPhone photos can be quite complicated. If you’ve ever found
yourself shaking your head in confusion at all the options provided by an app, Camera Noir will be a breath of fresh
air. You’re able to edit photos you’ve already taken with your iPhone camera,
or you can take them directly with the app. The real draw here is that it
offers only three editing options.
The gist of Camera Noir is
stark black and white photos. Like its namesake, this app offers moody, dramatic interpretations
of images. When you go to snap or edit your photo, you’re given the option to
set it as “Hi”, “Mid”, or “Low”, which is essentially the exposure level.
That’s it. It may not be enough for those who are looking for a ton of editing
options, but it’s great for those who just want simple, good looking black and
white photos.
Using
the app
As stated, Camera Noir is
the definition of simplicity, with very little learning curve required:
You’re able to adjust the exposure with the button shown in the upper
right-hand corner, and add pictures from your photo library with the button in
the lower right-hand corner. Simple as that.
Snapseed
If Camera Noir is on one end of the spectrum, Snapseed is on
the other. It definitely takes some getting used to, but once you’ve learned
the basics, it’s pretty fun to use. Minimalism is definitely not the name of
the game when it comes to Snapseed, but the tradeoff is that the level of
customization is huge. It’s not that the interface is complicated per se, but
the sheer amount of options available can be a bit overwhelming to those who
may not be used to it.
Personally, I like Snapseed when I want to customize my photos to have
them look less than conventional (such as the one below).
I don’t use it as my primary editing app, but if I’m looking to do
something a little more out of the box, it’s a great option. While it can be
frustrating in some apps to get “lost” in editing, where you aren’t necessarily
sure exactly sure what you’re doing all the time, with Snapseed, that’s part of
the fun. Every change you make can drastically alter your photo, which can
result in some pretty interesting edits to your images.
Snapseed is free and allows for onboard integration into your social
media profiles, so it’s easy to share your photos.
Using the app
Pulling up the Snapseed app will show a sample image in the middle of
the page; to add your own photo, you click on the “plus” sign in the upper
left-hand corner:
There are plenty of filters to choose from, and individual editing
options within each filter. You can also layer effects on top of each other to
create unique images:
he above example certainly isn’t 100% indicative of all that Snapseed
can do, but it gives you an idea regarding how far it can go. From subtle to
extreme edits, Snapseed is a great option to supplement the iPhone camera.
NightCap Pro
One of the inherent problems with digital photography is taking
nighttime photos. The iPhone camera has lots of pluses, but taking photos at
night unfortunately leaves a lot to be desired. This is where NightCap Pro is a
great app to have. At $1.99, it’s a great value for those who are frustrated by
the shortcomings of the iPhone camera.
Taking a photo at night with the iPhone camera can be quite frustrating,
because you might be able to see an amazing scene with your eyes, but your
camera just can’t capture it at the same level. With long exposure
functionality, NightCap Pro allows you to edit your nighttime photos to a level
that makes them look much more appealing.
Using the app
However, clicking the gear at the top of the screen will allow you
change your settings more precisely:
With the option to set your shutter speed and adjust your exposure very
precisely, NightCap Pro allows for great photos taken in low-level light.
Overall
There really isn’t a consensus when it comes to the “best” iPhone photography app. As you
may have notice, each of the apps mentioned here specialize in different things,
so you can use all of them, or you can just pick your favorite and go with
that. The bottom line is that you have no shortage of ways to edit photos you
take with your iPhone camera, and if you’re bored with the photos you’ve been
taking, give them a try.
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