The Votes Are In...

Last week I listed some of the best free photo editing apps for your phone. This week I've tried them out with my Android phone and I'm letting you know about my experiences.

THE WINNERS:

Photo Editor- I loved the interface and this app was super easy to use. I was able to take photos with the app and then directly edit them using lots of filters and techniques. I liked that there was an option to download more content, such as filters, frames, and stickers, but yet there was still a lot of free content to use too.  This app lets you make memes, draw, and reduce redeye and blemishes. However, Photo Editor doesn't really allow much customization when it comes to effects. Everything is just a push of a a button, which can be nice for really quick fixes, but not so nice if you're looking for user controlled effects. The picture to the right was taken with the app and then I applied the Metropolis filter, added light effects, and framed it. I'd give Photo Editor a 4 out of 5 stars.

Adobe Photoshop Express- Absolutely loved this app! The interface was beautiful and I didn't have to think about what action would result from pushing a certain button; everything was simple and labeled well. What I love about Adobe Photoshop Express is that it really does allow you to add the same effects that you could use in a complete version of Photoshop. You can add filters and also change things like the saturation, vibrance, clarity, tint, temperature, and highlights. Much more customizable than the other apps, and you can have as much control as you want, or click auto and let the app do the work for you. I really couldn't think of any cons, so this app deserves 5 out of 5 stars!


Photo Wonder- Overall, I enjoyed this app and the best part about it was that you could take photos with filters on, instead of adding the filters later after the photo is taken. Other than that, I'd have to agree with my comment in my previous post about this app being geared towards women; it totally is. The customization tool lets you get rid of blemishes, bulges, and basically distort yourself however you want. I thought that was a little too much customization for my taste, but to each their own. After editing photos, there are options to create a collage, so that was another reason I liked this app. I'll give Photo Wonder a 4 out of 5 stars.

THE LOSERS:

VSCO Cam- The interface on this app was awful! All the buttons for options were tiny and hidden, and when I finally found them it wasn't immediately apparent what they were for. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to actually take a decent picture with the app. Everything picture I took would show up with blurry lines that were indistinguishable. I was able to edit a photo that I'd already taken with my phone, but wasn't impressed by the selection of ten filters. I'm giving this app 1 out of 5 stars.

FX Camera- What really bugged me about this app was the connection to social media. The app itself is a social media platform where you can share your photos with others (think Flickr), and search for photos using tags, as shown in the image to the left. I just found it annoying that I had to sign in every time. I have to say though that the interface is well designed and I enjoyed the layout and effects of the app. FX Camera just seems to have a much higher learning curve than other apps I've reviewed, making it less appealing to me. I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Snapseed- I wasn't impressed with Snapseed, and to be honest, I was the most excited to try this app. The instructions for each effect were confusing and hard to understand. There was a lot of pulling, pinching, and holding of your fingers to get the effect that you were looking for. After awhile I just gave up, and sent out the photo with minor effects. This app had LOTS of effects to choose from, so definitely very customizable, but still not a favorite for me due to all the work you had to do to get there. The photo to the right was taken with the app and I tried sharpening and adjusting the lighting. Not impressed; I give it 2 out of 5 stars. 


That's it for now. Comment below if you've tried these apps or others and have something to add. Next week I'll be talking about where you can find the cheapest prices and best deals on all your favorite camera gear and accessories! Follow me on Twitter to be informed and remember to stay creative!