Long time that I'm not talking about iOS-applications for all kinds of abuse of the footage. Mena has repeatedly expostulated that my brief remarks in social networks are not sufficient, and I want recommendations on a review. Ashamed, and heeding the voice of conscience, I took up the pen!... oh the keyboard... hmm.. in short, I decided to write about that, in my opinion, it is of great interest for lovers of fotoeksperementirovat, or just have fun.
The first candidate on the list of interesting, I certainly would call PictureShow. The application of the spirit, ideology and implementation of near-legendary, and many beloved Camera +. And in my humble opinion, PictureShow something even surpassed the legend. But first things first.
When you run a stylish interface opens immediately appealing positive emotions among fans of analogue (or pseudo-analog) photographs. On the start panel we decide: shoot a new picture or download something from the photo library.
We choose to start the camera. Here on by the standard display and the shutter button, you can enable the timer and set the interval self-timer, continuous shooting to activate and display a grid display. By passing the settings menu, there is a choice of the camera lens. I must say that the lenses are only five, and they are sharpened mainly by double and multiple exposure, as well as for "kvadriptihov". It's not for everybody, but it will find its supporters, and may even "recruit" new. Honestly - this gambling thing is addictive. The thus-obtained images often do not require additional processing as virtually They represent a ready-made, interesting example of the experimental part of the Lomographic) shooting.
But for fans of extreme experiments, you can add special effects from the arsenal of the darkroom PictureShow, to which we now turn.
So, you want us to frame filmed (simple lens or experimental, it does not matter), or we did it before in some other application, maybe even an ordinary camera and downloaded from the library iPhone. In the laboratory PictureShow can:
- "obkropit" shot on the selected template, or in free form, deployed horizontally or vertically. key Transform
- align the white balance, or to give the desired snapshot toning RGB level control channels (each channel can be set individually, ensuring correct mixing). Rebuild the Brightness and Contrast slider. Color key.
- in the Special FX can add Tilt Shift effects and HDR (as we correctly understand this pseudo HDR) by adjusting the slider percentage distortion. Also, when installing the Tilt Shift, you can select the overlay pattern blur in diameter or linearly moving the area of overlap control points on the image. key Special
- Now the fun part: the color, light and sound effects. Then their well, and they are interesting.
Frame - it is not just a framework and a set of styles, where, together with the frame added abrasions, cracks, highlighted, and the specific distortion characteristic slides analog film, Polaroid snapshot and so on.
Light - a set of reflections and light effects. There is both color
exposure, "nezaeksponirovannye" places underexposed fixer, and solar (light) reflections.
Noise - a set of noise and scratches, from small to brutally shuffle. Sorry
no adjustment slider percent overlap. But in general, a lot of interesting presets.
Vignet - all just there. Add vignetting at the edges, adjusting the percentage to your taste. There is no alternative. But considering that the mass is in the vignettes set of frame styles, it is not necessary more often.
Oh and about the Light and Noise: every effect has several meanings. Through them can be selected by pressing a row key effect and watching how the light go a noise filter.
- finished showboat photo, turning the picture into a kind of postcards or old photos can be added to the obtained results some inscription by color, font type and size. Easy seemed to me the realization of the selection text attributes as a-dice cards. It is a pity of course, that if you set the color is not accurate gamma adjustment, but only from the proposed set. But in my opinion, the need for all the inscriptions thing is not common, this can forgive this sin reasonably good application.
By the way, if something does not like it, you can always reset the result of the image Shamanism: partially removing one of applying a set of filters or completely reset by pressing the red button next to.
Everything is ready and all like that? Now, you can send the result in facebook, twitter or upload to flickr, tumbler, blogger. Send by e-mail, and of course save to Camera Roll.
The software PictureShow laboratory settings, you can set the resolution for the exported image, autosave when exporting to the social network, disable kakoy- is not desired partition styles. If necessary, turn on the date stamp or free text (copyright, title or something else). There is also a login setting in Blogger and a small guide to the program (Manual).
In fact description of the program is completed. Nearly. For completeness, I also tell you about the magic red button with crossed arrows in the upper right corner. Since not everyone wants the debt to pick all these filters and styles, authors of the program offer use "smart key" that will bring together the very different styles of filters in one and give you ready result. Maybe not the first time, but sometimes get interesting combinations. Thus, it is sufficient to remove a frame, and then pressing the magic series, the red button to select one or more ready-made options. And by the way, if you have created such an automatic way, the option will want to correct (for example to replace a frame or highlight), it is wonderful you can do without losing other settings. A ready set, you can add to favorites by clicking the appropriate button in the upper left corner.
In my opinion, PictureShow one of the most interesting applications for fotoeksperimentov, and suitable equally for both novice and advanced user. Of the minuses but I said, I still sometimes lacked rotate the picture.

By the way it is strange that this feature is not included in the set, taking into account that less demanded reversal (flip) is present.
Download from the App Store: PictureShow
Price: $1.99
developer: Graf (bitween)
System requirements: Firmware iOS 4.0 and above Compatibility: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
The second application about which I would like to tell you today will PicTools. Even a year ago iPhone lovers of photography worried that there is no opportunity to work with layers. Even the application of the famous Adobe Photoshop kutsee and miserable. But 2011 brought several editors are more than vospolnyavschih omissions "Photoshop" features internesnee one another. And PicTools among them. Rather work with layers there is present as an option effect of double exposure, but to use it is possible it differently. However, first things first.
By design, the application is very austere, especially after PictureShow. when you start
we see... well almost that does not see. A blank window with a black or transparent background (selected in setup) and camera button. And then a funny thing: the program does not function soft-camera, and your photo library opens when you press the corresponding button.
Select an image, see what you can create with it using PicTools.
- crop (Crop)
- grow and expand.
- Add one of the effects. Suggested 2 Series: Antique and Color, with a good set of presets within each. And any of the filter presets set Color, can be changed manually using the curves by clicking the Curves button.
- add a frame (Borders).
- well, very tasty, promised layers are for Overlays button (which is already explicitly says of his appointment). In this section, you can use one of their grunge retropodobnyh filters, or by pressing the switch to Custom thereby layers: add a picture in one of the blend modes (Normal, Overlay, Darken, Multiply, and et al. Who knows - that they are familiar with, who do not know - you need to experiment and understand the most). Thus it is possible to add some items to your shot, or play a game of "double exposure", and you can even triple and fourfold, if you really want, as PicTools retaining result, it allows to add any of the functions or filters repeatedly.
- Well, well, for those who like the finished result, there is a magic button the Quick, where the program itself, in random order, offers a set of filters. Going through the options by clicking on the Next button, you can find something quite interesting.
As I said a little earlier, each set of effects can be repeated many times in different combinations. It's comfortable. For example, in the same PictureShow that would add the same set of (Styles, Tilt Shift, or something else) you want to save your work, and then reloaded. PicTools convenient as it saves every action shot without unloading. The action is always possible to cancel (undo).
Everything. In this editing function is finished and we can send to Facebook or save the result in the Camera Roll, specify the resolution of the exported image and background (if necessary). Two words of background: if during editing, we choose a custom crop, then when exporting PicTools can add black or white background, fill up a standard size. Why You Need a mystery to me. In all other respects, understandable and user-friendly application, with good results at a very affordable price.
Download from the App Store: PicTools
Price: $0.99
developer: David Boyes
System requirements: Firmware iOS 4.0 and higher
At this point I now put the dots. I told him all about the two interesting applications of a huge truck that passed through my hands for the last 3-4 months. And I promise (the voice of conscience take to witness) write a sequel soon. Since interesting applications are increasing, and the trash are multiplying. And what would you orient the midst of this diversity, I will try to continue to write these brief recommendations.
Yours sincerely, Andrew Barhatov
UPDATE: Read second article from the series of materials devoted iPhoneography.