Apps will never replace a DSLR and a couple of hours editing at your desk. However, if you want to add a retro filter, edit contrast or share a photo, there’s an app for that.
Lab HD
Platform: iOS, Android
This app adds plenty of fun to your photos. Snap a photo, or grab one from your library, and choose a lighting or film effect to add to it. Apart from full layer-based editing, PicLab HD includes various preset photo filters and adjustment tools and also enables you to add typography, illustrations and ornamentation to your snaps.
Sktchy
Platform: iOS
The whole point of taking photos is to share them with family, friends and fellow photographers. Sktchy takes that one step further and makes photo sharing inspiring. Choose from a selection of photographs uploaded by the Sktchy community and create a portrait from that image. Inspiration has never been more user-friendly.
Photoristic HD
Platform: iOS
Who wants a hundred features when you can get by with much less? Photoristic HD may not have as much features as other apps – however, it packs the essentials. The app’s photo editor features standard image adjustment tools such as exposure, contrast, shadows and saturations, and a good collection of presets for quick fixes. Photoristic HD is fast and can handle images of up to 20Mp.
Geló
Platform: iOS
Give your photos an added burst of colour with Geló. Add solid colours, gradients and geometric shapes to enhance colour or add design impact to your photos. This one-touch app also features multiple palettes, gel overlays and sharing options.
FxCamera
Platform: iOS, Android
Get creative with FxCamera: choose from 30 different filters, enlarge, crop and auto adjust. FxCamera also allows you to share and tag an unlimited amount of photos. One nifty feature is Voice Picture, which allows you to record a voice message at the same time that you are taking a photo. It’s just like a verbal caption.
Retromatic
Platform: iOS
Most photo apps have a feature that takes your photos back in time. Yet few do it better than Retromatic, which enables you to import your photos, cut them out using an instant alpha tool, and then apply a 1950s-inspired effect.
Photoshop Touch
Platform: iOS, Android
We are all familiar with Adobe’s killer desktop app, which has been the designers’ favourite for years. Now Photoshop is also available for tablet and smartphone in the form of Photoshop Touch, which features many of its big brother’s features, including layers and adjustments.
Camera Awesome
Platform: iOS
We can be forgiven for raising an eyebrow when developers describe their app as awesome, let alone make it part of the title. Yet Camera Awesome is quite, well, awesome. The app is a delight to use and the features are quite sophisticated. You can either take a shortcut and just hit the ‘awesomize’ button to enhance your photos, or else take the long way and fine-tune your way to awesomeness.
VSCO Cam
Platform: iOS
One of the best photo editing apps around, VSCO Cam is a powerful editing tool that features various filters to enhance your images and a selection of advanced features that allow you to edit exposure, temperature and contrast. And when you’re done, you can share your photos with your friends just by uploading them to your own page on VSCO Grid.
Frontback
Platform: iOS
Chosen by Apple as one of their best new apps, Frontback is a fun way of telling a story with just one photo. Take a photo of yourself with your smartphone’s front camera and another with your back camera, and then share your two-way snaps via SMS, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and e-mail. You can also add location information and captions.