Tag Archives: photography

Free VIEW Magazine is filled with intriguing photography

View Magazine is a nicely put-together coffee table ebook for the iPad or iPhone that contains photos that are interesting and certainly not run-of-the-mill sunsets and flowers. A variety of photographers have combined to submit some of their favorite work, and they offer some commentary about the images.

There are shots of urban landscapes, people, and nature images, but none are what I would call the standard 'pretty pictures'. That said, the images are striking, and the thoughts behind the images are often illuminating. You won't like everything you see, but there is plenty to choose from.

VIEW Magazine used to require a paid subscription, but it has just gone free, and you can manually download an issue or set it up for automatic downloading to Apple's Newsstand app.

I found the content stimulating and interesting. Any image can be shared to Facebook or via email. You scroll horizontally to move form article to article, and scroll vertically to explore the content within an article. Bookmarks are available if you find something you want to refer to again.

Gallery: VIEW Magazine for iOS

VIEW Magazine is a pretty hefty download; the current issue is about 250 megabytes. The app allows you to save or discard issues, so if you start filling your iOS device you can always dump past issues. VIEW Magazine is universal, but really isn't as effective on an iPhone as it is on the iPad. The newest version supports the Retina display on newer iPads, and the app requires iOS 5 or later.

VIEW Magazine is a worthy download, and I think you may find it enjoyable and thought provoking.

Free VIEW Magazine is filled with intriguing photography originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone cameras are everywhere at one of America’s best scenic spots

My last visit to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah was in pre-iPhone days. My, how things have changed. I went to Bryce on a landscape shoot this week with my usual semi-pro equipment: Canon 5D, Manfrotto tripod and the usual gaggle of batteries, timers and other esoterica.

I was especially interested in seeing if people were toting different equipment in the age of the smartphone. I expected to see Android and iPhones snapping away, while the pros and semi-pros were hanging on to their expensive DSLRs.

It wasn't quite what I expected. I saw a lot of iPhones in the crowds of people gathered at the rim of Bryce Canyon waiting for the sunset. I saw a couple of Android phones, but there could have been more. I walked up to a large group of young girls from Tennessee and asked how many were using iPhones? Every hand went up. I asked them if they were still using their old point-and-shoot cameras, and everyone had dropped them for an iPhone. The main reason? Instagram and other photo-sharing services. No one mentioned Apple's Photo Stream. You just can't get photos to friends with a point-and-shoot. None of those girls were into editing photos, it was mostly shoot and send.

I asked about the iPhone HDR feature. The most frequent answer was "huh?" More marketing needed by Cupertino. I showed some of the people up there how easy it was to activate HDR, and let them compare the results. Sunset at Bryce Canyon is the perfect place for HDR. All were amazed, so I helped create some new converts.

The biggest surprise were the pro and semi-pro shooters. Many had iPhones, which they would take out of a pocket for a moment, usually to shoot a panorama. One woman with a big Nikon said she loved her camera, but there was nothing like capturing a quick panorama with the iPhone. Easy to do, plenty of megapixels, and easy to send. A guy from Georgia with all kinds of pro equipment told me the same thing.

Gallery: iPhones at Bryce Canyon

So here I was at one of the most beautiful scenery spots in the world and iPhones were everywhere. Young, old, novice, semi-pro and some pros.

It's amazing that a company trying to make a better cellular phone has had such an impact on photography. Planning or accident? How about you? Have you dropped your point-and-shoot for an iPhone? And those of you with DSLRs, are you tempted to haul your iPhone out at times too? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

iPhone cameras are everywhere at one of America's best scenic spots originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon releases Amazon Cloud Drive Photos to compete with Apple Photo Stream

Amazon today released a new app called Cloud Drive Photos. The free app allows you to upload all your iPhone or iPod touch photos to the cloud. The images can be accessed from your iOS device, from your Mac, or from any web browser. You can also upload photos from a laptop or desktop computer with a free Amazon app for OS X, and see or download them to your iPhone or other iOS device. Photos can also be shared via Facebook, Twitter or email.

Amazon requires you have an Amazon account, and will provide 5 GB of free storage, about enough room for 2000 photos. Amazon also provides both Mac and Windows apps to handle file transfers and display the photos. Additional storage space costs US$10.00 a year for 20 gigabytes, or 100 gigabytes of storage for $50.00.

When you first open the app, Amazon asks for access to your camera roll. Then the app will start uploading as long as the app is open. If you're on a limited data plan, you can set the app to only upload when you are on WiFi.

This service competes with Apple's Photo Stream service, and of course there are services like Flickr and Dropbox that provide similar functionality. You can choose to back up specific photos or your entire camera roll. Amazon offers more free storage than Apple, and Apple will only store up to 1000 of your photos per stream for 30 days compared to about 2000 photos with no expiration from Amazon. With Apple, after 30 days you must sync to your main computer. It should also be noted that Photo Stream storage does not count against your Apple allocated 5 gigabytes of iCloud storage. I see the Amazon service as a nice extra backup to what Apple offers.

Gallery: Amazon Cloud Drive Photo

Apple is being challenged in several areas by competitors offering equal or better solutions. Of course Google has Google Maps, and even Yahoo has a free weather app that for many people is a better solution than the rather stale Apple iOS weather app. Amazon has also offered Cloud Drive File Sync for OS X, which gives users a free 5 gigabytes of storage, more than double the free storage offered by Dropbox. Of course only Apple can deeply integrate its apps into iOS, so the company has that advantage. Whether that integration overcomes some of the advantages of these new services will be up to you when considering what cloud solution to use. Also, be aware that if you are already using other Amazon Cloud services the free storage you get is 5 gigabytes total, not 5 for music, 5 for photos, 5 for files etc..

Amazon releases Amazon Cloud Drive Photos to compete with Apple Photo Stream originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple

Photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple

The Verge has an interesting interview up with Peter Belanger, the man responsible for many of Apple's iconic product shots. Though you may not be familiar with the name, Belanger is a San Francisco-based photographer who helps make Apple's products look so darn appealing and aesthetically sharp. If you've ever seen an advertisement for an Apple product on the subway or even checked out Apple's website, you've seen his work.

When asked about the process behind an Apple product shoot, Belanger explains:

The team at Apple always has a really well-developed shot list and sketches of what they need. I work with their talented art directors to translate those sketches into photos. We start by getting the position of the product and then move forward on lighting. Because Apple products have such carefully selected materials, it is incredibly important to light the product in a way that will showcase the various materials accurately. I pick an area to start with and think about how that material needs to be described. Once that section is done I move on to the next. This is how my sets get so complicated! I need to have control over each and every surface so when the client asks for a highlight to be elongated, I can do that. It's similar to working on a file in Photoshop: you don't do all your work on one layer. I think of my lights as layers that I can adjust individually to get the desired results.

When Belanger says that his sets get complicated, he's not kidding. Check out this rig setup below.

Photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple

As for his camera of choice, all you camera enthusiasts out there might be interested to know that Belanger's go-to is the Canon 5D Mark III.

Overall, the entire interview with Belanger is well worth a read, especially if you're curious as to the tremendous work that often underlies seemingly simple product shots. You can also check out more of Belanger's portfolio over here.

Photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPhone App: View Seeker Location Scout: a handy tool for iPhone photographers

View Seeker Location Scout is a handy US$0.99 photo app that can help you find the best locations for landscape photography. You can get all the best locations around you with a click, which the app does by sourcing images from Panoramio and Flickr.

Once you find a spot you like it appears on a map, and then provides driving or walking directions via a link to Apple Maps. The app also provides sunrise/sunset times, and allows you to save locations you like. You can select any place in the world as your "target" if you are planning a trip, and call up the location information later when you get to your destination.

The app worked as expected when I tested it here in southern Arizona, and some other favorite out-of-state places. I found the Panoramio images generally looked better, but usually there were more images from Flickr.

Other than a few spelling errors in locations, the app is pretty clean. I wish View Seeker Location Scout allowed me to query Panoramio and Flickr at the same time. As it is, you have to set one or the other in preferences, but you can easily change back and forth. It's better to give the user the option of both.

Gallery: View Seeker Location Scout

The app has some similarities to Stuck On Earth, which is iPad-only. Stuck On Earth displays photos taken at chosen locations, provides a map, and lets you save your finds. It's a great app, but better for planning than using in the field simply because View Seeker fits in my pocket.

View Seeker is a worthwhile app for photographers looking for that perfect or out of the way spot to take a striking photo. It's a bargain for a buck. The non-universal app is optimized for the iPhone 5 and requires iOS 5.0 or greater.

Daily iPhone App: View Seeker Location Scout: a handy tool for iPhone photographers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPad App: Gradients is a free iOS photo editor that is worth a look

I'm always on the lookout for free photo apps that do a good job, and Gradients for the iPad or iPhone (free, universal) fits the bill. The app lets you add gradients to existing photos with almost infinite variations and control. I often create gradients in Photoshop, especially to tone down the sky in landscapes. It's nice to have a lightweight utility to handle that simple task.

There are 46 filter styles available, and each one is customizable in parameters like opacity and tilt. You can turn photos into black-and-white images. You can even create a custom gradient and save it for future use. Unlike so many photo apps, Gradients doesn't throw in-app purchases at you. Everything is included. When your editing is done, you can save your photo, or share it via Twitter or Facebook.

Gallery: Gradients

Editing is easy, and as you make changes on the Gradients control panel you can see a thumbnail of your image. The only thing I found lacking is any kind of undo feature. You can tap on a new filter and the old one will go away, but there is no way to return to your starting point without reloading the image.

Gradients is a universal app and optimized for the iPhone 5. It requires iOS 6 or later.

Daily iPad App: Gradients is a free iOS photo editor that is worth a look originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Plans to Release High-end Photo App for iPad

Lightroom iOSIf you are familiar with Adobe’s Lightroom software for PC, then you will be happy to know that the company has just announced plans for an iPad-compatible version of the photography application.

According to CNet, the company’s group product manager for Lightroom, Tom Hogarty, demonstrated an early prototype of the app Wednesday on the Web-based show The Grid.

Hogarty admitted that, although Adobe has faired well with the PC market, the company has yet to get a strong foothold in the tablet market and is looking to incorporate better Internet connectivity and mobile devices into the photography workflow.

“We need to take that story beyond the desktop. We haven’t done a great job of it yet,” Hogarty said. “The thing I’d like to sneak today is taking that raw processing and bringing it onto the mobile device.”

Hogarty demonstrated the prototype on an iPad 2, showing that the company is working on an application that will be available on most of Apple’s tablets including the iPad mini.

The mobile Lightroom application will allow users to edit raw format photos with Lightroom develop-module parameters like exposure, clarity shadows, highlights and balance.

You will be able to sync your edits in cloud-based storage service so that changes made on your tablet will appear on your computer.

The mobile application will also allow you to zoom to 100 percent for checking photo focus and details.

Hogarty did not give any information as to the price or availability of the upcoming Lightroom for iOS. It appears that the technology is still a long way from being ready for public use.

“We have significant performance expectations from the photography community. We take it very seriously,” Hogarty said. But on mobile devices, “We understand there are limitations.”

It may be a while before this high-end photography program sees iOS compatibility, but it will happen before Hogarty retires (his words).

» Related posts: Adobe’s Digital Publishing Suite Now Available on Adobe’s Creative Cloud Adobe Lightroom Companion App Photosmith Receives Major Update Adobe Adds iOS Features to New Digital Publishing Suite

New iPhone ad focuses on wonder of photography

If you're old enough to remember the Polaroid SX-70, celebrating its 41st birthday this week, you may remember how it felt to instantly, miraculously see the images you captured appear right before your eyes with one of Polaroid's cameras. Now that we all have superpowered cameras in our pockets, we may not be as tuned in to how photography, especially instant or digital photography, changes the way we see the world around us.

Apple's still tuned in, though. That sense of wonder in photography is fully on display in the newest ad for the iPhone, which highlights the remarkable claim that every day "more photos are taken with the iPhone than any other camera."

That stat may be based on the long-standing No. 1 rank of the iPhone among cameras used to post photos to Flickr; in fact, that ranking is probably underweighted, since it may not capture the camera types from world-beating image apps like Facebook's Instagram.

The iPhone currently holds the top three spots for individual cameras on Flickr's list (the 4S, 5 and 4), although the iPhone 4 is just about tied with Canon's $3000 EOS 5D Mark II. As PetaPixel and Bloomberg point out, the Japanese camera maker's profits have suffered as the compact photography market erodes versus phone cameras.

You can see the ad embedded below. I particularly enjoy the brief run of panorama shooters at about the 0:38 mark.

New iPhone ad focuses on wonder of photography originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fotopedia Reporter for iPad lets you create and share your photo stories

Fotopedia Reporter is a unique, free iPad app that I would describe as a socially aware, digital coffee table book that lets you see and share photos that tell stories. The stories can be travel photos, landscapes, a restaurant visit or a dive trip. Anything that would be of interest to others that you know or don't know.

To help you get started, the app provides some attractive designs. Your creation can be shared on Facebook or Twitter, or you can email a web link and it can be viewed in a browser. You can view others' projects and leave comments. Of course, you don't have to be a contributor, you can just browse the many stories and photos submitted.

One question I had to the developers was the issue of rights. The answer is that people who publish photos choose their license type (all rights reserved, creative commons or public domain) and the poster retains the rights. The terms of use allows Fotopedia to advertise on its own properties, and partner properties, and the images you submit can be used to promote Fotopedia.

Gallery: Fotopedia Reporter

Why submit your stories? Mostly to get an audience. Fotopedia products get millions of views across its 14 apps and websites. Don't think of Fotopedia as simply a slide show. It's the stories behind the images that are just as important. Tell your stories, share them publicly or privately, get some feedback and create a community of people you'll enjoy knowing.

It's a bit hard to fully describe what this app offers, but it's worth a look. For those interested in communicating visually, it's a very well-thought-out tool. If you want to see what the app can do, Fotopedia Reporter is available on the web. It's fully functional, but I like it best on the iPad Retina display.

Fotopedia Reporter requires internet connectivity to work, and needs iOS 5.0 or later on your iPad.

Fotopedia Reporter for iPad lets you create and share your photo stories originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FocusTwist lets you focus photos after taking a picture

A new app called FocusTwist by Arqball lets your iPhone do what a US$400 Lytro light field camera is used for. Like the Lytro, the FocusTwist app lets you adjust the focus a picture after you have taken it. However, the method of after-focusing is completely different in FocusTwist than it is in the Lytro. The Lytro uses specialized hardware and software (you can read about it here). FocusTwist, on the other hand, has a bit of trickery up its sleeve.

The app actually takes several photos at different focus points when you expose an image. Users can change the focus by tapping different parts of the image. Arqball's back-end servers handle the image processing, so the images can even be refocused by any friends you've shared a photo with. Because the FocusTwist app takes a succession of rapid images at different focal lengths, the after-focusing feature only works well if you manage to hold your iPhone very steady while taking a pic. For best results, a tripod is handy.

FocusTwist is US$1.99 and available in the App Store now.

FocusTwist lets you focus photos after taking a picture originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPhone App: Curved

I have a soft spot for image editing apps that let me add some flair to the photos I take with my iPhone. One app that has made its way into my permanent tool bag is Curved. As its name implies, Curved Text on Photo lets you overlay multiple layers of curved text on your iPhone and iPad images.

Curved lets you add text and then apply a variety of shapes to wrap the text around elements within your image. Curved shapes include a wave, arc, bell, full circle, semi-circle and others. You can even draw your own lines to wrap the text in the way that works best for your photo. Once your curved text is complete, you can further stylize the look with an artistic font. The app ships with a handful of fonts and extra fonts are available via an in-app purchase.

Curved is more than just a text overlay app as it also has a basic photo editor that lets you tweak your image. Tools include contrast, brightness, crop, blemish remover, stickers and more. If you don't like the effects and stickers available by default in the app, you can purchase additional packs for 99-cents each.

When you are done with your creation, you can export the image at full resolution to your photo album. You can also share it via email or send it to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. Curved has another option that lets you send the image to other compatible apps that are installed on your iPhone.

Curved is available in the iOS App Store for US$1.99.

Daily iPhone App: Curved originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aviary is a potent free photo editor for iOS

I'm always on the lookout for another good photo editor so I can finish my images in the field and Aviary for iOS certainly qualifies.

This free editor (with the usual option for in-app purchases) has the power to enhance your photos and add useful effects and frames without going overboard.

Aviary has the usual things you would expect in a photo editor and it does the job without having to refer to help screens because it is intuitive to use. You can auto-enhance a photo with one tap, crop, rotate and straighten images, adjust saturation, sharpen and blur, and add text. There's a nice selection of useful frames that can be applied with one click.

Aviary provides editing tools to other apps and we've reviewed some that use embedded Aviary tools. Now it's nice to see Aviary provide a robust photo editor on its own.

The only thing I found missing was a really good undo function. You can click any effect or process to turn it off, but I wanted unlimited undos because it's pretty easy to perform a whole line of edits and find yourself wanting to backtrack.

Gallery: Aviary free photo editor for iOS

As mentioned, there are a lot of in-app purchases offered. it would set you back about $15 for all of them. I don't think any of them are needed, and you can do some first-rate editing without spending an extra dime.

There is a lot to like about Aviary, and I think I could use it as my basic editor for most photos. It's a universal app, and will run on any iOS hardware that has iOS 5.0. It's optimized for the iPhone 5.

Aviary is a potent free photo editor for iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lightroom 5 beta available to the public

Adobe today announced the release of the Lightroom 5 beta for Mac and Windows. Lightroom is Adobe's photo-management and post-production software that competes directly with Apple's Aperture. The beta is free to download, but users should be aware that its use -- like all betas -- could vary and you should not use it with photo libraries that you do not have backed up.

Here's a list of the major new features, as reported on the Adobe Labs blog:

Advanced Healing Brush - Easily remove objects and fix defects -- even those with irregular shapes such as threads or lint -- with a single brush stroke. Take precise control over what's being removed as you make unwanted objects just disappear. Upright - Straighten tilted images with a single click. Upright analyzes images and detects skewed horizontal or vertical lines. You choose one of four correction methods, and Upright can even straighten images where the horizon is hidden. Radial Gradient - Lead your viewer's eye through your images with more flexibility and control. The radial gradient tool lets you create off-center vignette effects, or multiple vignette areas within a single image. Offline editing with Smart Previews - Easily work with images without bringing your entire library with you. Just generate smaller stand-in files called Smart Previews. Make adjustments or metadata additions to Smart Previews and your changes will be automatically applied to the full-size originals later. Video slideshow sharing - Easily share your work in elegant video slideshows. Combine still images, video clips and music in creative HD videos that can be viewed on almost any computer or device. Improved photo book creation - Create beautiful photo books from your images. Lightroom includes a variety of easy-to-use book templates, and now you can edit them to create a customized look. Upload your book for printing with just a few clicks.

Lightroom 5 beta available to the public originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fotor Photo Editor for Mac is capable and free if you act quickly

Photo editing on a Mac presents a dilemma for budget-conscious consumers. Photoshop is high-end and expensive. iPhoto is affordable, but its editing tools are rudimentary. There are still plenty other apps to choose from, including Pixelmator and Acorn. Another good title to add to your list of photo editing apps is Fotor Photo Editor. It's not Photoshop, but it has a lot of strengths. Best of all, it is free for a limited time.

The app has excellent editing tools, giving you control of the exposure, brightness, contrast, white balance, sharpening, blurring and much more. The app also features 13 different one click enhancement options, as well as a large selection of effects and frames. The app even lets you apply tilt-shift filters to your images, and supports most image formats including the all important raw import. It also lets you import multiple images for HDR treatment. Text can easily be added to photos, and you can pop up a panel with your EXIF data.

I found Fotor to be simple and intuitive to use. All the operations are on a panel to the right of the main screen. You can see your original image with a click, then reapply the filters. One thing I didn't like is there is no history-based undo. There is a button bewilderingly called 'none,' which takes all the filters and optimizations off. I'd like the app to go backwards step by step through all the changes and undo them one at a time. With this version of Fotor, undoing a mistake is all or nothing.

Gallery: Fotor Photo Editor

I think many photographers will like Fotor Photo Editor. The same developers have done some excellent iOS apps and it's nice to see those skills brought to the Mac.

I don't know how long Fotor will be free, so grab it as soon as you can. The app requires OS X 10.6 or later and a 64-bit processor. It has been optimized to work with Retina Display screens.

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac is capable and free if you act quickly originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wrapframe for iOS will give new life to your photos

I've taken a look at several collage apps for iOS, and have been pleased with them. Having said that, Wrapframe (US$1.99) comes with some fresh ideas and more than a hundred templates to allow you to combine multiple photos into a single presentation. You can warp and wrap your photos to give them a fresh look, and apply any of 27 filters and/or text to finish off your masterpiece. Then you can save to your photo roll, or share them via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and email.

Using the app is simple, and there is built-in help. Select a template, containing room for two or more photos in a style you like. Then select photos from your camera roll, or snap some with the iPhone or iPad camera. Once the photos are in place, you can apply filters or add text. One thing I don't like is that if you select a portrait orientation for a photo, the app scrunches up the image in landscape mode to make it fit, distorting the photo. As a result, you have to be careful about what kind of photo you put in to a particular template.

There are plenty of filters, but I'm getting to the point where most filters detract from a good image, and don't add to it. Text may or may not be needed to finish your collage. I think most photos won't require text, but it's nice to have if you need it.

Gallery: Wrapframe

Most collage apps are fairly simple with basic layouts. Wrapframe goes for the more ornate templates, many are based on scrolls. There is a lot of variety in this app, within the basic themes. I think many photographers will find some interesting ways to enhance and share their photos that aren't just me-too creations.

Wrapframe is a universal app and works on all phones from the 3GS forward, and iPad and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch. Wrapframe requires iOS 4.3 or later and is optimized for the iPhone 5.

Wrapframe for iOS will give new life to your photos originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watermark FX for Mac can help you protect your images

If you're a photographer who posts images on the web, check out the Mac app Watermark FX (US$4.99). It lets you add copyright symbols, logos or any text to your photos, one at a time or in batches.

In addition to watermarks, the app also supports waterlines, which will keep your pictures from being used by others. You can also use Watermark FX to batch rename, change size and file type to a group of photos.

You can import PNG, JPEG, GOF, TIFF, PSD and ICNS formats, while outputting PNG, JPEG, GIF and TIFF.

If you deal with a lot of photos, this app can be a timesaver. I tried it on several batches of photos and the app worked as expected, and quickly. The way the app works is very clear, and I don't think users will need a help file.

One thing I did notice is that the image file sizes changed when they were output. A 2.5 MB JPEG became 2 MB JPEG when I added some text. Even more curious, some files increased in size. I could not see any visual change when comparing the two versions, other than the added text, of course. It should also be noted that the camera throws away EXIF data. To some, that will be a feature. Others will want it preserved. By the way, if you want to add a (C) symbol to your photos, it's 'Option-G' on the Mac keyboard.

Gallery: Watermark FX

Watermark FX is a helpful app. It requires OS X 10.6 or later and a 64-bit processor. I'd also suggest interested photographers take a look at Watermarker for $7.99. It has similar features but does preserve the EXIF data in output files.

Watermark FX for Mac can help you protect your images originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perspective Correct is a nifty photo utility for your iPhone

Many of the photos we take have perspective problems, but there are not too many utilities for iOS that deal with it. The iPhone has a fairly wide-angle lens, and as a result, pictures of city buildings, landscapes with lots of trees, almost anything with vertical lines can need some perspective correction.

Perspective Correct (US$1.99) is a new app that deals with just this problem. You import a photo and then by swiping across the screen you can change vertical or horizontal distortion. After that's corrected, you'll need to crop the photo and the app includes a built-in cropping tool. There is also a tool to make a white or black background around the image.

You can also get perspective problems with indoor photography and even taking portraits where distortion could result in a big nose or a swelled forehead.

I tested the app and it worked as intended. I'd like to see an undo command, because once you make the changes, you are stuck. The app is not universal, and is clearly intended for the iPhone, but I think a full-resolution version for the iPad should be offered. The app requires iOS 5 or greater and is optimized for the iPhone 5. Perspective Correct works well and is a welcome addition to my folder of photo editors.

Gallery: Perspective Correct

Perspective Correct is a nifty photo utility for your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PopAGraph is a clever iOS photo app that gives your photos some ‘pop’.

PopAGraph is a free iOS app that lets you mask off something in a photo, then create a reduced size frame that lets the object pop put of the frame boundaries. It can give your photos a unique look, and it's something I haven't seen before in an iPhone app.

To make it work you select something in your image that you want to stand out. You draw a mask with your finger. You don't have to be exact, because the app will try and find the edges of the subject if it is pretty well set off in contrast of color. You can enlarge the view for more precise masking, and pan around using 2 fingers.

When you are satisfied, you touch the 'lift' icon, and your selected object will be separated from the background. Select a frame, or multiple frames. They must be smaller than your masked object so the object can extend beyond the frame. You get a choice of frame colors and styles. The end result can be quite striking. You can then send your fished product via email, instagram or Twitter. Of course you can also save to your local photo library.

PopAGraph is a clever photo editor. You're not going to be able to jump right in, because not every step is intuitive. There is, thankfully, built in help with video tutorials that make the operation of the app clear enough. The app also has some nice filters, so after the masking process you can change the background or the foreground. For example, leave what has been masked in color, and turn the rest of the photo black and white. There are more extensive filters, but they involve an in-app purchase. If you buy everything, including more frame options, the app is U.S. $2.99 instead of free. I found I could get along with what is included in the free version.

Gallery: PopAGraph

I liked PopAGraph. If you're willing to spend a few minutes learning the app it will pay you back with some really unique photos that will be appreciated by friends and family.

PopAGraph requires iOS 6 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. It is not universal, so it's sub-optimal on an iPad.

PopAGraph is a clever iOS photo app that gives your photos some 'pop'. originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pixies for iOS helps you create novelty photos

Pixies-Fun with Photos is a nice twist on regular photo-editing apps. The free app lets you take a picture, then add some graphics (objects, animals, symbols etc) so you can share the augmented whimsical results with family and friends.

The developers have also partnered with Zazzle so you can send your favorite creations for printing on mouse pads, a coffee mug, T-shirt or other keepsake. Although the app is free, I suspect the real reason it exists is to push those printing services.

The app works as you would expect, and there is a large variety of graphics you can put on a photo. The app lets you take a picture with your camera, or you can use an image you already have. There are plenty of little things you can add to your photos, or you can get more with an in-app purchase. I think there are enough bundled with the free app that you probably won't be tempted. This is the kind of app kids will enjoy, but adults will have some fun creating unique photos too.

Gallery: Pixie-Fun with Photos

The app runs on any iOS device, but is not universal.

Pixies for iOS helps you create novelty photos originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shine for Mac OS adds very realistic lighting effects to your images

Shine (US$9.99 in the Mac App Store) is not the first app we've seen that allows you to add realistic lighting effects to your images, but it is very capable and easy to use.

To start, drag and drop an image into the Shine palette, and place a light source. Drag it and rotate it where you want, then adjust size, intensity and color, and you'll have an enhanced image. The app includes undo, auto-saving and restoring.

The lighting effects are realistic and natural looking. The danger is that, like any app that modifies an image, you can get carried away. I prefer a subtle hand. My favorite place for photography is Antelope Canyon near Page, Ariz. It's a slot canyon, and you have to be there at just the right time and season to see the light rays come in from above. I always seem to be at the right place at the wrong time, so I was able to add the light rays to my photos after the fact. I liked the results.

I've previously reviewed LensFlare studio ($19.99) for the Mac, and also found it excellent. It's twice as much to buy as Shine, and has more effects, but it terms of quality and flexibility Shine is first rate.

Shine responds in nearly real time, and was very stable. I like the ability to show the edited and original photo on the same screen. My only complaint is that the app opens to a very small window on my 30-inch monitor, and even though you can enlarge it, the size isn't remembered as you go to work on a new image. That's an easy fix, and I hope it gets made.

Gallery: Shine for OS X

Adding lens flares is something you won't do on every picture, but it can be very powerful when used appropriately. Shine does what it advertises, and does it well. I've added it to my small collection of permanent apps for post-processing images after they have been sharpened and color balanced in Photoshop.

Shine requires OS X 10.6.6 or later. It's well worth the asking price.

Shine for Mac OS adds very realistic lighting effects to your images originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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