Ever take a picture and feel like it needed some help…a little sprucing up?
You know what I mean….some brightening, sharpening, or added pizazz?
Most of you that know me realize that my camera or phone are with me at all times….snapping away EVERY. SINGLE. CHANCE. I get! Later, you realize you have about 10 frames of the same picture. You don’t even want to know how many photos are stored in the gallery on my phone.
Better yet, try my camera. Yikes!
The thing is….it’s easy to TAKE pictures.
It takes no time at all. The harder part is the step that follows.
The editing. The publishing. The framing.
These aspects are what I typically fall short on time and time again.
I can take a million and one pictures, but most of them never make it past the storage area that they sit in. The only way I make sure to actually USE my pics are to liven them up….transform them, if you will. I like to give my pictures a purpose. I want them to “speak” to me, for a lack of better words. So, with that being said…..
I have some fabulous, mostly free, photo apps that Top my List this Tuesday!!
They are easy to navigate and you must check them out.
BEFORE and AFTER SHOTS
( used Pic Stitch, Afterlight, & PicLab)
Add fun text and a border…it makes a pic really pop!
I typically use a mix of each app when working on a photo. The editing app I begin with first is Pic Stitch, followed by Afterlight. Then to add some color, patterns, borders, phrases and so forth, I use Pic Lab, ABM, and Rhonna Designs. Each app has their own set of unique features that set them apart from the others! Below is a quick blurb about each and a few examples!
For starters, this is free. You can’t beat that! This is my “go to” photo app. I always find myself using this one first, before any of the others. I think it is the best one for the essentials, such as cropping and enhancing. You can create collages or single frames. The pictures typically start in square format, but I like to change the dimensions with the “aspect” button. If you choose the 3×4 option (vertical or horizontal), it makes it easier to use the color and patterned borders in the PicLab app (see below). You can export your photos from Pic Stitch to your phone’s gallery, Instagram, Facebook, Email, or even print it to Walgreens! Once you have edited your photo here, I go on to the next apps to add text, borders, and other fun design options!
Do you ever feel like the picture you took is drab and dark? Do you wish it was taken in better lighting or would “pop” just a bit more? This app can really transform a photo! Once I am finished with Pic Stitch, this is the next step I use to edit my picture. This program offers more than Pic Stitch in terms of technical components. From brightness to clarity to contrast, this is one of the best I’ve come across. You are offered a variety of filters to create a specific style and feel. Although this app is $0.99, I would recommend it!!
If you’re anything like me, you like to add fun fonts to your pictures. Whether it be a cute phrase or a date to remember, this app allows you to select from a variety of text styles in different colors and sizes.
See below for the different ways I used fonts on my pictures! I love the color and patterned border options. It makes it easier to add text without it having to go right over the picture. There are so many times when I want to add text, but you can’t read it because it gets lost on top of the busy photo. This way you can add text in a clean and organized way!
One particular part of this app that I particularly like is the collage feature and how it allows you to use color backgrounds in conjunction with your picture. You can do half and half. As the picture shows below, it is easy to add little details to tell more about the picture. These are like easy and simple ways to “scrapbook”, for a lack of better words!
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. Although it is the most complex out of the five apps, it is JUST. PLAIN. AWESOME. Seriously….this app can really grab hold of you. There are so many ways to design a photo, with all types of add ons. The upgrades are actually worth it. Gone are the days where you have time to sit down and put together a cute and creative photo scrapbook album. Ditch the paper. Get rid of the stamps and glue. This app is a great way to make your photos more than just a picture!
So, for all of you out there who have far too many photos stored away on your phone, go out and make something special of them! Enjoy!
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