Whether you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or simply an amazing snap-err-upper, your phone has become a digital tool that’s changing the way we do things.
Sometimes even with a smartphone, you need your best tools to create the perfect images. If you’re looking for a way to digitally enhance your smartphone photos, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this list of 6 great photoshop apps for your smartphone, you’ll find everything from simple filters and creative effects that can make it easy to take better selfies, to apps that will automatically adjust the brightness and contrast of your images.
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The Best Photoshop Apps for Smartphones
Photo editing apps have become a must-have tool for any smartphone user. Whether you’re an amateur photographer on your phone, or someone who just wants to edit their photos before posting them online, there are plenty of apps out there. Here are 6 of them:
Photoshop Express
Photoshop Express is one of the most popular and user-friendly graphic design apps available on smartphones. This app includes basic tools for editing photos and creating graphics, but it also has a range of features that make it perfect for more advanced users.
One of the most impressive features of Photoshop Express is its ability to create vector illustrations. With this app, you can easily create complex designs that are easy to edit and customize.
Additionally, the app includes tools for adding text and logos, as well as effects like blur and borders. I really like that the Text Tool is so versatile and easy to use. Photoshop Express comes with more than 100 different fonts, which can be modified by color, size, italics, etc.
Overall, Photoshop Express is a great app for anyone who wants to create graphics or photos quickly and easily. It’s perfect for personal use or small projects, but it can also be used to create more complex designs if you’re willing to invest some time into learning its features.
Pros:
- Offers you various options like blend modes, opacity adjustments. Etc.
- You have unlimited editing options.
- You can easily remove cumbersome elements with the help of advanced cloning.
Cons:
- It has no syncing ability.
- It is only good for single image edits.
- It is also a little less intuitive.
Snapseed
Snapseed is another popular paid photo editor that offers a lot of features for its price tag. It has an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to explore all the tools available, and it has a variety of filters and effects that you can use to customize your photos.
Snapseed is an app that has many convenient tools for both Android and iOS users. The app is loved by users because of its advanced and professional automatic photo editing tools.
The way this app is different from others is its ability to edit an image with Control Point technology. This lets users place up to eight points in the image and assign adjustments. The user can swipe left or right to adjust contrast and saturation.
Snapseed also comes with built-in sharing capabilities so you can easily share your edited photos with friends or upload them directly to social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. The app is available for free download from the App Store.
Pros:
- Free to use
- There are no ads. So, you’ll be able to focus with peace of mind.
- You won’t need any stylus as it has finger swipe sliders to edit images.
Cons:
- Has a slight learning process.
- Not suitable for beginners as it requires initial experience.
- Not very intuitive.
VSCO
The cool thing about VSCO is that they have a variety of filters you can use to make your works look vintage, old-school or warm. Unlike other apps that offer harsh effects, VSCO makes them seem more gentle and subtle.
You can adjust each filter’s saturation, contrast and brightness to personalize it. Photo post-processing is fairly simple with the app. You can edit images and publish them to your profile.
The only major limitation with the app is that you’ll be limited to just 10 filters in a free version, so expect some photo editing workflows to get tedious.
Besides, the app will offer only basic photo editing tools, however, you’ll get 130-filters in the paid version of the app. The cost of upgrading is $19 per year.
Pros:
- You can share your images through its grid community.
- You can share your images directly to social media.
Cons:
- It’s expensive.
- You can’t use advanced features without buying premium.
Pixlr
Pixlr is a Simple, Fast, and Fun Photo Editor for iPhone and Android. It has everything you need to make quick edits and share your photos with friends. With Pixlr, you can apply effects, add text, crop or resize photos, and more.
Plus, there are tons of filters to choose from so you can transform your photos into something new and exciting. You can even use Pixlr as a photo collage maker to put together unique images using different pieces of your photos. Pixlr is free to download and use.
Pros:
- It supports masks and layers.
- You can customize the interface.
Cons:
- Too many ads.
- It also requires flash.
Afterlight
Afterlight offers a host of editing tools and options for iPhone users to add interesting and sometimes unique content to their images. One feature we love is the white balance lock! It’s perfect when shooting in low-light conditions.
When it comes to setting up and editing your shots properly, Afterlight has a wide range of filters. You’ll find plenty of customizable overlays and tons of built-in fonts.
You can also use its Selective Hue feature, which allows you to select specific colors while editing the whole rest of them together. Even with just slight alterations in color, your whole picture will take on a whole new look.
Pros:
- It supports raw files.
- You can create and add presets.
- The filters are really professional.
Cons:
- The export settings are poor.
- Has limited free functionality.
Adobe Lightroom
What if you could take your photography skills with you wherever you went? Well, with the right tools, you can! And one of the best Photoshop apps for your smartphone is Adobe Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom is a complete photo editing and organizing solution that runs on both desktop and mobile devices. It has a ton of features, like support for raw photos and video editing, making it perfect for anyone looking to improve their photography skills or simply organize their photos.
Lightroom also has a lot of great features for mobile photographers. For example, it lets you easily share photos with friends and family using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Plus, it has built-in organizational tools like tags and keywords that make it easy to find specific photos later on. Lightroom CC is great because it allows you to use pre-made presets or create your own, while offering the capability to save your own presets in a variety of formats.
It’s not easy to find apps for Photoshop that are flexible and capable. So whether you’re just starting out in photography or want to improve your skills quickly, Adobe Lightroom is an excellent choice for your smartphone.
Pros:
- Has a built-in cataloging system.
- Has non-destructive editing which will help you preserve your files.
- Editing steps sync easily and really fast.
Cons:
- It doesn’t have any blend modes or layers.
- Only has minimal graphic elements.
- Your options are highly limited.
How To Choose The Best Photo Editor For Your Smartphone?
No matter what your photo editing needs are, there is a free photo editor out there to fit them. Whether you just want to quickly fix a mistake or take your photography to the next level, these editors have everything you need and more. So which one should you choose?
To choose the best free photo editor for you, it’s important to consider what type of user you are. Are you a beginner who wants an easy-to-use program with basic features?
Or are you experienced and looking for more advanced features? Depending on your needs, the following editors may be the best fit for you.
If you’re a beginner, Pixlr Express is a great option because it has simple controls and all of the features that are needed for basic photo editing, like cropping and enhancing colors. It also comes with helpful tutorials that make using the program easy.
If image quality is key for you, lightroom is another great choice because it offers high-quality output without costing money. It’s not as user-friendly as Pixlr Express, but its power makes up for it.
If you’re experienced in photography and want to take your skills to the next level, Adobe Photoshop may be right for you. Its complex interface may intimidate some users at first, but with enough practice it can be perfect for advanced editing tasks like retouching portraits or creating unique effects.
Conclusion
Once you’ve figured out what type of photo editor is best for you, take the time to research different programs. Read user reviews and compare features, price tags, and licensing restrictions.
The best free photo editors will let you do more than just rearrange images; they’ll also let you add effects, watermarks, and text. Ultimately, the choice of which free photo editor to use is up to you. But before making your decision, be sure to weigh all of your options carefully!