Review: FX Photo Studio 3.0

FX Photo Studio from developer MacPhun LLC was updated back on the 8th November, and as part of that update the developer with support from the iPhoneography blog (that's us), launched Creative Boost - FX Photo Studio Photo Contest.  The idea of the contest, as with any contest run by an app developer, is to promote the app, and at the same time give entrants the chance to win something, and this contest is no exception, with weekly prizes and a grand prize of an 11" MacBook Air at the end of the contest.

So a contest with prizes is all well and good I hear you say, but what is the app itself like?

FX Photo Studio version 3 is a much improved app compared to its previous releases, offering over 171* predefined filter effects, and a much improved user interface (UI).

The Review

Launch the app and you are presented with a nice, simple and clean interface, with large buttons/icon across the bottom to take a photo using the apps, or load a photo from your photo albums or documents folder.

Across the top of the screen you will see the apps options (gear icon), and it is here you can set the apps features like, output resolution (which is up to full-res), turn on/off the pop-up facts that the apps offers during use, turn on/off the option to shake your iPhone to generate random effects from the predefined filters, and also an option to jump straight to your photo library on launch rather than the main menu.

The App

OK, so having configured the settings, tap "Load photo" and select a photo from your photo library.

When the photo has loaded, you have several options available to you.  You can just use the app to crop, rotate or adjust the gamma of your photo and save it, or, and this is the most likely use, tap the "fx" icon across the top of the screen to select one or a combination of the 171 included predefined filter effects.

This can be done in several ways... You can select filter effects by category (which I prefer), looking for the style you like, or you can just view and scroll through all 171 effects until you see something you like, or why not take a gamble and "Roll the Dice" and see what comes up.  You can even select your own favorites and presets, but more on this later. 

So having loaded a photo and selected your method of filter selection, all that remains is to select and apply one or more filter effects to your photo.  When you select and effect you will get a preview of how that effect will look on your photo, and with all effects there is some degree of adjustment, whether that is adjusting the contrast/saturation/brightness etc, or how much blur you would like in the final photo, by adjusting the slider controls that pop up, then tapping apply will add that effect.  If after applying the effect you change your mind, or want to see the difference between the original and the filtered photo, then just tap the undo/redo icons found at the top of the screen after the effect has been applied.  If you are happy with the effect, then simply tap the floppy disk icon to save, or repeat the process adding/layering more effects until you're done.

Favorites and Presets

As mentioned above, this app allows you to select your best (favorite) filter effects and also create your own combined effects and save them for future use.

Favorites: To select your favorite filter effects and group them in one place, simply tap the star found next to each filter effect.  To remove an effect from your favorites folder, simply tap the star again, and it's gone.

Presets: This is pretty cool.  If you create a combination effect of your own by adding/layering multiple effect together, and want to save this for future use, then simply going to the presets folder and tapping "Add New" will store all the effects used as a custom preset filter.  Then, and just as with your favorites, all you need to do to add your custom look to your photo, is load a photo, go to presets folder and select your effect, hit save and you're done.

*The In-App Purchase

As mentioned at the beginning of this review, FX Photo Studio has over 171 predefined filter effects.  The app itself comes with 171 effects, however there are 3 optional filter packs available priced at £0.59/$0.99/€0.79 each.

The optional in-app purchase filter packs are:

• 'Hollywood FX' - a set of cinematic effects that will add to your photos a cool blockbuster look.
• 'Color Lenses' - a set of effects, that simulate real optical photographic filters.
• 'Color Strokes' - a set of effects to easily create amazing black&white photos with some objects left in color

So that's FX Photo Studio, but what do I think of it?

I think it's a pretty cool app with lots of options, and I'm not just saying this because I am involved in the developers contest, after all I would not get involved with an app developer if I did not actually like/rate the app itself.

I like the apps ability to mix and layer the effects, be able to adjust the intensity of those effects, create favorites and more importantly save my own combinations as a preset effect.

I also like the option to be able "Roll the Dice" and let the app randomly apply an effect, although it would be even better if this randomization also mixe effects together just like PictureShow's randomization feature does.

However, just as with any other predefined filter app, FX Photo Studio will not be to everybody's taste, nor will it suit every photo, but with over 171 filter effects available there is sure to be something to satisfy most iPhoneographers; as for me, my favorite filters are:

• Noir Blue
• Burnt Paper
• B&W Magazine
• Amsterdam

So now for my Rating

As I have already said FX Photo Studio is a good app, and should please most people, however it's not a must have app, so with that in mind I am going to give it 4 stars, which for anyone who knows my ratings, this is about as good as it gets.

App Store Link: FX Photo Studio; Price: £1.79/$2.99/€2.39

Comments

[Jan]

So what are you "must-have" apps?

[Glyn Evans]

@Jan. For me, my must have apps are: PictureShow, Vint B&W, Pro HDR (or TrueHDR if your prefer more neutral looking HDR photos), AutoStitch, TiltShift Generator and Photogene (although this may get replaced by Perfect Photo).

There are lots of very good apps, and FX Photo Studio is one of those, and is definitely worth having, but as I say, I rarely give an app 5 stars.

[Cynthia]

Terrific review. I have downloaded FX and will start playing with it today. Thanks for all the information and reviews. I am one of those photographers who has her DSLR and point and shoot sitting on a shelf since I got my iPhone. I love your blog.

[Mark]

Wow, I have all those apps Glyn (plus a whole lot more)! My favorite thing is to do a little in several different apps for that truly unique look. I try not to limit myself to a single app per photo. But those are among my big go-to apps.

[John]

Great news from the iPhoneography world:
http://bit.ly/eQ1z4i

[Maria]

Hi, I wanted to update my point and shoot as well as my cell phone but after coming across the New York Times article in Yahoo I'm thinking I should just buy myself an I Phone if it's camera is as good as I've read. However I would like some advise since I wanted a camera with a good enough zoom to take decent shots of birds ( yeah, my hobby). And I don't know anything about apps. Thanx.