App Review: Dynamic Light
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 7:12PM | Glyn Evans "Dynamic Light is a simple app that has just set a new standard in single photo HDR for your iOS device" - Editor
Released today, Dynamic Light is described by the developers Mediachance as giving you "the best and most vibrant HDR-like look on any mobile platform", and they're not wrong.
The App
Launch the app and you are presented with a simple to use interface. In the lower part of the app screen, you will see the "Dynamic Light" dial that you rotate to increase or decrease the HDR effect.
Then across the bottom going from left to right you have the camera icon [use this to take your photo from within the app], the photo icon [use this to access your photo albums/camera roll], the fx icon [more on this later], the floppy disk/save icon and finally the gear icon [which gives you access to the settings menu, which includes enabling full-res support].
To use Dynamic Light, simply take or load a photo, then use the dial to adjust the HDR effect [note: tapping the screen will reveal the before and after effects], hit save, and that's it your done.
Extras
Dynamic Light does have some hidden extras. Under the settings menu you will find 3 quick fix settings [low, mid or high], sliders bars to adjust the DHR effect to your own preferences, and a default icon to reset the settings.
As mentioned above, there is an fx icon on the home screen, which gives you access to 11 predefined "Filters and Effects", which, whilst not the most stunning of effects, can be applied to your HDR photos.
So what do I think of Dynamic Light?
In one word, "WOW". This is a quick, simple app, with stunning effects that has just set a new standard in single photo HDR apps, and all for a bargain price.
Above is the Dynamic Light HDR version, whilst below is the original photo taken with my iPhone 4.
It's been a long time since I've awarded any app my "Recommended" award, but I'm pleased to say Dynamic Light with its gritty HDR results, has.
App Store Link: Dynamic Light; Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79
Note: For those who edit their photos on an iPad, there is a version of Dynamic Light for you, called "DynaLight HD", which works just like the iPhone version, but includes an additional "Wavelet Noise" reduction filter. The only downside to this version, is, it will only support up to 5 megapixel images, making it useless for anyone wanting to use it with photos greater than this.
App Store Link: DynaLight HD; Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79
Reader Comments (19)
Pretty dramatic results! This app did some amazing things to my lousy Ciudad Antigua test image.
=M=
Howdy Glyn!
Recently found your site and enjoy your reviews on apps! Can you tell me on this one if it supports the Retina display on an iPhone 4? Usually the devs mention it in the description but I haven't found any mention one way or another. Thanks!
Wow, this app just works. Not for crazy HDR effects, but for the majority of my photos where I simply want to bring up shadows and spend time with other apps trying to do so nicely, this does in one quick swipe.
Does not support Retina display.
Now please make a nice Lightroom plugin that does the same so I can use this on my real photos too!
Nice App - Buyed both versions
I noticed this app yesterday and took a chance on it. I'm glad I did. It doesn't work on every photo but it definitely does what it says. On the right photo, this app can really kick it up.
Read this review then downloaded the app. So far it looks promising! One issue so far though, when I used the Orton effect, the photo wouldn't save. Hopefully it can get fixed soon....I like this app.
@Chris, try rebooting your iPhone, as I have had no problems saving this or any of the other effects.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant app. This one is great to use on all photos, to bring up the shadows, but to also give pics more punch. Why hadn't anyone thought of the dial system before? This one has made it to the front page of icons on my iphone...
@Glyn: Thanx. I'll gave that a shot. Seemed to work...!
I've found using this app to boost the colour and depth on photos and then using a layering app like Pro HDR to merge the original with the Dynamic Light version to make the noise less pronounced. I still think Perfectly Clear will be my 'go to' for a more realistic photo boost but Dynamic Light is a nice additional tool to have.
Heya MBD,
You have been pleased with Perfectly Clear? Still on the fence about it, does it work as good as they say it does?
I think it does yep but have a look here and see for yourself. The first of the street pics was taken using ClearCam and nothing else. The second was a Dynamic Light version of the original and the last was a Perfectly Clear version of the original. :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39886&id=100001090894181&l=00905d89fb
There's also a Dynamic Light comparison of a Pro HDR image in that album if anyone's interested.
I originally got it for my 3GS as I wanted to make the most of the sub-par camera but I now use it on my 4 too and have had no issues. :)
Both the iPhone and iPad versions will work on any size of image, I tried my 12 megapixel images from DSLR and they both worked great. There is a switch in settings for Full Size, when you set it on the saved file will be sthe same size as original. The iPhone is obviously retina.
Great app but it has a small bug tho,when i take a picture then press use button the picture doesn't come up and i have to keep taking it over and over till it works.
Restart your iPhone and the app will work fine. This is a problem when too many apps are suspended in memory with many intensive photo apps - the camera interface refuses to pass image to app.
Thanks cece,worked turning off and restarting,thanks heaps
Unfortunately I am having the problem again of it not accepting some pictures taken with the app camera,hope that doesn't mean I have to keep restarting the phone all the time.
The author posted already update to the app store and it is waiting for review and they now cache big files to the disk or whatever iphone has. Currently it simply depends on how many large active and maybe also suspended apps you have in memory - the iPhone has just a bit too little memory for all that stuff we all are running on it and it is actually the apple camera hardware that will refuse to capture the image if memory is too low.