New iPhone Photo App: PhotoForge2

The wait is finally over as the much anticipated PhotoForge2 hits the App Store.

Initial thoughts: "WOW, this is a stunning and sleek photo app, that offers a wide array of effects and features, that looks set to set the new standard in iPhone photo editing [stay tuned for a full review soon]."

TODAY ONLY: PhotoForge2 is available priced at just £0.59/$0.99/€0.79, but this is only for today, after that the price will increase, so grab it now or you will kick yourself later.

App Store Description: PhotoForge2 is the definitive photo manipulation software for iOS. Completely rewritten from the ground up, PhotoForge2 is a breakthrough for image editing on the go. Edit full resolution photos just like on your desktop. True layers support means you can now composite multiple photos into amazing works of art. Unparalleled powerful tools like curves and levels allow you to manipulate your photos with ease. Amazing filters and effects will allow even a beginner to transform their photos into masterpieces. Once your photo is ready to be seen by the world, easily send to friends and family directly from PhotoForge2. PhotoForge2 is a must have app for any photographer: easy enough for beginners to start getting creative, yet powerful enough for the professional on the go.

Features:

• Full Resolution Editing: Unlike most photo apps that show only previews of your photo, with PhotoForge2 you are always editing the full resolution image. Zoom in to see every one of your pixels at any time.
• Layers: Create new layers from any photo or create an empty layer that can be filled with color. Change the layer’s blend mode and opacity, or rotate and transform it. Reorder and change layer visibility with ease. Add a mask to your layer to simply paint away portions you don’t want to see.
• Powerful Adjustments: PhotoForge2 come with some of the most powerful image manipulation tools available for iOS. These include Curves, Levels, Channel Mixer, Un-Sharp Mask, Sharpen, HSL, White Balance, Shadows & Highlights, Brightness & Contrast, Exposure Adjustment, Noise Reduction, Vibrance.
• Amazing Filters and FX: With Over 25 different fully adjustable filters and FX, there’s something for everyone. Use multiple filters to create totally unique FX.
• Pop! Cam*: Combine different films, lenses, filters, flashes, processing, papers and frames to create your own customized camera effect. With over 12 million combinations, find your own personal setup that can be uniquely yours.
• Tools: Image Resize, Cropping, Frames and Textures.
• Photo Metadata: Edit your photos IPTC and GPS metadata. Easily add GPS location to photos without or repair photos with incorrect info.
• Sharing: Save your photos to the photo album or email to friends and family. Upload with ease to Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Drop Box, Picasa, Tumblr or to any FTP.

App Store Link: PhotoForge2; Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79

*Pop! Cam is an optional £1.19/$1.99/€1.59 in-app purchase.

Comments

[tonydeli7]

I just purchased the Pop! Cam IAP. Offers some great effect!
Also it is available for 1.99$ and not 2.99$.. :)

[Glyn Evans]

Thanks, just correct the pricing error :)

[Doug McNamee]

I used the old version for a while when it came out and was excited to test drive version 2.

This would probably be a great app, but I think there is a MAJOR design flaw; any control panel you are using obscures the image. The user is expected to make an adjustment, then toggle the control panel out of sight to see the result - super cumbersome and counter-intuitive. This is the only app in which I've encountered this type of tool layout and it's a deal-breaker for me.

[Robert-Paul Jansen]

I have played a little with the app and I am liking it so far. Has some great features and a great UI.

[Ed S]

Bought the app including the pop camera in app purchase. I like the app, however I do have some requests. The levels and curves adjustments should be more transparent so that you can see the results while adjusting them as the original did. I would like to see the full screen toggle option as was in the original app. I also cannot find an option to rotate the image, another feature the original had that this one does not. I think this app complements the original with some new features, but does not replace it. Hopefully some updates will include a lot of the things that make the original a great app. Very happy with my purchase though and look forward to the updates.

[mhoutman]

interesting as the pop cam in-app purchase is not mentioned in the app store description as such :(

[Gordon Fraser]

Not installed it yet as my phone is currently updating to 4.3.3....not happy about Dougs comments on the overlay of the GUI.... I was actually more worried that the app wouldn't actually do what it should. I removed the original photoforge from my phone as the clone tool just never, ever worked well...did anyone ever manage to get that to work? (guess it's irrelevant now as retouch is so fantastic at it)...anyway, looking forward to playing with this in 30 mins!

[Ed S]

Here is the response I received from the developer. : Thanks so much for the feedback!  You are correct PhotoForge2 needs a rotation tool :)  It just missed the first release but will be in one of the first updates.  As for the editors hiding alot of the image, that too will be remedied in an update very soon.  As for full screen mode we dont have plans for that now but we will keep it in mind as it might be nice.  Again thanks for the feedback feel free to send more!

[MBD]

Looks good but I think I'll hold off for a version for my iPad2 which is my primary editing tool now.

[Piedro]

Looks fantastic! Some editing modes hide the image but this will be resolved as I read. I also miss a way to be able to distort/ deform photos so that vertical lines of buildings can be corrected by pulling 4 cornerpoints. In Holland we call it 'onthoeken'. I could not find an English term for this.

[Robert-Paul]

@ Ed S : strange because I could have sworn I just rotated the image while cropping it. I do think that this can be enahnced in future updates.

[MomentsForZen]

Image rotation is available at present within the "crop" tool. Slide two fingers to rotate the image. A bit clumsy - a slider would be easier. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a special version for the iPad. Filterstorm Pro does everything that I have seen so far in PhotoForge2, so some of the App Store description certainly does exaggerate about the uniqueness of PhotoForge2.

[Geoff]

Looks great but an in-depth instruction video would be very helpful,I can't find any where to mask at all.

[David Graham]

Have I missed something or is there no conversion to black and white. Yes I know you can do it through Saturation but could be better handled. Also the option to crop to fixed proportions e,g. 1:1 4:3 etc.

[David Graham]

I also would like to see an Auto Levels or is that Auto Enhance

[AReality]

Sorry,

Can someone confirm that this app is not for iPad screens? I don't want to get it and realise that it's only for iPhone screens.

Thanks.

[Ed S]

I knew about the two finger rotation possible in the crop section, but I was speaking about the ability to easily rotate from landscape to portrait in 90 degree increments similar to what was in the original app. The developer has responded that it's coming.

[Josh Wardell]

Caution: though the marketing videos over the last week showed this app running natively on iPad, this release is iPhone-only! I would like to know if they are adding it or making a separate version.

[Robbie Kennedy]

Played around with it for a little in the early hours of the morning after release. Certainly looks like an amazing editing suit for the iPhone. I found the same issue as Doug as well. Glad to see there will be an updat on the way.

Best 79 cent ever spent anyway :-)

[Suzé]

@AReality, PF2 is not optimized yet for the iPad2 but the devs have said that will be included in an update. That's a letdown as the marketing vid did show it on the iPad. From the half hour I played with it last night though it shows a lot of promise. So far I like it but I haven't really done hard core editing with it.
For .99 it's a pretty sweet deal.