My top iPhone photo apps

There have been several post recently on various blogs listing peoples top iPhone apps, so I've decided chuck my hat in to the ring and post my current crop of favourite photo apps, so here goes.

1. CameraBag
CameraBag [AppStore Link] lets me enhance my iPhone photos with 10 different effects filters, and whilst this app needs a much needed update for iPhone 3GS users, it still delivers what I am looking for on my iPhone 3G.

2. iFlashReady
iFlashReady [AppStore Link] lets me enhance/lighten the poorly exposed photos that I sometimes get from my iPhone.

3. ShakeItPhoto
ShakeItPhoto [AppStore Link] gives me that instant photo experience, and is currently my favourite iPolaroid app.

4. Spica - Super Monochrome
I love high contrast and grainy/gritty black and white photos, and Spica - Super Monochrome [AppStore Link] give me that.

5. AutoStitch
For me AutoStitch [AppStore Link] is the easiest app for creating panoramic photos on you iPhone.

6. EffectsLab
Originally I did not like this app when it was first released, but after spending time playing with it, EffectsLab [AppStore Link] has become my pocket Photoshop of choice, allowing me to manipulate almost all aspects on my photos.

7. Polarize
Polarize [AppStore Link] is another instant photo app, but has the added bonus of letting me add market pen notes to my iPolaroids.

8. HiCon Pro
If I need to add some extra contrast and saturation to a photo quickly and easily, then HiCon Pro [AppStore Link] is the first app I turn to, and on most occasions delivers what I am looking for.

9. Photo fx
Photo fx [AppStore Link] and Cool fx have slipped down my list of used apps, but they both still remain in my top 10, but I now tend to use them in combination with other apps like Spica Super Monochrome to add that extra dimension to my photos.

10. Cool fx
Like Photo fx, Cool fx [AppStore Link] has slipped down my list of used apps, but they both still remain in my top 10, but I now tend to use them in combination with other apps like Spica Super Monochrome to add that extra dimension to my photos.

In addition to these editing/effects apps I also use Mobile Fotos [AppStore Link] for uploading my photos to Flickr, Tumblr [AppStore Link] for uploading to my Tumblr blogs and occasionally PicPosterous [AppStore Link] for my new Posterous blogs, although I do prefer to email my photos to Posterous rather than use their iPhone app.

Ah, and there's one last thing. There is an app that would have made it in to my top 5, but it is currently only available to a select group of beta testers (of which I am one), and so can't be listed just yet.

You may or may not agree with my list, or even the order they are in, so please feel free to post your favourite apps in the comments section below.

iPhone App Review: Cool fx from Tiffen Filters

Following the success of Photo fx from Tiffen Filters comes Cool fx. Billed as the definitive set of color and black and white film/photographic looks for the iPhone and iPod Touch, Cool fx has 172 visual presets simulating a variety of color and black and white photographic looks.

Having played with Cool fx over the past week since its release, it is very apparent that Cool fx is more of an add-on to Photo fx, as it adds the filter options that Tiffen missed out from Photo fx, as has been pointed by reader Paul Miller "Photo fx only has 3 pages (27) of the "looks" presets. Cool fx has 9 pages of presets. Basically all of the looks from Tiffen's Dfx Photoshop plugin, plus Diffusion, Grain, and Temperature. So it essentially rounds out the stuff that was left out of Photo fx."

So what is the app like?

Cool fx uses the same interface as the updated Photo fx (so if you are using Photo fx, you will be familiar), so I'm not going to cover this in any depth, other than to say, you simply launch the app, and select a photo from your album.

Once the photo has loaded it is time to apply filters of your choice, which are Black & White, Color, Diffusion, Grain or Temperature, and can all be selected by touching on the corresponding icon across the bottom of the apps screen.
Under the Black & White options you have 42 different filtered effects, ranging from a grainy 8mm effect through to good old sepia. For me there are some disappointing effects in this category, most noticeably the Grape effect.
Above: Grape effectHead over to the Color filter options and you will find 25 different effects, which again includes a coloured version of the 8mm effect (the very same one as appears in Photo fx), through to effects like Day for Night.
Above: Day for Night effectNow on to Diffusion, and it is here that you get a taste for some completely new effects, not seen in one of Tiffen's iPhone apps. Here you will find 50 effects, although to be honest I am not sure when, where or if I would ever use these, as the subject matter would have to suit the effect.
Above: Diffusion Cloud effectMoving swiftly on we come to Grain, and here you have 27 grain effects with the majority emulating the grain effects produced by traditional film speeds, ranging from 25ASA right through to 1600ASA.
Above: Grain, 800 ASA effectFinally we have the Temperature filter, and it is here to can apply a cool or warm effect, with the temperature effects being measured in percentage (%) increases or decreases. For example the cool effect is measured in plus (+) and ranging from +10% through to +90%, and the warm effect being measured in minus (-) and ranging from -10% through to -90%.
Above: Temperature rangeLike Photo fx, all the above filter effects can be tweaked, adjusted and even merged with each other with the aid of layers, and so can produce some very good, and not so good results.
Above: 800 ASA, Antique and Vignette combinationFeatures:

• Select from 70 different color and black and white film/photographic looks
• Add realistic diffusion to photos using a library of 50 different textures
• Choose from 27 grain presets to simulate popular motion picture film stocks
• Modify color temperature to be either warmer or cooler using one of 18 presets
• Add a vignette to any preset
• Add multiple presets without saving
• Modify presets by fine tuning sliders
• Shake on the Preset screens to choose a random filter
• Shake on the image editing screen to reset controls
• Edit in portrait or landscape mode
• Crop and Rotate

So what do I think of Cool fx

With the additional filtration effects, Cool fx is able to achieve results not present in Photo fx, but for me Cool fx is more of an add-on pack for Photo fx with a few cross-over effects like 8mm. I am a big fan of Photo fx, and whilst Cool fx does offer the extra filtration options for me these are not enough to warrant the extra cost on top of the price of Photo fx, and as a standalone app does not offer a wide enough range of effects to meet the requirements of most people’s needs.

AppStore Link: Cool fx - Price £1.79 ($2.99)

Cool fx from The Tiffen Company

The Tiffen Company the developers of Photo fx have just released Cool fx.

Cool fx is the definitive set of color and black and white film/photographic looks for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This unique software is brought to you from the folks at Tiffen, recognized for their product and engineering excellence earning two Technical Achievement Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. If anyone knows film and photography, it’s Tiffen.

Using 172 visual presets, Cool fx simulates a variety of color and black and white photographic looks, diffusion, motion picture film stocks and optical lab processes. Cool fx is made up of Black&White, Color, Diffusion, Grain, and Temperature preset groups.

Enhance your photos with Cool fx, just like Hollywood cameraman and visual effects artists do!

FEATURES:

• Select from 70 different color and black and white film/photographic looks
• Add realistic diffusion to photos using a library of 50 different textures
• Choose from 27 grain presets to simulate popular motion picture film stocks
• Modify color temperature to be either warmer or cooler using one of 18 presets
• Add a vignette to any preset
• Add multiple presets without saving
• Modify presets by fine tuning sliders
• Shake on the Preset screens to choose a random filter
• Shake on the image editing screen to reset controls
• Edit in portrait or landscape mode
• Crop and Rotate
• Integrated Help

I will be trying out this app over the weekend, so stay tuned for my review early next week.

AppStore Link: Cool fx - Price £1.79 ($2.99)