The new release of ScratchCam for iPhone will shortly be available in the App Store. ScratchCam adds a grungy, aged and distressed look to any photo. If you want to know more, you will find an in-depth review of the app by clicking here.
Although version 1.3 will not change the way ScratchCam works overall, it will add an essential feature to the app. In fact, with the new release, it will be possible to save favorite styles. Up to version 1.2, ScratchCam relied exclusively on effect randomization. The new feature will make it easier to make a list of preferred styles, to allow quicker selection of the right look at the right moment. Frequent users in special way will appreciate this addition, for it will definitely give them more control over their final results. Favorited styles will be accessible and manageable from the main work area.
In version 1.3, sharing via email was also added and enhancements to the included effects were made.
The new release clearly shows that ScratchCam’s developer is very responsive to sensible feedback: he actually listened to what his users deemed important to make adjustments and improve the overall usability of ScratchCam.
Last but not least, the Lite version of ScratchCam is also coming to the App Store. ScratchCam Lite will be a fully functional release, including all the features of the paid version, with the only exception of high resolution saving and a limit to the number of styles users can add to their favorites. If you want to try before purchasing, go ahead and get the Lite version.
NOTE: The developer of ScratchCam kindly provided us with preview code for this ScratchCam update.
In Colorize you can both selectively recolor and desaturate your images. The process to achieve the desired result is simple. You load a photo from your device or take one with the built-in camera; after that you are introduced to the app’s Main Panel. At the bottom of the Main Panel there is a set of tools: the recolor and desaturate brushes, the eraser and the color picker. For better control, the tools panel can be hidden when not required and it can be brought back again by dragging it with the finger.
Once you load the photo into the working area, you can open the presets menu and choose one of the ready-to-use filters that come with the app. The selection is good enough, covering a range of possibilities between basic black and white to high contrast monochrome, passing through old photo effects like sepia and silver tone. The available presets, however, don’t cover everything. It’s here that the Develop feature comes in handy.
When you have taken your photo, you can make adjustments to it before saving or sharing. You can access three different editing modes: in Pro Lab, you can set brightness, contrast, white balance and saturation; in Pro Cut you can crop, flip or straighten images; for a quick edit or for a different final effect, you can use Pro FX, which offers a series of colored filters (sepia, black and white, bleach, etc.) and one-tap auto-adjustements. Differently from photos, videos cannot be processed and they are directly saved to the Camera Roll.
The strength of Procamera definitely resides in its wide array of camera features. Therefore, as a replacement to the native camera, the app works great, as it gives you all the necessary instruments to make the most out of iPhone’s limitations. Although getting to know all the included tools may appear overwhelming at first, especially to users with no previous experience with other — more basic — camera apps, using ProCamera is definitely rewarding on the long run. More control always means better results.
Leme Camera’s effects are very pretty, but handling them is a bother. With some cameras, you can only apply random filters. The feel you get when choosing different combinations of elements to create a final effect, is that of an extremely disorganized process. I couldn’t figure if disabling the app’s logo is possible or not: with some borders especially, that lame logo is terribly irritating, but honestly, after some time I gave up because I couldn’t care less anymore.