basic photo editing/collage app for iPhone
September 23, 2016 9:53 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for a photo editing/filtering and collage app for my iPhone SE. I'm pretty sure my requirements are fairly simple, but there are so many apps out there that I'm getting overwhelmed trying to find one that works.

The company I order my photo prints from has an iPhone app so I can upload and order prints directly from my phone, which is awesome. I need to be able to edit them prior to uploading, and have the ability to make collages, so that my pictures are all ready to print when I upload them. I'm totally willing to pay for an app that does everything I need it to. What I'm looking for:

1 - The ability to make collages of several photos, in several different sizes/ratios - 4x6, 5x7, 6x8, and square collages. I have Photogrid on my phone, which is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, but it only does square collages.
2 - The ability to, once I've chosen the photos in that collage, swap them around, zoom in and out, etc. to get each photo framed in the collage the way I want it.
3 - Saves it in the same high resolution that the original photos are taken in.
4 - The ability to put text over the photos/collages and change what color the text is. (Not required but would be ideal.)
5 - Fun filters like what Instagram has.

The Instagram webpage says that filtered photos are saved to my phone in the highest resolution available once I've uploaded the photo to Instagram, but it also says "Keep in mind that photos imported from iOS (not taken with the Instagram camera) and then uploaded to Instagram may save at a much lower resolution." I take all of my photos through the regular camera app rather than through the Instagram app, so it sounds like I may not get great results if I print photos I've already uploaded to Instagram. So ideally, filters similar to what Instagram offers, but will keep the photo in the high resolution it was taken in, and that I can use without having to upload and post the photo somewhere to get the saved version (like in Instagram).

As I said, I think my needs here are probably pretty basic and I'm totally willing to pay for an app that does these things. There are just so many apps out there that I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. Thanks!
posted by skycrashesdown to Technology (3 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: (Color me embarrassed, but I only just now figured out I can change the ratio in Photogrid... Not crazy about its filter options though.)
posted by skycrashesdown at 10:44 PM on September 23, 2016


My favorite photo editor is Afterlight. It has basic editing features (color, contrast, balance, etc.) and filters. Plus you can make your own "fusion" of filters and settings so that you can apply it again and again and save those settings. It's great for collages of photos so they all have the same look to them.

I don't have an idea for an all-in-one solution for you. I find that when it comes to photo editing - many apps have a strong feature that they're good at and if they try to do multiple things they're aren't as good at each one.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:58 PM on September 23, 2016


I use a combination of POTO and Prisma to do just about everything on your list. I recommend both apps. Prisma is not super standard filters but it's really cool.
posted by guster4lovers at 11:38 AM on September 24, 2016


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