Admit it, you rarely post photos on Instagram or Facebook without tweaking colors and hiding imperfections. In this article, we'll show you six of the best photo-editing apps so you can do it right on your own. (Android) smartphone can do.
In this case, we're looking at free apps. All the apps in the list allow you to make edits without paying for them. Almost all apps do offer the possibility to access more functions via an in-app purchase. In some cases, an in-app purchase will also remove a watermark or prevent you from seeing ads in the app.
Photoshop Express
Let's start with the most famous: Photoshop Express. This Adobe app is derived from the successful Photoshop program for the PC. The app allows you to do all kinds of basic edits, such as retouching facial blemishes or red-eye from the camera's flash. The app also includes many professional options. For example, you can reduce haze and fog in landscape photos and you can eliminate noise from photos that are grainy or dark.
If you have taken a photo of a building, you can also straighten it with Photoshop Express. With the app you can also make collages or crop your photos right away for use as a Facebook banner or profile picture. You do need to sign up for an Adobe account for free to use the app.
PicsArt Photo Editor
PicsArt is an app that focuses on quick editing of your photos. Don't be fooled by the question of which paid subscription you want to take out: you can simply close this window by pressing the cross. You will find dozens of filters in the app and with the pro version you get access to much more. It's nice that you can choose templates for making fun posters or photos that, for example, look like they were made with a Polaroid.
PicsArt is not only suitable for photos: videos can also be shortened and you can apply effects to them. It is even possible to paste a photo on a video. This option does require an in-app purchase. By the way, registration is required at PicsArt if you want to use it for more than a few days.
Snapseed
Snapseed is a photo editing app from Google. The app is very versatile and houses a lot of professional retouching and editing options that are normally only found in expensive software packages. The app does take some getting used to and is not as simple as, for example, Photoshop Express. You can make edits in layers, just like you are used to from desktop programs; edits can be saved as a 'look' that you can then use for other photos.
In addition to all these professional functions, Snapseed also offers filters and effects and you can combine two almost identical photos into a double exposure photo.
AirBrush: Easy Photo Editor
AirBrush is for people who post a lot of selfies on social media. You can easily edit your own portrait photos with the app. The slogan of the app is 'Fine-tune your photo back to the real you'. This seems a bit contradictory to us, but if you prefer to have slightly fuller lips or don't want to show your wrinkles so pontifically on Facebook or Instagram, then this app is for you.
The app has all kinds of tools that are immediately applied to your face. You just need to move the slider left or right to trim your chin, make your eyes bigger or smaller, and adjust the width of your face. There are also a few more buttons that can automatically whiten your teeth, clear acne, or detect and remove dark edges around your eyes.
The app is free to use, but many features are behind a paywall. For 17 euros per year you can change things about yourself without limit.
Comics and Cartoon Maker
The name says it all: with Comics and Cartoon Maker you turn yourself into a comic hero. Choose a good portrait photo and select one of the styles at the bottom of the image. To adjust the filter, you have three sliders at your disposal. They have no name, but can, for example, change the number of strokes and the contrast of the image. The quality of the filters is very good and your photo will look like it came out of a comic strip in under a minute.
In the next step you add speech bubbles or choose one of the dozens of stickers that the app provides. You can save or share the image through the well-known channels. The app is completely free to use, you only have a small advertising bar at the top every now and then, but this is not very annoying.
Background Eraser
If you want to quickly remove the background of a certain photo, there are countless apps for this. The Background Eraser app is one of the better ones. You choose the diameter of the eraser and start wiping the edges of the object you want to stay. You can choose to set a so-called 'offset'. This way you swipe something under the eraser and the part above your finger is wiped out.
You are left with an image with a transparent background that you can use in another app. Or you can save the photo and edit it further on the PC with a program such as Photoshop, Gimp or Affinity Photo. Afterwards you choose how hard or soft the lines are between the object or person and the background.
