Karen Cornelius

Tag: review

  • AppsApril#17 PowerSketch

    AppsApril#17 PowerSketch

    PowerSketch was my first drawing app. By Wondershare, 2012, there is also a PowerCam and Panorama camera app in the set. Opening screen … IMG_1153 Straight forward and effective.  Magic Shot opens the camera. Flash and camera reversal buttons at the top, filter choices, settings button, effects and gallery access buttons at the bottom. The Edit button opens Camera Roll or the Gallery.  Remember to flip on the auto save to Camera Roll button – much easier for retrieving files off your phone.  Gallery accesses the in app images. The Button with 2 arrows up from it opens this screen and provides access to a range of sharing options. IMG_1154   I started with this image … IMG_1025and played with the options.  Love the way you see the effect in action as you take a photo, no delays while you snap and swap filters.  No processing delays either – its quick! This is what a range of the filters look like …
    Fun! There is also a PIP filter – picture in picture – that inserts a hand holding a square that holds the effect selected (remainder of photo is as per the original image).  For some strange reason you cannot do this to camera roll photos. Not sure what the issue is there, but it is a neat effect – worth testing out. The verdict – better than SketchMe in my opinion, and if you like drawing effects – a bit of fun!! Thanks for visiting and reading this review – hope to see you again tomorrow!! Cheers!  
  • AppsApril#16 Sketch Me

    AppsApril#16 Sketch Me

    Sketch me is one of a number of drawing effect apps I own.  Its a new purchase from BlueBear apps. Photos are changed into drawings very easily, with 8 options for different effects.  One you’ve selected an effect there are colouring options, an eraser and paint brushes to enhance the image. I quite like the ‘split screen’ option – means that you can track the impact of the choices you make along the way. Some examples starting with this image … IMG_0991   The range of effects look like this …
    I am not sure that I am ‘sold’ on the idea of turning my photos into drawings.  If it’s your thing, this app has choices and is easy to use, worth a peep! Thanks for reading this review, hope you found it useful! Check you tomorrow!    
  • AppsApril#13 Tilt Shift

    AppsApril#13 Tilt Shift

    Tilt Shift is an interesting little app.  Surprisingly simple, the opening screen offers 2 choices take a photo or select one from your camera roll/Album. The ‘Album’ button takes one to the Camera Roll – where tilt shift effects can be applied to any photo you have already taken. Edited or newly shot photos go into the camera roll. The camera button takes one to this screen … IMG_0977   Instructions at the ready – I like that in a new app, easy to navigate! There are 2 tilt shift effects, radial and linear. Linear examples from the local skate park …
    And radial, same location …
    The difference in effect is easier to see when you look at these 2 self portraits …
      The app also provides editing options: – Vignette – Blur strength (example …) IMG_0971   – Saturation -Contrast – Brightness My images were ‘as they came’ so the default settings are quite bright and light! I have wanted to play with a tilt shift lens or lend baby on my DSLR, so this little app is fun to explore.  Not sure its a top of the pops one really though?? That’s it for this review, enjoy Tilt Shift, and hopefully I will see you tomorrow! Thanks for coming over!!          
  • AppsApril#12 Photocat

    AppsApril#12 Photocat

    Photocat is a funky looking new photography app. Home screen is cute, easy to use and easy to see in bright sunlight … IMG_0979   The ‘edit’ button allows one to pick up previous images from the camera roll and other collections. The ‘collage’ button allows up to 9 images from the camera roll (+) to be selected and collaged. The FX camera has 10 filters to add to images snapped.  My examples from Colebrook Park (memorial to Aboriginal children taken from their families and homes up until the late 1970s) …
    A range of filters were applied and I am impressed by the quality.  One can set ‘high resolution’ in the settings section – a good idea before one goes shooting. I love Instagram and its extras – the only thing Photocat doesn’t have (all in one app, rather than 4!!) is the ability to post to Instagram.  Mind you, FaceBook, Twitter and flickr can all be enabled (settings area again). An ‘element store’ button enable the purchase of classic frames, fantast frames, collage frames, collage backgrounds and effects.  With these installed one would find Photocat rivals the Instagram family! Overall – love this one, another keeper!! That’s it for this review, enjoy Photocat and hopefully I will see you tomorrow! Thanks for coming over!!  
  • AppsApril#10 DMD

    AppsApril#10 DMD

    DMD or Dermander is the next app under review in my AppsApril process. DMD is a panorama creating app. IMG_0978   The ‘Create’ button opens with a simple screen – HDR (additional $0.99) auto/off flash and a nifty yin and yang sign . Basically you hold the phone vertically and move the signs toward each other to create your panorama. Simple Start and Finish and its done!  Nothing particularly novel so far … The gallery looks nice … Jess 6   With geotagging, share button and notes option.  I like this!! Even better, when one goes into the photos to view them on one’s phone, the view pans across the image and back again!  Love this!!!  
    Just tried popping these 3 examples in as a slide show – wonder how that will work! Summary – pretty usual in most ways other than the Ken Burns/panning display effect on one’s phone.  If you don’t have an iPhone 5 with the nice panorama option built in, this may be worth considering. That’s it for this post, trust you’ll enjoy DMD and hopefully I’ll catch you next time! Thanks for coming over!