These mobile photo editing apps are simple, easy to use, and beginner-friendly. Most importantly, these apps have distinct features that are suitable for photography novices, helping to enhance their interest in photography. Say goodbye to basic editing like skin smoothing, whitening, and leg elongation, and step into the realm of gradually improving your photographic eye.
Image from JianShu App
Since most photo editing software has various functions, this article will only introduce features suitable for beginners who are new to photography, focusing on their distinctive functions while not covering general features common to most editing software.
Let’s start with the first photo editing software
- Camera 360
This software focuses on filters and scene camera functions, with various creative filters that stand out among photo editing apps. Additionally, it now includes member-exclusive filters that are even more stunning.
① First, let’s introduce its filter function
Open the software
Camera 360 opening screen
Open a photo from the album module
Software homepage
Click the middle button to start editing
Open the editing interface
Open the leftmost special effects filter function
Editing interface
Camera 360 offers a wide variety of filter effects that are constantly being updated. I won’t introduce them all here; instead, I’ll demonstrate the powerful effects of its filters using a photo I took. Of course, different photos require appropriate filters to present the most authentic and eye-catching images, which varies by work and requires time to cultivate your photographic eye!
Below is a sunny afternoon in January when I suddenly saw a beautiful sunset in the west. I captured this charming sunset from my balcony using my phone. However, after taking the photo, I felt that the image did not truly reflect the stunning sunset I saw with my own eyes. So, I used the special effects filter in Camera 360 - Diagonal Alley. You can clearly see that the clear blue sky and white clouds were preserved, and the sunset glow around the sun was just right, restoring the sunny, high sky and light clouds of that sunset.
Note: The intensity of the filters here must be adjusted appropriately from 0 to 100 based on the actual situation. You cannot simply max out all filters, as this can make the photo look too artificial.
Select filter
Finally, save the photo, and a sunset piece is born!
Final effect
② Scene Camera Function
Open the Camera 360 homepage, click on the left "My," and select Scene Camera to open it.
Select Scene Camera interface
There are at least 15 scene templates, which are constantly being updated to meet your different scene fantasies. First, click the bottom right to choose a scene you like. Here, I chose a bottle as the scene and clicked the bottom to take a photo of the flowers on the table. You can see that the small red flower is highlighted as the subject placed in the bottle, while the surrounding flowers are blurred as the background. You can also click the album button below to choose a photo from your album to use as the picture inside the bottle.
Finally, you can click the scissors button below to choose a suitable filter.
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Finally, click the checkmark to save, and the scene photo is complete.
Image from JianShu App
- Nine Grid Cutter
This is a photo editing app that can cut a photo into nine pieces. The software only has this one function, making it simple and easy to use.
Software interface
Open a photo from the album, and you will see that the software automatically divides the photo into nine parts. You can choose circular, square, or even animal head shapes for cutting, and at the bottom, you can select a filter you like.
Editing interface
Then click the save button in the upper right corner to complete it.
Final effect
Below is the image saved in the album cut into nine pieces and the final effect image. By placing the photos in the order indicated below in your friend circle, they will stitch together into a complete nine-grid cut photo, allowing you to share it perfectly.
Nine pieces in the gallery
- Prisma
This software claims to be the first artificial intelligence software in history. It uses neural networks and artificial intelligence combined with certain algorithms to process photos into styles like medieval oil paintings, ukiyo-e, retro art, or Picasso style. The downside is that processing photos can be slow, but it’s worth it for the high-quality results.
First, open the software. You can directly take a photo to edit or click GALLERY below to select a photo from the gallery.
Startup interface
Import a photo from the gallery, crop it into a square, and click NEXT to continue to the next step.
Import photo
This software has 41 styles of artistic filters. The photo here was taken in Wuzhen when a small boat happened to pass by, and I captured it. It was lucky that I used the rule of thirds for composition, so I chose the first classical style. Swipe left and right, and finally set the filter intensity to 100%, which is more suitable for a retro, antique art style.
Select artistic filter
Finally, save it, and the effect image is as follows:
Image from JianShu App
Lastly, here’s a before-and-after effect of a bad photo transformed into a masterpiece using Prisma.
Original Image
Image from JianShu App
Processed effect image, doesn’t it have a comic effect?
Processed photo
- Tiny Planet
Some app markets also call it tiny planet. It can be downloaded from various app markets and supports both iOS and Android systems. This software has a low update frequency and a simple interface. From the software name, you can guess that it is a tool to process photos into spherical, cool spatial effects, which is its only distinctive feature. The prerequisite for using this software is that the photo has prominent edges or many lines, as this will yield better processing effects.
Software interface
After opening, select different resolutions, and here I choose the maximum resolution.
Select resolution
Choose a cropping ratio to select the part you want to highlight. It’s recommended to choose elements with many lines. Here, I default to a 2:1 ratio, then click the checkmark to continue editing.
Select cropping ratio
There are three different settings below; you can try them in order based on your needs to find a style that suits you. Here, I chose the third style, Advance, to set the keys of this electronic keyboard into petal shapes, and finally clicked save.
Image from JianShu App
- Water Reflection
This software is named water reflection in English and can create any photo into a water reflection image. You can then add filters to the photo, achieving high-quality results with just one click. This extremely simple operation will surely help you impress others.
Open the main interface
Main interface
Swipe left and right for free cropping. Here, to highlight the software effect, I won’t crop, and I’ll click next.
Image from JianShu App
You can see the reflection effect of the city wall appearing directly. Swipe left and right to choose the effect intensity. It’s that quick and easy! This software does not require excessive post-editing; I personally suggest that after the reflection appears, you should only add a filter. Too many operations will only ruin the actual effect of the software, so focus on the reflection effect and use other embellishing functions cautiously. Click the icon below to start editing.
Image from JianShu App
Then select the effect icon.
Image from JianShu App
Finally, select a vintage filter. This contrast between the ancient city’s weathered feel and the transparency of the water sky is striking. Click apply.
Select filter
The final water reflection art photo is ready, looking quite stylish, isn’t it?
Effect image
- Daily Photo Editing
This software has a clean and beautiful homepage, similar to Meitu Xiuxiu, with features like whitening, skin smoothing, height enhancement, and brightening, which are particularly suitable for girls to take selfies and show off. Its functions are becoming more powerful, and it recently added a face-changing feature, which should not be underestimated.
Today, I will talk about the "high-end" function of this software - Cutout. This cutout feature has a major highlight: by drawing a line around any area of the image, it can intelligently select the elements in that area, making it very convenient. The operation is not difficult, but patience is required for the cutout, especially around the edges of the image.
Open the software
Main interface
Select Magic Cutout to enter the effect interface, where you can choose a background that matches the cut-out image according to your preferences, such as 3D backgrounds.
Image from JianShu App
Choose any background, and the image cropping defaults to square. Click the checkmark to confirm.
Cropping interface
Click on the image to start painting. The red part indicates the painting effect. It’s recommended to zoom in on the edges of the photo for careful painting. The areas that are over-painted can be erased with an eraser.
Painting interface
Once painted, click the checkmark to enter the scene.
Image from JianShu App
Here, I chose the shining debut in the 3D scene. Of course, this scene has not only scene templates but also allows for custom backgrounds. If you are not satisfied with the official templates, you can choose images from your album as backgrounds, which is also a good option.
Scene image
The final effect is as follows. Doesn’t it have a magazine-like feel?
Final effect
- Butter Camera
Butter Camera is very professional in text layout. The software comes with templates suitable for various scenes, and you can also choose from dozens of different styles of text without using templates. You can easily adjust text size, change text direction, and modify text color and shadow, allowing you to DIY your layout. With just a few taps, you can easily create photos with an artistic journal feel. Unlike Meitu Xiuxiu, this software adds text to photos in a very artistic way, giving a strong design sense. Adding text can instantly transform a photo into a designer-like work.
First, open the software and choose to log in with Weibo or QQ.
Image from JianShu App
Click the bottom right to open a photo.
Image from JianShu App
Select a 3:4 crop and click the arrow to proceed to the next step.
Image from JianShu App
Choose a template - more templates - landscape.
Click template
Since the photo is a landscape shot and the upper part of the photo is simple sky, it’s suitable to add text. Therefore, I chose the first template in the landscape options.
Select template
After selecting the text, you can see that the text is divided into upper and lower Chinese characters, middle English, and two vertical lines into four parts. Double-click each part of the text to select it and move it up, adjusting the distance between each part of the text. Then click the arrow to proceed.
Adjust text
Click the checkmark to save.
Save
The final work is completed. You can see that adding text appropriately does not make the image feel too abrupt. Remember not to over-design, as it can make the image look gaudy. If you want to DIY your text style, you need to learn about text layout and aesthetics. For now, let’s start your design with templates!
Final work
- Snapseed
Finally, this software is undoubtedly the masterpiece of mobile photo editing apps. This software is developed by Google, featuring powerful functions, simple operation, and user-friendly interaction. Most importantly, it is completely free and is known as the "Photoshop of mobile phones." Due to the extensive features of this software, I will only briefly introduce its distinctive functions. For more tutorials on this software, please refer to previous articles.
The following image used the masking function similar to Photoshop to darken the background of the flowers.
Image from JianShu App
This image also utilized the masking function to turn the photo background into black and white, highlighting the solitary beauty of this flower.
Image from JianShu App
If you want to learn mobile photography, click my avatar to add me on WeChat:
Click here!#
Historical articles:
1. Snapseed Basic Tutorial: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mobile Photo Editing#
2. Must-Have Apps for Artistic Youth#
To be continued…