DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

Started Jul 17, 2019 | Polls
Sam Qasbah New Member • Posts: 1
Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

I'm quite new to the photo editing on Android smartphones and I'm disoriented by the many apps available. So I need your opinion.

POLL
Adobe Lightroom
29.4% 25  votes
VSCO
2.4% 2  votes
Hypocam
0.0% 0  votes
Snapseed
56.5% 48  votes
Polarr
4.7% 4  votes
Other
7.1% 6  votes
  Show results
Willy79
Willy79 Veteran Member • Posts: 9,806
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

On my Android phone I use Lightroom but on my Chromebook I use Polarr (LR is not fully supported on Chromebook).

-- hide signature --

At this point in my life I have become a lazy photographer. I don't struggle over image IQ or details but enjoy content and simplicity. A6000, A6300, A6500, A99, A900 w/Sony + Zeiss + Sony G Glass

 Willy79's gear list:Willy79's gear list
Sony a6500 Sony a7C
I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

Serious editing on PC, but phone output often doesn't qualify. Snapseed is generally very good (built on well-regarded Nik Software while Google owned that), quick and easy to use, either via presets or detailed tools. Because Snapseed doesn't recognize non-standard DNGs forced from my aging ZTE Camera1 phone, I bought Photo Mate R3 - it's good and should be listed in the survey.  (Android Lightroom CC also recognizes non-standard DNGs, while Photoshop Express does not.)

wooders636 Forum Member • Posts: 60
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

For quick phone snaps, I use either SnapSeed or LR Mobile, depends on how much effort I want to make and whether or not I want to see the photo on my desktop through LRCC at some point in the future.

In fairness Snapseed does almost everything I want from it.

AlbertaTime New Member • Posts: 4
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

I use Lightroom, or Snapseed for RAW, and for jpeg I also use Toolwiz, and Mix by 360. They each have strengths and weaknesses.
For quick jpeg? Mix by 360.

 AlbertaTime's gear list:AlbertaTime's gear list
Olympus C-4000 Zoom Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Olympus SZ-12 Canon PowerShot S110 Canon EOS M50 +1 more
markyboy81 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,778
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

Does anyone know of an android app that allows bulk exporting of photos, like you can do with desktop apps?

I contacted Polarr about this and they said it was possible but it's not, unless I'm doing it wrong.

 markyboy81's gear list:markyboy81's gear list
Sony ZV-1 Samsung NX1000 Samsung NX3000 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +9 more
I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

markyboy81 wrote:

Does anyone know of an android app that allows bulk exporting of photos, like you can do with desktop apps?

I contacted Polarr about this and they said it was possible but it's not, unless I'm doing it wrong.

Photo Mate R3 (paid app) does batch conversions to JPEG, PNG, TIFF - not sure if the trial version will.  I've been trying out lightweight, free Photo Editor (MacGyver) which is very cute and batch processes to PDF as well.

markyboy81 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,778
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

I2K4 wrote:

markyboy81 wrote:

Does anyone know of an android app that allows bulk exporting of photos, like you can do with desktop apps?

I contacted Polarr about this and they said it was possible but it's not, unless I'm doing it wrong.

Photo Mate R3 (paid app) does batch conversions to JPEG, PNG, TIFF - not sure if the trial version will. I've been trying out lightweight, free Photo Editor (MacGyver) which is very cute and batch processes to PDF as well.

I'll check out photo mate r3, thanks. I've used the MacGyver app and I'm a big fan but the batch editing is limited in that you have to do the same edit for each photo. What I'm really looking for is the ability to load up all the images I want to edit in one go, carry out the edits on each one individually (but also be able to copy edits as well) and then at the end export them all in one go.

I think I'm asking too much!

 markyboy81's gear list:markyboy81's gear list
Sony ZV-1 Samsung NX1000 Samsung NX3000 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +9 more
Willy79
Willy79 Veteran Member • Posts: 9,806
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

On my Chromebook I am using Lightroom now. I really like the Lightroom Adjustment Brush function. My biggest difficulty is learning file management and naming (still working on this for Lightroom on Chromebook).

Testing only:  Yesterday I downloaded 364 RAW files from my camera to my Acer Chromebook 14 256GB external USB flash drive.  I then viewed and deleted many of the RAW images on the Chromebook and then edited many with Lightroom.  I am just figuring out what will be my best work flow.  My Chromebook has 4GB RAM and 32GB internal memory with 256GB USB.

-- hide signature --

At this point in my life I have become a lazy photographer. I don't struggle over image IQ or details but enjoy content and simplicity. A6000, A6300, A6500, A99, A900 w/Sony + Zeiss + Sony G Glass

 Willy79's gear list:Willy79's gear list
Sony a6500 Sony a7C
I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

markyboy81 wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

markyboy81 wrote:

Does anyone know of an android app that allows bulk exporting of photos, like you can do with desktop apps?

I contacted Polarr about this and they said it was possible but it's not, unless I'm doing it wrong.

Photo Mate R3 (paid app) does batch conversions to JPEG, PNG, TIFF - not sure if the trial version will. I've been trying out lightweight, free Photo Editor (MacGyver) which is very cute and batch processes to PDF as well.

I'll check out photo mate r3, thanks. I've used the MacGyver app and I'm a big fan but the batch editing is limited in that you have to do the same edit for each photo. What I'm really looking for is the ability to load up all the images I want to edit in one go, carry out the edits on each one individually (but also be able to copy edits as well) and then at the end export them all in one go.

I think I'm asking too much!

I can why you'd want to retain a selection from a folder of originals and individually edit then batch convert, though not something I've done. Batch processing isn't my strong suit. All that occurs to me is either to use the star rating or tagging systems to keep them identified, or to save the edited batch to a separate folder and do the final file conversion from it.  Possibly there's some relevant workflow wisdom elsewhere on this site or elsewhere.

thebbqguy
thebbqguy Regular Member • Posts: 299
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
2

I like Snapseed

Patrick T. Kelly Veteran Member • Posts: 4,629
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

On my phone I usually use the Google Photos editing feature. If I want something more I go to Snapseed and use my Chromebook.

-- hide signature --

Patrick T. Kelly
Oaxaca, Mexico

sarah11918
sarah11918 Regular Member • Posts: 267
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

If you're new to photo editing on Android, then I think Snapseed is a great place to start. It's usually my go-to, with enough editing options to be really useful without being too overwhelming.

I have a few different apps on my phone/Chromebook that I'll use for special purposes: Photo Editor (blue/white icon, by MacGuyver) especially for quickly resizing to a particular resolution/file size or adding text. Photo Editor is quite powerful and feature-rich, but since it's not my go-to it often takes me longer to find my way through all the menus than Snapseed, especially on the phone vs the Chromebook with the larger screen. I use Handy Photo and Retouch by ADVAsoft for removing some basic elements. And, I paid for Polarr when it was single purchase, just before they went subscription-based, so that was definitely worth it. I do like it, and it's feature-rich, but again, don't use it often enough to use it quickly, so I keep going back to Snapseed, and never get better at the other apps. 

For getting started quickly and with no cost, I would absolutely suggest starting with Snapseed and Photo Editor and then see what, if anything, you might be missing. If you are already comfortable with serious photo editing (just used to doing it on a computer and are transitioning to Android looking for comparable tools), that's when you might want to consider testing out Polarr. But I consider Snapseed the first thing to try, Photo Editor if you're not put off by digging into lots of menus, and then Polarr if those two don't do it for you.

 sarah11918's gear list:sarah11918's gear list
Nikon D7500 Nikon D7000 Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G Tamron SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD +6 more
Joseph V. Morris
Joseph V. Morris Contributing Member • Posts: 713
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

I'm another Photomate R3 user.

-- hide signature --

Regards,
Joseph V. Morris

 Joseph V. Morris's gear list:Joseph V. Morris's gear list
Nikon D70 Nikon D7000 Nikon D7200 Nikon D500 Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR +16 more
kierenlon
kierenlon Senior Member • Posts: 1,028
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

Generally photoshop express to sharpen and add split tone,  then I move into Snapseed to dodge and burn,  maybe brighten eyes a bit, remove stray items or blemihsed.
I am usually done there but may then import to VSCO to apply a light film sim.

 kierenlon's gear list:kierenlon's gear list
Fujifilm X-T30 Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4 R Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R Fujifilm 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Samsung Galaxy S9+ +2 more
Rishabh Bansal
Rishabh Bansal Junior Member • Posts: 29
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop both are good

Willy79
Willy79 Veteran Member • Posts: 9,806
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

Rishabh Bansal wrote:

Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop both are good

Yes, Lightroom Mobile is great.  After edits on my phone or Chromebook the changes are shown on my Laptop or Desktop computers in Lightroom CC.  These edits are saved in the cloud and the connection is great.

-- hide signature --

I don't struggle over image IQ but enjoy content and simplicity. A6000, A6300, A6500, A99, A900 w/Sony + Zeiss + Sony G Glass

 Willy79's gear list:Willy79's gear list
Sony a6500 Sony a7C
Daria91 New Member • Posts: 17
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?

I love applications that allow you to edit the shape and face, and one of my favorites is Perfect Me . The best of its kind to my mind. It’s very convenient to use and easily correct all the flaws in your photo. With the facelift function, you can make your face look slimmer and younger. Whiten teeth, nudge your smile, plump up lips, grow a taller nose bridge – basically, you can change your look completely to the extent you like.

CAcreeks
CAcreeks Forum Pro • Posts: 18,924
Or just upload and edit with GIMP

I'm not sure cellphone pictures are good enough to bother with Raw. With some current "real" cameras that is almost true except to improve dynamic range. GIMP is a great JPEG editor.

LindaQ
LindaQ New Member • Posts: 3
Re: Photo editing on smartphone: which app do you prefer? Why?
1

It's a pity that it's impossible to choose several variants in this poll. I like Lightroom, but don't use it on my smartphone, because it overloads the CPU. But I consider it's the best app for PC. Otherwise, I use Snapseed on my phone for photo correction. However, sometimes it has not enough options. Oftenly I need to change background or to delete strangers from my pic. In such cases I use this app. So, probably there are 3 basic apps for photocorrection I use.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads