Fotor for Android – one of the Best photo apps! Features camera, HDR camera, photo editing & collage
by Paul Wilks
Aug 20, 2012 7:41 AM –
Install
Fotor is an all-in-one photographic experience that includes camera, HDR camera, editing and collage functionality. As a jack-of-all-trades, it’d be forgiven for not getting some of these elements just right… and yet it does. It’s an app that is simple to use, looks gorgeous and is literally packed with features. Read on and I’ll explain why I’m so excited about it.
Price: Free
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Nicely featured camera app!
- Easy-to-use HDR mode!
- Customisable collage mode!
- Detailed, feature-rich editing tool!
- Gorgeous UI!
Features:
I would consider myself somewhat of an amateur Android photographer and thoroughly enjoy taking pictures on my HTC One X. Finding good shots aside, I really like apps that help me tweak, alter and showcase the pictures I’ve taken before I share them somewhere like Instagram or Google+. In my role as a writer, I come across all kinds of photography apps and while some do not stay on my device very long, others take up a more permanent residency. The latest addition to that prestigious list is Fotor and the reason for this is that, it’s quite simply brilliant!
I have a folder on my homescreen I unimaginatively titled ‘Images’. It includes: Snaptastic, Pixlr-o-matic, HDR Camera+, Pictarine, Instagram, Scalado Album, PicFrame, my native camera app and now Fotor. The trouble with using Fotor is that I’m beginning to wonder if I actually need them all. You see, Fotor does editing, it does picture taking- even HDR ones. It also does the same job as PicFrame in that it can assemble a number of your snaps in a series of cool frames. And perhaps the best thing about it is, unlike some of these popular apps, it’s completely free (and without ads!)
The main dashboard contains shortcuts to the apps principal features: Camera, HDR, Edit and Collage. With the Camera you get a functional and neatly designed camera app which includes a number of settings which, if pressed pops up in a smooth circle in the centre of the viewer. There’s a timer, you can add a grid, stabilize shots and even a burst mode. HDR is somewhat simpler, but takes both under and over exposed shots before prompting you to merge them. This even includes a Ghost reduction feature for removing moving objects in the shot.
Once you’ve taken a shot you can tweak it in Edit. You have thee options for one-tap enhancement which adjusts the lighting level a minute amount, this often also removes any rough spots. Additionally you can crop, rotate, edit (contrast, saturation, temperature, etc.) and add any of 22 different frames. You further have an FX Effect tool which presents 19 different filters to choose from. Finally, if you want to showcase your pictures more you can put them into a Collage. This features includes a number of template collage frames which slickly animate when you move between them, 12 different frame styles, a ‘free collage’ mode which lets you move snaps around independently and lastly a Photo Stitching feature which layers pictures like a photo-booth style.
You can then save and/or share your creation wherever you like. By default you can add your Twitter, Facebook and Flickr accounts (for integrated sharing) or the pictures get saved to your gallery app for sharing elsewhere. All-in-all, I’m pretty blown away by Fotor. All of these features could amount to nought if it wasn’t for the apps gorgeous user interface, which is smooth, slick and superbly designed. From the cute animations to the wide range of editing tools available, it’s just an awesome application that I would encourage everyone to try out. Seriously, it rocks!
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Fotor – Dashboard
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Fotor – Numerous filters to try
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Fotor – 1-tap Enhance
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Fotor – Add grid
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Fotor – Edits
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Fotor – Frames
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Fotor – Saving
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Fotor – Collage
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Fotor – HDR
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Fotor – Camera view
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Fotor – Free collage
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Fotor – HDR Merging
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Fotor – Pic size
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Fotor – Sharing
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Fotor – Settings
Usefulness:
Even though it performs any number of very different functions, Fotor often does a better job than more dedicated apps. You essentially get four apps in one- a camera, an HDR camera, an editing suite and a collage/framing app. I’ve been using it for a few days now and I’m seriously thinking about whether I need some of my other apps now I have Fotor- even including some of my previous favourites like Pixlr-o-matic and Snaptastic.
Ease of Use:
Each of the app’s functions are very user-friendly and intuitive. Images look fantastic as you edit them and you can see subtle changes almost immediately. The camera and HDR features are great too, letting you take great snaps quickly. From the app to have a tool that lets users compile their favourite shots into a collage is almost indulgent. It feels incredibly natural to use and you’re never really left wondering where a feature is or what you have to do next.
Frequently Used:
I think because it performs so many different things, you could find yourself using it more often than stand-alone editing or camera apps. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure it’ll replace the use I get from my HTC One X camera, with ImageSense and all the bells and whistles that comes with that, but it’s quickly becoming the go-to app for editing, collages and even HDR shots.
Interface:
As mentioned previously, the UI is sublime. It not only looks great, but it also feels great to use as well. Transitions between screens are very smooth and richly animated, giving the app a very premium feel… which is why the fact that it’s free is so amazing.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Photography,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Fotor,
Fotor for Android,
HDR Camera+,
Instagram,
PicFrame,
Pictures,
Pixlr-o-matic,
Snaptastic
Categorised in: Photography
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