Paper Camera – add Cool Filters to Spice Up those Photos in Real-time
by Paul Wilks
Aug 19, 2011 10:34 AM –
Install
Paper Camera is a fantastic little photography application for adding cool filters to your photos and videos. While this is nothing new, Paper Camera does this in real time, so when you look through your Android’s view finder, you can immediately see the effects in action, before you take the shot.
Price: $1.99
AndroidTapp Featured Sale App!
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Brilliant picture effects in real time!
- Simple layout!
- Easy to use!
- Shoot video!
- Upload from gallery!
- Continual development!
Cons
- Relatively low resolution, but this is being worked on.
Features:
If you ever seen ‘Scanner Darkly‘- the brilliant observed movie adaptation of the trippy Philip K. Dick novel, you can take one step towards understanding what this app looks like. Imagine the cool post-picture effects that many photo apps now offer, in real time as you look through the viewer. And these are not just the basic (b&w, sepia, etc.) filters either, these are the very cool cartoon effect type filters that really look good. If you’re still none-the-wiser, check the videos out below for a demonstration.
There are 12 filters to choose from including: Comic Boom, Sketch Up, Acquarello, Old Printer, Neon Cola, Con Tours, Bleaching, Gotham Noir, Half Ton, Granny’s Paper, Pastel Perfect and Andy Pop- each with a unique and interesting filter that looks fantastic through your device’s camera lens. Simply tap the camera button and take the snapshot you want with the effect you desire. These pics can then be shared via any number of the social networks, email, text, etc.
The updated app now features the ability to shoot video through these filters. Simply switch from camera mode to video mode and make your very own filtered movie! Movies can be watched in-app (not currently though your normal video player) and, if uploaded to your PC they can be viewed using WebM player. Perhaps time to film your very own version of Scanner Darkly? 
The app is incredibly easy to use and has a polished yet simple ‘paper’ design to it, hence Paper Camera. There is a file button which takes you to your gallery, and you can now upload pictures from your own device and effect them using the app. One small problem you might notice is that, currently, the photos taken are quite low resolution- again this is being addressed by the developers and will be improved upon in a future update.
Below are two pretty cool videos of the app in action, and beneath this I have included a series of photos demonstrating the various filters. In this updated review, I have now added in the new filter, Andy Pop below and a screenshot showing the new video camera icon and switch.
http://youtu.be/Y2a4QGGLQUM
Watch on Mobile
Watch on Mobile
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Updated! – Andy Pop filter
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Updated! Video mode
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Paper Camera – In-app view, Pastel Perfect
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Paper Camera – In-app view, Con Tours
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Paper Camera – In-app view, Neon Cola
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Paper Camera – In-app view, Neon Cola
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Paper Camera – In-app view, Bleaching
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Acquarello
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Sketch Up
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Pastel Perfect
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Old Printer
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Half Ton
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Granny’s Paper
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Gotham Noir
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Con Tours
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Comic Boom
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Bleaching (1)
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Paper Camera – Effect demo, Bleaching (2)
Usefulness:
Well, I can’t imagine this is going to replace your existing camera but the nice range of very cool filters is certainly going to impress you if you are looking for something a bit different. Maybe this is just me, but when I take a picture and add a filter to it afterwards, I sometimes feel a bit let down if my subject looks a bit distorted… or creepy. With Paper Camera you can see what your subject looks like as you take the picture, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Ease of Use:
It couldn’t be easier. You can simply scroll through the real-time picture effects using arrows in the top right and press the small camera icon which can be found bottom right. When the pic is taken a small ‘share’ icon appears. There are also slide bars which control Contrast, Brightness and Lines. These too are easy and straightforward to adjust. As camera apps go, it really couldn’t be simpler.
Frequently Used:
As I have said, this is perhaps not going to replace your usage of the existing camera, but for novelty purposes and the fact the app can take some dazzlingly cool pictures and videos, you might find yourself actually looking for ways to use it. I had a mad plan to attach it to some goggles somehow and, blocking out my peripheral vision, spend some time in a cartoon world. OK, I perhaps should have kept that to myself. 
Interface:
The interface is smooth and beautifully designed. If I had one small quibble it would be that the view finder, because of the options at the side, is a little on the small side as options cannot be hidden. This aside the interface is very easy to use and looks playfully cool.
Being able to switch to video mode is a breeze with a nicely placed toggle in the bottom right hand side. Screen real-estate is at a premium in the app, it’s not as broad as other camera apps, but this feature is subtle and well placed.