cameramatic

Cameramatic is a camera replacement app, offering a variety of film like effects, borders, textures all in a tidy package. One of my favourite things about this app is that outputs images in the square format. As well as some of the grungy paper effects available.Now diving into features and functionality…When you open the app, the interface displays a camera icon in the top right corner. And your Filter, Frame and Settings options. Within the Filter and Frame options you'll see the "None" option to opt out of including the varied options.filter Tap on this to open the film style options.Standard includes about 20 filtersColour includes 7 filters with an in app option to purchase additional filtersXpro includes 6 filters with an in app option to purchase additional filtersB&W includes about 15 filtersThere's also a custom feature, but honestly I haven't worked out the functionality of this yet.frameTap on this to open the frames and texture options.Standard includes 16 frame optionsFilm includes 7 frame optionsTTV includes 12 frame options (which simulate the TTV effect)Texture includes 7 options, which include Grunge Paper and Sprocket edgesSo mix and match your filter and frame to create a desired effect.settingsAs with many apps, I recommend going into the settings options and ensuring you have the highest resolution option selected.Options within the setting menu include:The option to turn on/off:Light LeakVignetteFilm SimulationAuto SaveLocation ServiceWith Resolution options of:650x650800x8001024x1024High Resolution (2440x2440)There are also links to the Cameramatic Flickr Group and a list of the developers other apps.Once you have all of your selections made, click the Camera icon to load the interface to take a picture!Here you will find a viewfinder, and a button to snap your image, once framed. Within the viewfinder you can tap to focus, control the flash and front camera (if your iPhone supports these features). Under the shutter release button you'll see a tiny preview box, this displays the most recent image taken with the app, or will show when a photo is being saved.After you've taken your photo and the photo has been saved, tap on the smaller preview (lower right corner) to view the Lightbox.The Lightbox will store 36 images in the camera roll. Tap on an image to show the image a little larger. Once the image is selected you can to see the details of what filter/frame was used to create that image. You can also save the image to the camera roll, share it through social media sites like Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. As well you can send the file to Instagram.So just when you thought I might be done writing about this app, there is even more to this one. It's a bit crazy (in a good way) really! With some of the camera replacement apps, like hipstamatic for example, once you shoot the image you're done. In that you can't change filters of that particular image. However you can with Cameramatic.The initial Lightbox will show thumbnails of the 36 images stored in the camera roll, if you tap on one of these images you will be presented with some additional options.Along the top you will find a camera icon (tap this to go back to the camera interface. And you'll see two squares stacked on top of one another. This is an icon used in many apps to represent the option to bring photos from your camera roll into a given app. Tap on this to import an image from your camera, if you would like to process existing images from your phone.Options along the bottom of the Lightbox:+ Tap this to save the photo to the camera roll.the wrench icon this loads your tool options. Tap on Filter to change your "film", tap on "Frame" to change the frame around the image, or tap on "Settings" to control the Light Leak, Vignette and Film Simulation options.Tap on the secondary wrench icon to play around even more, controlling and applying different layers (essentially). At this level you can even save a preset if you've created a combo that you really dig.Process1 and Process2 contain similar options,related to contrast, brightness, film grain and channels.Layer1 and Layer2 allow you to add texture as a layer, a colour and more.Vignette allows you the option to add a vignette to the image, using RGB sliders to make it a colour or just black or white.Going back to the Lightbox...the callout Tap this to share via Email, Facebook, Flickr, or Twitter. As well there's a button to send the file directly to Instagram. When you select this option a few other apps may show up too.the trash want to remove the edit or image from your camera roll, you can do that here.If you make edits to an image, when you save the image you should have the option to either overwrite the existing image or save a copy with your updates.Whew! That's a LOT. And honestly, I could probably write more, because there is still more to this app. When you get in there and play with it, poke around and see what you can find, it's a bit of a labyrinth. If you enjoy funky film-like effects, adding textures, borders and light leaks to your photos this might just be an app for you.Here is a fave image that I created this week with the app!Check our more of my year in iPhoneography - 2012.thanks for reading!kate