K i t Z o n e
128 DIGITAL CAMERA^ APRIL 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comMini Test
Lightroom Mobile
Free as a standalone tool or as part
of a Lightroom subscription
http://www.adobe.comPlatform: iPad, iPhone, Android | Presets
library: Ye s | Layers: No | Editing tools: Ye s
| Desktop software synchronisation: Ye sT
his mobile version of Adobe Lightroom
CC runs on iOS and Android tablets
and phones. It can be used as a
free app, but only delivers its full potential
and synchronising capabilities with an Adobe
Photography or Lightroom subscription plan.
Lightroom Mobile is a close match for the
Lightroom CC desktop software, both in terms of
how it looks and the editing tools available. What
complicates things here is that there are two
desktop editions. Lightroom Classic CC is the one
most photographers know, but Lightroom Mobile
is more closely attuned with the Lightroom CC
web-first version, which is more limited in its
toolset but offers fully cloud-based storage.
You can apply curves adjustments, recover
shadows and highlights, edit colours, add
clarity and dehaze effects, correct perspective
distortion, remove spots and blemishes,
apply custom profiles and presets, and
even make local adjustments via gradient,
radial gradient and brush tools.
On top of all of that, there’s a built-in camera
mode which offers controls (and raw support)
that your device’s own camera app won’t have.PROS Powerful; free (up to a point); easy
to use; offers a great camera modeCONS You need a Creative Cloud subscription
to get the full benefitVerdict
Affinity Photo for iPad
£19.99/$19.99
http://affinity.serif.comPlatform: iPad | Presets library: No
| Layers: Ye s | Editing tools: Ye s
| Desktop software synchronisation: Ye sA
ffinity Photo for iPad duplicates the
features and tools of the desktop
edition remarkably well. The app is
sold for a single one-off price (no subscription
or in-app purchases), and you can synchronise
files with the desktop version via Apple’s
iCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive. It’s a similar
system to Adobe’s, but uses third-party
cloud services you can choose yourself,
with no esoteric new file formats.
The list of tools includes dodge and burn tools,
inpainting (object removal), blurring, sharpening,
extensive selection tools (lasso, magic wand, pen
tool), selection refinements and no fewer than 22
different adjustment layers. Affinity Photo for iPad
supports unlimited text, vector, pixel and image
layers and offers panorama stitching, HDR and
tone mapping and focus stacking. It also supports
8-bit and 16-bit RGB, CMYK, greyscale and Lab
colour spaces. It’s far more powerful and fully
featured than Photoshop for iPad.
It has been well-optimised for touch control,
but the depth of the toolset inevitably means
it will take a bit of learning and acclimatisation.
This is not an instant effects tool for novices,
but an extremely powerful mobile photo editor.PROS The most powerful photo editor
you can get for the iPadCONS You have to buy it outright; it’s quite
a technical program, best suited to expertsVerdict
Photofox Pro
From £64.99/$79.99 or subscription
http://www.photofoxapp.comPlatform: iPad, iPhone | Presets library: Ye s |
Layers: Ye s | Editing tools: Ye s |
Desktop software synchronisation: NoP
hotofox is an iOS-only app that is free
to download but comes with in-app
purchases. You can use basic features
without restriction, but attempting to use
premium features brings up a prompt to choose
a one-month subscription (£7.99), a more cost-
effective 12-month subscription (£35.99),
or an outright purchase (£64.99).
If you’ve ever wanted to turn your photos into
digital art, but not known where to start, this is the
app you need. You can add instant film-look filters;
carry out regular exposure, sharpening, colour
adjustments and object removal; combine images
in layers; add lighting effects and picture frames;
create a variety of ‘sketch’ looks; turn regular
images into ‘tiny planets’; and a whole lot more.
And if this is all too much to take in, there’s a
QuickArt mode with ready-made montages, sketch
effects, duotones and ‘surreal skies’ to try out.
Not everyone is impressed. Photofox’s
monetisation model has drawn a good deal of
criticism from previous users, and the constant
prompts to upgrade from the free version get
tiresome. Our advice would be to spend a little
time with the free version or a single month’s
subscription to help you decide.PROS Dazzling array of effects, tools, filters and
photo-editing ideas that even novices can tryCONS Relatively expensive purchase cost;
annoying upgrade naggingVerdict
Photo editing apps
These mobile apps might be more than just a desktop
substitute... they might even be better