So I was browsing around the Android market in search for a cool new app to do a review on and stumbled across Pixlr-o-matic, a free yet diverse and full featured image editing tool from Autodesk Inc. Immediately after installing it I was taken away by the user friendly interface as well as the numerous filters and effects to choose from. Combined there’s more than 25,000 different possible photo finishes.
With that said let’s move forward and get down to the review!
This app was reviewed and tested on the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Honeycomb tablet.
Let’s Talk Tablets Android App Review
For this particular app review, being as this is a photography app, I felt the desire to use a stunning nature photo. The photo I decided to go with is a stunningly gorgeous nature photo courtesy of Greg T. Duym. You can see the original photo below, and for the record believe it or not this photo is NOT Photoshopped.
Original Photo
Pixlr-o-Matic Image Filters
In total Pixlr-o-matic comes bundled with 30 different lighting effects, 25 different filers and 31 frames to choose from. Did I mention this app was free? Oh yes I did, it just sounds good when you say it! Obviously there’s far too many photo finish combinations to show them all, but below are a couple examples of different filters you can apply to whatever image(s) you desire.
Pixlr-o-matic Tony Image Filter
Pixlr-o-matic Sara Image Filter
Pixlr-o-matic Image Lighting Effects
As mentioned above there are 30 different lighting effects you can apply. They include: Bocea, Burn, Subtle, Street, Local, Beep, Foggy, Glitter, Leak, Kryptonite, Devine, Focal, Rainbow, Redrum, Rain, Twinkle, Scratches, Shine, Paint, Stop, Warn, Stripe, Vignette, Trails, Wave, Bubble, Gaze, Metal, Morning and Cyborg. Below are a few examples.
Pixlr-o-matic Wave Lighting Effect
Pixlr-o-matic Glitter Lighting Effect
Pixlr-o-matic Rain Lighting Effect
Pixlr-o-Matic Image Frames
There’s a wide array of unique, stylish and creative image frames that you’ll enjoy, 31 in total. Again, just like the lighting effects and image filters, the different frames are extremely easy to apply. Just a bit of scrolling to select your desired frame from the list, a tap on your screen and voila you’re done! It really is that easy.
Pixlr-o-matic Scrap Image Frame
Pixlr-o-matic Flowery Image Frame
Other Pixlr-o-matic Key Features
Exporting Images
Once you’re done applying your effects, frames and/or filters to your image(s) there’s a few useful ways to export your photos. Export via Bluetooth, Gmail, Picasa or directly to your Android tablet HD in a custom Pixlr-o-matic folder for easy access later.
If you prefer there’s also the option to save photos directly to an SD card. See screenshot below.
Other Notes
Overall this app ran very smooth on the ASUS Eee Pad transformer Honeycomb tablet. The interface really is quite user friendly too. All and all I would highly recommend this app. There’s a lot of similar photography apps for Android devices which makes it hard for new apps to stand out above the rest or have any significant impact, but I have to admit I was quite impressed with how well this app was developed, how easy it was to use and the numerous filters and effects that were available.
The fact that this photography app is free and has a combined total of 86 available options makes it by far one of the best in this category. In all honesty I’d even be willing to pay a few bucks for this app but of course the fact that it’s free is an added bonus and nothing to frown upon.
I must also admit I was quite impressed by how quickly the effects, filters and frames were applied and rendered. All changes occur instantly and there’s absolutely no waiting with rendering delays. Mind you, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is a powerful Android tablet so that always helps too. Nonetheless, even on lower end tablets I would imagine this app would run quickly and smoothly.
Back in August I researched and wrote an article on 12 must have Android tablet camera apps and had this app been around then it easily would have made the cut.
Pros
- Great user interface (UI)
- Filters and effects are applied instantly, no rendering delays
- Lots of frames, filters and lighting effects to choose from
Cons
- Only works in portrait mode
- No rotate or cropping tool
Click here to download and install Pixlr-o-matic on your Android tablet.