I recently had the opportunity to try out Word Swag, the latest app from Oringe. And I have to say, I was quite impressed with the app.

Word Swag claims to “Automagically turn your words into beautiful photo text designs”, and “Create amazing text layouts that would normally take minutes – or even hours – in seconds!” They dedicate this to their Typomatic™ type engine.

Well I’m not sure what fuels the Typomatic type engine, but I’m definitely a fan of it. From only testing the app for a few days, I haven’t been able to find much about it that I don’t like. I’ve tested out my fair share of apps for adding text to images, but Word Swag is by and large one of my favorites.

Here’s how it works:

First, the user is greeted with a neat set of instructions on several ways to use the app, which I thought was a nice touch.

Next, the user can shoot an image through the in-app camera, use one of the stock images provided within the app (there are 90 images or 29 solid colors to choose from), or the user can also select an image from their camera roll.

Once an image is selected, they are taken to a screen where they are shown how to edit and manipulate text, through a short animation. One of the things about Word Swag that I found that set it apart from other apps like it is that it comes with hundreds of captions already separated into several eclectic genres, or the user can also enter custom text if they wish.

Next is the fun part; once the user has finished selecting or typing their text, they can then select the type style they would like to use. There are 25 different styles, with in essence, an endless variety of options to choose from (if the user presses the random, or “dice” icon, the particular style they have selected will rearrange and show a completely different arrangement of the words in the same type style). It’s also important to note that of the 25 type styles, 4 of them are only available for use as individual in-app purchases.

Another interesting feature of Word Swag is that the app supports using the pinch and zoom gesture to resize the text on the image. I found this particularly useful, as most text on images apps do not have a feature like this.

In addition to the various type style options, there are also a wide variety of color options as well. Users can select to have their text remain a solid color, or a combination of colors from a gradient. There are also several great color combination gradients that can be used.

Once the user is finished, they can save the image, which automatically saves their finished work to the camera roll, and ten they can share the image through the popular social media networks.

Overall, I was very pleased with Word Swag, and I only thought it had room for improvement in a couple of areas: the first being that I thought the app could possibly benefit from maybe an option to add a tinted overlay to the image, maybe in a similar vein to the way Over does. The graphic designer in me is hesitant to suggest the possibility of adding the ability to have a drop shadow or any sort of glow, because of the extreme potential for abuse (i.e. massive amount of tackiness) that can result if put into the wrong hands. So I’m thinking tinted alpha overlay is the way to go. But I only say that because while I was testing the app and working with images with a lot of detail or contrasty images, I found it hard to differentiate between the text and the image. I think a tinted overlay on the image would help alleviate that. The only other thing that I thought might add to the app would be the ability to use images in proportions other than just 1:1.

Other than that, I think the app is pretty stellar, especially for a first release, and I’m excited to see how this app develops in the future!

Here’s some test images I’ve created using the app:

* The Modern iPhoneographer was provided with a copy of Word Swag for review

While perusing the App Store today I came across a neat little niche app called Koloid. It’s an app that allows users to mimic the alternative photographic process of Collodion printing widely used in the 19th century. The unique thing about Koloid though, is that it allows the user to physically feel like they are “developing” their images through the movement of shaking their device, which I thought was a neat concept.

Here’s how the app works:

First, the user is presented with a screen that appears to look like a glass plate viewfinder, where they can compose and shoot their image using the in-app camera. The current version of the app does not allow for import of images from the user’s camera roll. There is also a grid that can be used as a guide for composing your shot, or can be turned off through the settings.

The user has the option of shooting their image in a standard rectangle format (3×4) or in a square format (1×1). The rectangle is default, however the square format is accessible through the settings section.

I have to admit, I did have a couple of issues with the in-app camera being slightly buggy — not being able to utilize tap to focus, and there being a slight lag time from when I clicked the shutter to when the image was rendered (I’m not sure if either of these were intentional decisions made by the developers).

After the user has taken their image, they are shown a screen where they can select how much liquid they want to use in their “development” process. This is the fun part. Using less liquid gives you a faster result but is less precise, whereas more liquid is more precise but takes longer to “develop”.

Once the user’s decided how much liquid to use, they simply begin shaking their phone to start the “development” process. From my testing, each result is unique, as advertised, depending on how the user shakes their phone and how long they leave the liquid in some areas. Just as in real black and white photography, if the user leaves some areas of their photo uncovered by the liquid, then those areas will remain undeveloped.

I thought this was the coolest feature of the app, and it was what really sold me on it. As a photographer, I jump at the chance to relive moments in the darkroom, and the closest app I’ve seen prior to this one that reminded me of my darkroom days was Swankolab. However, Koloid is quickly growing on me because of the interaction factor alone.

Once the user decides their image is finished, they can stop the development process, and save the result to their camera roll or share it. The sharing options through the app include via message, email, or through popular social media outlets.

Although overall I think Koloid is a really neat app with a nice UI and a lot of potential, there are a few areas that I thought it could be improved upon. First, were the couple of issues I experienced with the in-app camera that I mentioned previously, and second, I wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that images were not saved at full resolution and that the date function could not be disabled.

The developers, 19th Century Apps, have received mixed reviews so far on the app based on some of their choices, however, I think the underlying reasoning behind them might have been simply that they were attempting to remain true to the photographic medium. Currently, apps that have “Vintage” filters that allow both in-app shooting and import from camera roll are a dime a dozen, however it’s rare to find apps like Koloid where the user is forced to return to the roots of photography – to be made to think about the basics of their shot first (subject, composition, lighting, exposure, focus, etc.) prior to shooting rather than being able to simply import any image they’ve already shot into the app. While part of me does think it could be an interesting addition to include an import feature to Koloid, a larger part of me, the true photographer part of me, commends the developers for omitting this functionality.

All-in-all, I like the concept of Koloid, and the execution is not bad for a first version. I’m definitely interested to see more from these developers in the future.

Here’s some test shots I created with the app:

This image was created using an iPhone 4S, with the Hipstamatic App (Tinto 1884 Lens, C type Plate Film). The image was then processed using Mextures.

One of this week’s New and Noteworthy apps, Mextures, has quickly risen to the number one spot in both the paid Photo & Video category and number three in the overall paid app category (as of this afternoon).

The app was developed by Merek Davis, who a few months ago released a variety of Mextures as a free download through his site, however these were only able to be used as textured overlays since the Mextures app did not exist yet.

Mextures is an interesting app in that it is an app that allows the user to add light leaks and textures to their images in an essentially unlimited number of layers, and the editing is non destructive.

Here’s what the developers described the app as:

The Textures and Light Leak overlays you’ve come to love just got a whole lot better… Apply effects to your images in seconds. And with a revolutionary non-destructive workflow, you have the freedom to make changes to any stage of your editing process.

Once you’ve created a formula of layered mextures you love, you can save it for future use. Save as many formulas as your mind can conjure and create a style that’s uniquely yours. Or use one of the 40+ formulas created by 9 guest iPhoneographers as a base point for your Mextures choose-your-own-adventure!

When users open the app, they can either use an image from the camera roll, or shoot an image from the in-app camera.

There is also an inspiration gallery where the users can view images created with Mextures.

After an image has been selected, the user can then begin adding Mexture layers to their image from the various texture packs available, or they can use a formula. Formulas are saved combinations of Mexture layer combinations that can be used on multiple images. You can save your own formulas, or you can also check out formulas from other prominent iPhoneographers.

There are 7 texture packs altogether:

An interesting aspect of the app is that at any point while texture layers are being added, the user can adjust the blend mode of the layer, and can adjust the intensity, or they can also delete the layer or swap the layer order – in a nondestructive way, much like that of editing in larger scale programs like Photoshop.

Once the user is finished with their editing, they can save the image to their camera roll, save their formula, open the image in other apps, or share it to popular social media networks.

Overall, I think Mextures is a nice app for users who want to be able to add unique textures, colors, and light leaks to their images. Additionally, I think the app’s interface was beautifully designed, and the only drawback I’ve found is that the “back” button was somewhat counter intuitive for me at first. I assumed that it was for taking the user back to the texture pack selection screen, when in fact pressing it prompts a warning letting the user know that they will be taken back to the main image selection screen.

Other than that, I’m a fan of the app, and at the opening price point of $0.99, you can’t really beat it. Here’s a test image I created with the app:

This image was created using an iPhone 4S, with the Hipstamatic App (Americana Lens, DC film). The image was then processed using Mystic* and Instagram.

This image was created using an iPhone 4S, with Hipstamatic (Americana Lens, DC film). Then the image was processed using Snapseed and Mystic*.

This image was created using an iPhone 4S, with the Hipstamatic App (Wonder lens, Blackeys B&W film). The image was then processed using Snapseed and Mystic*.

Viewmatic is the newest app from Bright Mango, the development team behind Wood Camera, and it is built on the premise that users can process images to get a “Through the Viewfinder” look.

Here’s how the app is described by John Barnett, a professional photographer (and avid iPhoneographer), and one of the founders of Bright Mango:

“Zach and I have always loved the immersive experience of true optical viewfinder photography, but that’s now becoming somewhat of a dying art with today’s ultra-advanced digital imaging technology,” Barnett said. “Viewmatic is giving a whole new generation the chance to experience the thrill of photography through the viewfinder of a classic film camera—something many have never done before.”

When users first open the app, if they are familiar with Wood Camera then they’ll find Viewmatic’s interface to be similar. I thought this was nice, since I’ve always been a fan of the clean, easy to navigate UI of Wood Camera, and I think Viewmatic does a great job of emulating this, especially in using the intricate tooltip screens.

Users can either select an image from their camera roll, or shoot an image in-app.

Then, the user’s image will be imported into the app’s gallery, where they will be able to view it in a “Detail” mode or “Grid” mode by using the toggle at the top of the screen, and they can go into “Edit” mode by tapping the “Edit” button. This section is very similar to Wood Camera.

Once they’ve entered “Edit” mode, users can process the image based on the following sections:

I’ll go into more detail about the last three sections, as they are what really makes the app unique.

The Viewfinders section lets the user select from 10 camera viewfinders to “display” their image through, with the option to purchase a set of 10 additional viewfinders in an “Artists Viewfinder Pack” for an in-app purchase of $0.99. Once a viewfinder is selected, the user can adjust the intensity of the effect by making adjustments to the “Viewfinder Strength” slider.

The Lenses/Adjustments section allows users to select one of 10 default lenses to apply to their image, with the option to purchase another 10 lenses as part of the “Vintage Lens Pack” for an in-app purchase of $0.99. Once the user selects a lens, they can adjust the lens’s intensity using the “Lens Intensity” slider, and then they can also make additional adjustments by swiping this slider to the right. These adjustments include:

The Frames section lets users finish their images off by selecting one of the 10 default frames that come with the app, or they can purchase the “Portrait Frame Pack” (in-app purchase of $0.99) and get another 10 frames. I’ve always been a fan of the unique frame selection in Wood Camera, and Viewmatic did not disappoint in this section either.

Once the user is finished editing, they can tap the “Done” button, which will save the image and take them back to the in-app gallery where they can then Save the image to their camera roll, email it, share it to popular social media outlets, or open the image in other apps.

Overall, I think Viewmatic is a great app for those who love the clean, easy to use interface of Wood Camera, with the unique vintage flair of the Through the Viewfinder style.

Here’s a test image I created with the app:

* The Modern iPhoneographer was provided with a copy of Viewmatic for review

After posting my review of the A Beautiful Mess app the other day, I was made aware of another similar app called Mystic* that boasted a much larger feature set, while ridding itself of the issue that plagued A Beautiful Mess; the seemingly endless amount of paid add-ons within the app. Rather, Mystic* maintains a single base price and does not charge for add-ons or updates/additional and new features being added to each category.

When I read through the app description in the App Store, I had to check it out.

We are the Mystic* Makers. We are two full-time artists who fell in love, shared a dream, and dared to follow it. Driven by our passion for love, artistic freedom, and purpose, we discovered Mystic*

On the surface, Mystic* is an APP. In practice, it is an Experience. Whether you find yourself on a beach, mountain top, or city street, Mystic* serves to help unveil the infinite treasures that life freely gives.

Regardless, if you buy Mystic* or not, know One Thing: you are here for a reason, and if you don’t know it already, we dare you to find out what it is already.

Have fun. Explore. Learn more.LOVE, the Mystic* Makers

PS. Yeah, you can add text, textures, frames, lights, colors…elephants, tigers, bears, and a few flying buffaloes too!On top of all that, we are constantly adding new stuff that you will automatically receive without. Paying for or updating the app!

When users first enter the app, it opens to a screen allowing the user to either shoot a photo in-app or select a photo from the camera roll.

The user can then crop the image, and this is one of my favorite things about Mystic* – the developers included quirky interface elements that tie into the Mystic* philosophy. Like when you crop an image, while its loading, it says “Mystifying”.

Once an image is selected, they can then process the image and add embellishments through the various sections at the bottom of the screen. The first section is the filters section. This is another thing that sets Mystic* apart from other similar apps like A Beautiful Mess. Where A Beautiful Mess only provides users with 6 filters, Mystic* provides a whopping 32.

The next section is the Frames section, where Mystic has included (again, for the original $0.99 base price), 26 great frames that range from grungy borders, to hand drawn frames.

Next is the Notes section, where the user can add words or phrases to their image. There are quite a few options included, in a variety of different themes, ranging from love, to adventure, to nature and more.

The Texture section allows the user to add unique textures to their images. The app includes 28 different textures, and offers the ability to invert the color of the textures, and alter the intensity of the texture and blend mode – giving the user a great amount of control.

The Lights section allows the user to add light leaks to their images, and the app includes 32 different light leaks to get you started.

The Adjustments section lets users make different edits to their images like Color Tone, Color, Inner Shadow (Vignette), Focus, Brightness, Contrast, Gamma, Exposure, Levels, Sharpness, Edger, and Haze.

The Shapes section allows the user to add hand drawn elements to their images. These range from general shapes to intricate animals.

The Settings section allows users to select whether they want their Mystic* creations to be saved to a Mystic* album, as well as select the image quality, turn on and off tooltips, check for new effects, and solve the Mystic* riddle to unlock hidden treasures.

Users can also save images to the camera roll, or email them, or post them to popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Overall, I feel like Mystic* is a fantastic app with a great user interface and an excellent feature set, especially at such a low price point and for a first release. I think that anyone looking at the A Beautiful Mess app should seriously give Mystic* a look.

Here’s a few test images I created with the app:

The A Beautiful Mess app from the blog of the same name has recently launched and has quickly risen to the top of the charts to the number one paid app in the Photo & Video category in the App Store.

The app was made to be a photo app to accompany the popular A Beautiful Mess blog, and does a very good job of emulating the blog’s signature style and allowing users to apply the same elements to their own images.

Some of the most common reviews of the app criticize the app’s initial cost along with the amount of in-app purchases that need to be made in order to create images that are like the ones on the app screenshots. Personally, I can see how this could anger some buyers since the app’s initial cost is $0.99, yet there are quite a few add-ons that are all an additional $0.99 each.

Here’s what the app comes Pre-loaded with:

And here are the add-ons available in-app:

Personally I think it may have been a better business model for them if they would have made the app’s initial cost higher and included more or all of the add-ons, in a similar fashion to the way Camera Awesome handled it, where you could pay individually or unlock all of the add-ons for a one time discounted rate.

When users open the app, they can select from either a background from the app or an image from the camera roll.

Users then have the choice of embellishing their images in a variety of ways, the first section being the filter section. I found the filters to be somewhat lacking, however I feel like the app isn’t really meant to be a filter app, so it did not bother me. I did think that the scant filter selection did make it appear that the filters section was a bit of an afterthought though.

The next section is the borders section, where the user is immediately greeted with the option to purchase the borders add-on packs, then underneath those are the actual included borders. This interface decision might have been a bad decision, being that if they had placed the included borders first, users would not have felt like the add-ons were as “in your face”.

The next section is fonts, and just as the add-ons is placed first in the Borders section, it is also first in the Fonts section (and all other sections with add-ons for that matter). The included fonts seem sufficient, and give the user a good amount of variety.

The next section is Doodles. The included hand-drawn doodles have a relatively good amount of variety. And as with the other embellishments, once you select one to add, you can choose a color for it from a selection of colors, and you can resize using gestures. However I did find that the gesture resizing and moving was not as responsive as other apps I’ve used.

The last section is Phrases. This includes several handwritten phrases that can be applied to images.

Once the user is finished, they can select “Done” which saves the image to the camera roll, and then they can share the image via the popular sharing methods.

Overall, I feel like the app shows promise, however I don’t feel like at its current version, it belongs at the top of the App Store charts. I feel like the combination of the lack of an undo button, and the pricing structure are things that will more than likely cause the app to receive mixed reviews unless remedied in the near future. However, all-in-all, it’s a cute app if you’re wanting a way to add scrapbook-like or hand drawn elements to your images, or if you’re a fan of the A Beautiful Mess blog and want to make your images look similar to the ones on the blog.