Photo Opportunity: Best Picture-Altering Apps For the iPad

Adobe recently announced that it was working on three specific Photoshop-supported apps for the iPad, due for release in early May. Adobe Nav, Adobe Color Lava and Adobe Eazel will let iPad and iPad 2 owners alter photos and add creative touches to make projects really shine.

While we await the arrival of these programs, there are some other apps available for download that allow you to alter and perfect photos that were either imported to the device or taken with the iPad 2’s FaceTime cameras. Here now are five top-notch recommendations.

TiltShift Generator for iPad ($2.99, Art & Mobile)

Photo manipulation is a tricky business in itself, but trying to create the illusion that an object is actually larger or smaller than it actually is can be impossible without models or proper framing. Luckily, Art & Mobile’s innovative TiltShift Generator makes it a cinch -- and saves cash on costly setups.

With TiltShift Generator, users can apply inventive depth-of-field effects to photos. This is done by shifting the focus of objects that take precedence, making it seem like they’re placed in a miniature. It also includes options to alter color saturation, brightness and contrast, and a vignette/lo-fi lens tool.

Along with an easy-to-follow tutorial, TiltShift Generator fully supports both email and Twitter, making it simple to share photos with friends.

Filterstorm Pro ($14.99, Tai Shimizu)

Though it’s priced more in a professional range than other photo-altering apps, users will certainly get what they pay for with Filterstorm Pro. A number of editing tools are available, from the usual cropping, rotating and strengthening tools to a number of in-depth items, such as the ability to manipulate curves, white point, black and white (with RGB channel mixing) and more. Filters can also be applied (the app is called Filterstorm, after all) to give photos a more high-grade appearance.

Filterstorm Pro is one of the few apps that supports the iPad 2 and it can handle images that are up to 22 megapixels. (The original iPad supports up to 7.5 megapixels.) Photos can also be ported over to FTP, Flickr, Dropbox and email, along with the iPad photo library -- ideal for wallpaper imports.

FX Photo Studio HD ($2.99, MacPhun)

Ready for a photo-editing application that will bring out your wild side? Then FX Photo Studio HD from MacPhun might be for you. This app features 187 tools to play around with, all easily accessible from a touch-friendly interface. We’re talking everything from vintage 1920s appearance altering to Night Vision. Blur effects, textures and bizarre Picasso-like tools are also accessible -- and well worth playing around with.

More basic options are also available. Things such as cropping, brightening, flipping and other simple changes make this a terrific app for all ages. And best of all, it has countless selections for sharing, including Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and, of course, email, so pictures can be shared with friends and family.

Still, a lot of these options are worth playing around with, and additional ones, such as Hollywood FX and Color Strokes packs, are available for a small price of 99 cents apiece. A small price to pay for photography greatness.

CameraBag for iPad ($1.99, Nevercenter Ltd.)

CameraBag initially got its start on the iPhone about a year ago, and many users were pleased with the photo-changing tools it provided. However, Nevercenter has stepped up with the iPad/iPad 2 edition, which adds some great new camera options alongside the same trouble-free library management. CameraBag features a number of specialty formatting tools, offering everything from “Cinema” (displaying a dramatic, moody coloring with a widescreen aspect ratio) to “Mono” (a simple yet refined black-and-white approach). With several to choose from, there’s always something new to add to your pictures.

This isn’t just a sloppily ported iPhone app, though. CameraBag is specifically made for the iPad, with a custom interface that’s perfect for amateurs and pros alike and the ability to change between filters without hitting a bothersome reset button. Photos can also be shared via email or through CameraBag’s dedicated Flickr account, which in turn provides many examples of what can be done with the app.

When it comes to cheap yet entertaining photo apps, CameraBag’s got it, um, in the bag.

Photogene for iPad ($2.99, Omer Shoor)

Last but not least, we have this independent little wonder, which makes photo editing fun. Photogene shines through with a number of helpful options, including special effects (such as vignette or the very cool reflection, which creates a mirror image of the photo for a kaleidoscopelike effect) and the ability to add captions or comic book-style text balloons. Artistic filters can also be applied, ranging from sepia to charcoal.

What really rocks about Photogene, however, are the cool color adjustments. Various levels and curves can be changed around, turning underexposed and washed-out photos into ones worthy of the photo album. (The option to remove annoying blemishes or the dreaded “red eye” effect is quite helpful, too.) From there, photos can be ported over to a number of places, including Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Dropbox, as well as direct FTP and email. No lack of social interaction here.

For $2.99, this app definitely deserves to be a part of your collection.