A lot of attention is being poured into the IOS scene these days — and the photo apps just keep getting better and better. Many of these apps — like this one — rival the most sophisticated software and equipment. Photoca is a real pleasure to work with — and can put some real tricks up your sleeve
Photoca for iOS, is an advanced photo editor/image processor that allows users to create artistic photographic effects unavailable in similar apps. Starting from a newly shot or a saved photo, the editor can choose from effects such as: tube-style color TV, grainy newspaper photo, pop art diagonal pixels, or pop art square pixels.
The color, background, and intensity (pixel size) of each effect are user-selectable, and edited photos can be saved and shared. A photo editor that employs computationally intensive image processing, rather than simple filters, Photoca gives iOS photographers the opportunity to make their photos stand out on social and photo sites.
Now that most photos are shot with smartphones, not cameras, there are many more photos to save and share. This has led to an explosion in photo filter apps that offer tints, sepia, B&W, chromatic distortions, etc. Photoca, however, is completely different. Instead of the application of a simple filtering effect, the app offers four distinct styles of image processing, wherein the very structure of the photo is altered. Users have complete control over the style, primary color, background color, and intensity of the processing action.
Feature Highlights:
- Select or shoot a photo, choose an effect, and save or share the new photograph
- Create unusual, artistic photos through advanced digital image processing
- Complete control over pixel density, primary color, background color, and intensity
- Built-in Facebook, Twitter, and email connectivity
- Save finished photos to the Photo Library
All photos are made up of small picture elements, or pixels, which viewed together, form a picture. Color photos in newspapers and magazines are printed with screens that create circular pixels, while computer monitors display color photos using square or rectangular pixels. The fineness or grain of an image depends upon the pixel density. Newspapers, computer monitors, magazines, and art books run the gamut from 40 to 300 (effective) pixels per inch. Photoca allows users to create eye-catching effects by widening the pixel density range of any photo from 0 to 300 ppi. Simultaneously, the app allows users to control the shape and color of the altered pixels.
For example, selecting any photo and choosing the grainy newspaper style with circular pixels, the user may first choose to set the primary color of the pixels. There is a choice of 12 different colors, or the photo’s original colors can be preserved. In this example red is chosen, and white for the background pixels. Touching the Generate button produces a photo made up of only two colors: red and white. The darker or denser the original photo, the more red in the corresponding pixel. Tonal gradations are created by groups of circular pixels containing varying ratios of red and white. Finally, the user selects the intensity of the effect, how few pixels per inch. The fewer the ppi, the greater the pixelizing and aliasing effects.
There is now much less information in the photo. There are only two colors and only a fraction of the total number of pixels. And yet, the person in the photo is completely recognizable. When the processed photo is looked at, the viewer’s eye and brain fill in much of the missing information. In this way, the viewer is required to participate in the re-construction of the photo, which participation carries over into his or her interpretation of the photo. The artistic results, effortlessly obtained with Photoca, are achieved by engaging viewers much more completely than when they look at a simple, hi-res, color photo.
“With the same photo you can create many different Photocas, defining the type of effect, intensity and colors,” commented Leonardo Mota of LM Solutions. “Start today creating amazing Photocas!”
Device Requirements: ~> iPhone 3GS/4/4S, iPod touch (3rd/4th generation), and iPad 1/2/3 ~> Requires iOS 5.0 or later ~> Universal app optimized for display on all iOS devices ~> 2.9 MB
Pricing and Availability: Photoca 1.2 is $1.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photo & Video category. Review copies are available on request. Category: Graphics & Design, Photography, Art, Video
LM Solutions: Photoca Photoca Screenshot Photoca Screenshot 2
Lisbon, Portugal – Based in Lisbon, Portugal, LM Solutions was founded by Leonardo Mota in 2011. LMSolutions specializes in sports apps for iOS. Copyright (C) 2012 LM Solutions. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.