By Nicole Arce, Tech Times
Instagram
takes a jab at photo-editing mobile apps with nine new and slightly
more complicated photo editing tools in its latest update.
The photo-sharing site, whose popularity rests mainly on the fact
that it allows users to take and share good-looking photos without going
through the rigors of Photoshopping them, takes a strategy shift with
the newest Instagram 6.0 app. Instead of snapping a picture, choosing a
filter and sharing it with friends, Instagram users can now choose to
customize individual filters.
For example, using the Valencia filter can lend an antique faded look
to photos, but it can wash out colors in some instances. This time,
users can now adjust the strength of the Valencia filter, and all other
Instagram filters, to maintain the subtle sepia fade without removing
all brightness from the photo.
Aside from adjusting filter strength, the updated app also includes a
variety of editing tools that offer more than Photos on iOS but less
than a full-blown professional photo editing software like Adobe
Photoshop. Instagram now lets users tweak photo brightness, contrast,
warmth, saturation, shadows, highlights and sharpness and darken the
photo's edges for a vintage feel. Users can also view their photos in
before-and-after mode to see what kind of changes they have been making.
"When you go to select a filter, you'll now see a new wrench icon," writes Instagram in a blog post. "Tap it and you'll find a tray of photo editing tools ready for you to explore."
For now, there is no knowing if Instagram's more advanced editing
tools will be loved or loathed by Instagram's 200 million users. One
group of users are casual snappers who take pictures of whatever comes
to their fancy, choose a filter and post to Instagram in a few seconds.
Another group takes their photography more seriously and might even give
their photos a run on Photoshop before sharing their creations with the
rest of the world.