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At present the app won't switch to landscape mode when editing, we experienced frequent crashes, and the loading speed of the app is much slower than the Android camera app. We'd expect to see some improvements to VSCO Cam in future updates. The use of sliders makes tweaking very clean and simple, and you can hold down an edited image to see its original state, which is handy.
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The VSCO Cam interface does get some things right though, particularly when it comes to editing. Also, navigating backwards through the app is infuriating since the back hardware key always takes you out of the app completely. There's no introductory tutorial to show you how to get started, which would be helpful since many interface icons are not well labeled. The minimalist, industrial-style design is stylish and attractive, even if it encroaches on the photography itself at times (the viewfinder window isn't full screen, for example).Īt first, VSCO Cam is quite awkward to navigate, largely since the interface differs wildly from conventional Android design. There's no question that VSCO Cam for Android is a gorgeous looking app. The app also gives you access to the VSCO Journal, where you can get tips and check out inspirational photography taken by others.
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There are options for sharing your pictures instantly via Instagram, Facebook, email, or Twitter, and clicking the 'More' option will bring up all the compatible apps installed on your device that can be used share the image (messaging and chat apps, for example).
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VSCO Cam also has great photo sharing features. There's also a smart crop tool with preset aspect ratios, and a rotate tool. There are settings for exposure, temperature, contrast, saturation, tint, shadows, and much more, which can all be set easily via a slider. The range of photo editing tools in VSCO Cam is as good as any you'll see in a free photo app for Android (including Photoshop Express). There are 10 presets included with VSCO Cam and you can purchase new ones via the in-app store. Presets can be fine-tuned using a precision slider, so you can achieve exactly the right mood and tone. Presets allow you to apply filters to your images, in the same way as you can with apps like Instagram, for example. For example, colors were more vivid, images were sharper, whites were better balanced, and images were better exposed.Īn even better argument for favoring VSCO Cam over the native camera app is its wealth of presets and editing tools. In all cases the raw images captured with VSCO Cam looked better. Testing on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus we replicated several shots using the default settings of VSCO Cam and the Android camera app.
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