Quick Smartphone Hacks #5 Edits

You now know how to find your camera, find easy tools, work on your composition skills and move in for a cat close-up (or a human!) Now. Have you considered editing? Where are your camera tools to edit an image? This depends on your smartphone but it is usually in an app named ‘Photo’ or ‘Photo and Video’ with a branded icon.

Quick Ways to Edit Your Photo

If you have not edited an image on your phone take time to play around and build your confidence. Yes, it really helps. Here are three easy ways to improve or enhance your photo.

• Crop – to remove untidy or too much background and focus on your subject. The icon is two intersecting right-angles (see below).
• Straighten (aka Adjust) – crooked horizon, or you didn’t hold the camera straight enough? Tap your crop tool and touch the corner where you will see a curved arrow.
• Filter – add a touch of warmth, or a vintage look. You can be subtle and elegant or dramatic and fierce.

If you have a minute read this quick guide to an iPhone & Samsung editing hack.

Photo and Video Editing in the iPhone Photo App (basic)

1. Tap on your photo to view it full-screen.
2. Tap the Edit button (which looks like a slider with three horizontal lines) located at the bottom.
3. Adjust – (Sliders icon): Change light, colour, exposure, brilliance, highlights, shadows, and saturation.
4. Crop or Rotate – Adjust the frame, straighten, or flip the image.
5. Filters – Apply photo filters or swipe through Photographic Styles (on supported models).
6. There are a lot more tools, but these will get you started.

Photo and Video Editing in the Samsung Gallery App (basic)

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app and select the photo or video you want to edit.
2. Tap the Edit icon (shaped like a pencil) at the bottom of the screen.
3. Choose from the toolbars: Transform and Crop: Crop, rotate, flip images, or trim video clips. Adjust/Tone: Change brightness, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and saturation with manual sliders. Filters and Style: Apply colour filters or artistic styles.
4. There are a lot more tools, but these will get you started.

Challenge Yourself

Grab a copy of a fave cat photo. Use your crop tool, and maybe add a filter of your choice. See if you can adjust your tools with a slider.

Marjorie Dawson

Cat Photographer, Instructor and Writer

Marjorie is an award-winning cat photographer, tutor, and published writer based in New Zealand. A Professional Member of the Cat Writers’ Association, she helps cat lovers strengthen the bond with their pets by improving their photography and editing skills through short how-to videos and encouraging, human written and well-researched posts. Marjorie believes anyone can take amazing photos and show off their cats to purrfection!

Professional Member of the Cat Writers Association,
Winner of the Kuykendall Image Award
Published at the Guardian newspaper