PICTAPGO is a compelling photo editing and filter app

With so many apps that provide a barrel of filters, it’s hard to get noticed. But PicTapGo ($1.99) is a very nicely done app that features more than 70 photo effects that are worthwhile and not some of the junk that the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ apps have.

What it does

PicTapGo allows you to layer filters, and a slider let’s you vary the strength of the effect, along with the clarity. Your filter recipes can be saved and used again, and the app also includes a variety of lens effects and vignette tools for corners.

Sending your finished photos to social media is easy and direct, and if you choose Instagram the crop is automatic. Any photo can be cropped to any aspect ration, and there are several pre-sets. The app also includes a rotation/straighten tool that is quite intuitive.

Filters are grouped in sets, like color and mono, or you can see all at once. There are plenty of vintage photo effects too.

Testing PicTapGo

I liked what I saw coming out of this editor. Although it is not the only editor that does a fine job, using it is so easy, and the filters are of such high quality that it is easy to recommend. I liked the look of several photos I edited with PicTapGo, and I can’t say that for every app I experiment with.

My complaints

Of course, no app is perfect. I’d like to see a one touch button button to momentarily take me back to my original, rather than the undo and redo button provided.

And my usual gripe about landscape mode applies here too. The app only works in portrait mode on the iPhone. It’s not optimum for photos taken in landscape orientation.

I also found the background for editing photos less than ideal. There is a solid color option and it’s white(!), probably the worst color for editing. How about basic black in the next version?

Worth a buy?

Nitpicks aside, there is a lot to like with PicTapGo. It’s easy to use, provides high quality filters, and the price is reasonable. There are a couple of in-app purchases for additional filters, but I don’t think they are necessary.

PicTapGo is a universal app, and requires iOS 8. I didn’t see any bugs or issues working with it, either on iOS 9.2 or 9.3 beta.

Recommended.

Download PicTapGo

App Store link: PicTapGo – Totally Rad! Inc.