fx

Great photo effects, but substandard workflow

FX Photo Studio (iPhone | iPad) lets you edit images on your iPhone, add multiple effects, then add stylized text for a unique look. The app includes all the basic image-editing controls such as brightness, contrast, and color balance, along with cropping and rotation tools.

But where FX Photo Studio shines is in the amount you can do with your photos by selecting from an enormous number of effects. As of this writing, FX Photo Studio includes 190 high-quality effects you can add to your images. You can also combine effects for virtually limitless combinations. But while the app features a … Read more

Add image FX and overlays with Splash FX

Splash FX is a very simple app, but often when it comes to photography and the act of adding bits of flare to an otherwise pedestrian (or potentially funny) photo, that's all you need. Featuring multiple free filters, a speedy development time, and the option to export in multiple sizes, Splash FX is a great free photo-editing and FX tool for the iPhone. While not as powerful as many other paid apps (or its own paid version), the free version offers just enough features and has just the right balance of smart design to be worth a download.

When … Read more

Direct movies and add special effects to your videos with FX Guru

Why bother paying big bucks to put explosions, crashes, and other special effects goodies on your home movies? This app lets you take a video and then add one of several cool special effects to it. FX Guru is a really cute novelty to show off to friends and make them look like movie stars.

The app starts you off with three special effects. You can add more than a dozen more by ponying up a few bucks. The preloaded effects -- which are mostly disaster movie explosions -- should be more than enough. Each effect lasts about 10-15 seconds, … Read more

Amazon nabs exclusive rights to stream 'Justified'

Amazon has scored a deal to distribute a couple of FX shows online, dealing another blow to rivals Netflix and Hulu.

The online retail giant today said it has reached a content licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television to make Amazon Prime the exclusive location to watch FX's "Justified." It also said it would now offer episodes of "The Shield," but that show is not exclusive to Netflix.

Prime subscribers can watch the shows for free, while other Amazon visitors can purchase and download episodes for $1.99 apiece.

"'Justified' and 'The Shield' are … Read more

Nikon delivers wide-angle complement for D600

Nikon hasn't lacked for full-frame wide-angle zoom lenses -- the 14-24mm f.8 is a yumburger -- but with the shipping of the D600 new Nikon adopters faced a rather limited choice of lenses that didn't cost as much as the camera. Nikon rectifies that with a new AF-S 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 FX lens which is better-priced to go with that camera at $749.95.

The lens is ostensibly designed to be compact and lightweight (about 13.6 ounces) to match the lighter D600 body as well. Other specs include a minimum focus distance of about 11 … Read more

Process photos with grand effects using FX Photo Studio

If you're looking for a decent photo editor without breaking your wallet, FX Photo Studio for Mac is a solid solution. It comes with plenty of tools and filters for post processing and adding flare to your photos.

Upon launching the program, users are welcomed with a slick, dark interface that directs your attention to the photo itself. The layout makes great use of screen estate and the interface is clean and uncluttered. The overall experience of Photo Studio really focuses on bringing out the elements and emotions that you want out of the photo through its custom filters … Read more

Add Hollywood-style effects to your iOS videos

As all movie-makers know, if you want to put butts in the seats, you need splashy special effects.

Like, say, an explosive missile strike or an alien attack. And who doesn't love a massive car crash?

Bad Robot Interactive's Action Movie FX 2.0 lets you add Hollywood-style effects sequences to the movies you shoot on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

It works like this: Choose a sequence, then start filming. When you're done, the app lets you choose where in the clip to insert the effect. After a few seconds of rendering, presto: you've … Read more

Applying fire, smoke effects to images is easy with Motion FX

Autodesk Motion FX is an effects plug-in for MacBook and iMac that works with the camera to give you some way-cool images. There's quite a bit built in to Motion FX, but the easiest way to learn what it does is to download it and play with it for 10 minutes. Do that and you might be hooked. Motion FX requires Mac OS X 10.7, so if you haven't upgraded yet this is a good reason to do it! Installation is easy.

To use Motion FX, you select an effect and it is applied to the image … Read more

Enhance your photos with HDR FX

If you thought photo editing on an iPhone was limited by touch and the device's 3.5-inch screen, you must try out HDR FX, a free, intuitive piece of digital photo software designed for the iPhone.

At launch, the app looks like any other app used for taking images, yet it has additional features such as antishake, which is very handy for taking clear pictures. However, HDR FX goes beyond just providing a set of tools with which to take cool pictures. Right after you've snapped an image, the fun begins, as the app begins to analyze it … Read more