Daily iPhone App: PhotoMagic is a very capable iOS photo editor and effects generator

I have seen and reviewed many photo filter apps, but after awhile they tend to blend together in my memory. That's not the case with PhotoMagic, a US$0.99 app for the iPhone that goes beyond the mundane color filters we usually see in these apps, and gives you some professional effects to make your images unique.

There are more than 30 filters that change color, add sharpening, give an oil paint effect, apply B&W transformations and many more. There are also some very nice lighting effects, with sparkles, lens flares, glows, textures, etc. Some are not subtle; others are laid back, and yet they can enhance a photo of a person or a landscape.

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The app also has more than 30 frames in mono and color -- some with mattes, while some are plain. I found them tasteful and usable, and none were outrageous, which I have seen in similar apps. Of course the usual tools are included for crop and rotate. There is also a flexible text tool, that allows you to add titles or captions to your photos. Your finished images can be shared via the usual social networks, and of course email.

My only complaint is one that I have with many similar apps. Images are not saved at full resolution. The largest size is 1,600 x 1,054 pixels. The iPhone 5 supports resolutions up to 3,264 x 2,448 pixels. It's always best not to throw away data, but fine to offer saving in reduced resolution, as long as there is still an option for a full-resolution save.

I found PhotoMagic to be an easy-to-use app. No help file was needed. The app is for iPhone or iPod touch only. There is a version for the iPad which sells for $1.99.

PhotoMagic requires iOS 5 or later and is optimized for the iPhone 5.