App for journalists: Snapseed, for smart photo editing

What is it? Pro level photo editing for non-pro photographers

Devices: iOS and Android

Cost: Free

How is it of use to journalists?

Any mobile journalist worth their monopod will have a range of photo apps to hand for fast and efficient editing away from the office.

Snapseed has been around since 2012 and was in danger of becoming a little fusty with age but a major update, released last week, has put the photo editing app right back at the top of its game. 

New features include a 'spot repair' function for retouching, as well as new filters such as 'lens blur' and 'tonal contrast'. A new brush tool now enables users to apply filters only to select parts of an image for a more subtle, or perhaps striking, effect.


Screenshot from Snapseed showing 'spot repair', used to remove the fallen log, and the selective brush tool, used to lighten the sand.

'Perspective transform' is also a nice addition to the app, filling in any parts of your image which may become distorted as you change perspective with the appropriate background.


Using 'perspective transform' to straighten the horizon, and the tool and filter menus.

The app, owned by Google, now also includes a 'stacks' tool, which lists every edit you have applied, in order, in case you want to remove it.


Using the 'tonal contrast' filter to focus on the tree and show the 'stacks' function.

For old-time Snapseed users, the editing experience is pretty much the same as before, allowing you to add more or less of a function or filter, such as colour saturation, by sliding a finger across the screen.

The result is an easy-to-use editing app for great looking images which is suitable for both novice and professional mobile journalists.

Do remember the ethical issues with trying to pass off doctored or re-touched photos as originals however – a bit of cleaning up is ok for travel pics but a no-no for news.


The finished image.

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