Image effects web apps existed long before Instagram. In fact, even before applying funky effects and showing it off on social profiles became a trend, Photoshop filters were the go-to tools for the job. But then the Instagram phenomenon came in the wake of the iPhone. All of us don’t tote an iPhone, so the hunt for a close alternative took us to InstantRetro.
InstantRetro is a neat image effects app that shares one standout feature with Instagram – simplicity.
InstantRetro takes your photos and gives them a vintage touch. Here, check out the public gallery of photos uploaded by users. The app is so simple to use that you won’t find any page with instructions on them to slow you down. You don’t even need to register and login to play with the image effects to give your usual humdrum photos a new retro-look.
InstantRetro’s image manipulation tools are all on one page. Move the sliders and get a live preview of the changes. You will find controls like Curve, Screenlayer, and Desaturate in any self-respecting image editor. InstantRetro just takes the rocket science out of it with the sliders and toggle buttons. Here’s how my uploaded photo turned out. Not bad.
After you make the basic image adjustments, move to the right and apply any of the effects. You can apply only one at any given time. I just gave it a touch of the “Rounded” filter. Now, it looks like I caught the photo of the iconic bridge sometime in the 1960’s.
Choose to keep the photos public or private with the help of the little checkbox. Save the picture and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumble, Reddit, Google Plus etc. There’s an URL sharing option too. If you want to save it to your desktop, just right click on the image and click Save as…
You can connect it with your Facebook account. You can then save your uploaded pictures and delete or keep them at will.
Take the Chrome app or go with the browser, InstantRetro adds a touch of nostalgia with the retro look.
