Photo Editing App Development -Features , Cost & Process

In today’s world of Instagram pictures and snaps, a photo editing app has become a holy grail for a lot of people out there. Everyone including celebs, influencers and even the common people use top photo editing apps to edit their pictures.

For example, there are several Instagram image editor tools readily available for people to use. Furthermore, not just for personal use, these tools are often used by professionals for their work. Today one can easily edit photos and earn money using these photo editing apps like VSCO, Photoshop, etc.

If you are wondering how you can build your own photo editing app, then you are just at the right spot. With this Idea Usher guide we will understand all the aspects of developing a photo editing app including its features, tech stack, development costs, etc.

So let us begin!

Required Team and Tech Stack for a Photo Editing App

Developing an app is a daunting task. It is not possible for one person to develop a whole app single handedly. Thus, you will require a team to start your development process.

Before getting into the technical aspects of an app development, let us have a look at required team structure for a photo editing app development. 

A photo editing app development team must consist of following members:

• Business Analyst
• Project Manager
• UI/UX designer
• Android developers
• iOS developers
• Back-end developers
• QA engineers/Testers
• PR team

So this was all about the required team structure for your app development. Now, let us have a look at the necessary tech stack for a photo editing app for iOS and Android. 

For Android app development, developers can use Java or Kotlin. As far as iOS is concerned the two most used programming languages are Swift and Objective-C.

Furthermore, for developing a photo editing app, developers can use Open Graphics Library (OpenGL). It is an application programming interface that is used to write apps with vector graphics.

So this was all about the required tech stack for a photo editing app. However, this is not the final tech stack that you will require to develop your photo editing app. The final tech stack will depend upon the technology you want to incorporate in your app. Furthermore, it also depends upon your business goals and aspirations from the app. 

How Does Photo Editing Apps Work?

Now let us have a look at how a photo editing app works. We have divided this process into five simple steps. So let us begin with the first step!

• Step 1. Uploading a photo. The first step is to upload the image that you want to edit. Modern photo editing platforms provide an opportunity to choose a picture from the image gallery. Furthermore, you can also take the snap instantly.
• Step 2. Choosing the desired filter or preset. After selecting the pic, users need to try and use the filter they like the most. Additionally, the photo editing apps also offer to adjust the filter strength. There are also other settings available to adjust the brightness, exposure, contrats, stc of the images.
• Step 3. Editing the photo. Photo editing applications offer many options for changing and enhancing the photo. For example, users can crop or rotate it, tilt it, adjust saturation, and more.
• Step 4. Saving the picture. After you are done making all the changes, visitors want to save a new picture to the device. They can do so by simply clicking on the save option or the save icon on the photo editing app.
• Step 5. Sharing the edited image on socials. The last step is sharing the edited image. Certain applications, like VSCO or Snapseed, also offer its users to share the edited photo on social networks without even leaving an app.

So this was all about the working of a photo editing app. All the photo editing softwares and tools works the same way as described above.

Key Features of Photo Editing Apps

In this next segment of our blog let us have a look at some of the most basic features of a photo editing app. 

Basic Features of a Photo Editor App

• Upload Image
• Apply filters
• Crop an Image
• Retouching Tool
• Rotate and Tilt Option
• Eraser Tool
• Collage Maker
• Save Image
• Share on Social Media Option

Advanced Features of a Photo Editor App

Some of the more advanced features of a photo editing app include:

• Augmented Reality(AR) Filters
• Change Background
• Add Frames
• Vector Masks
• Slice Tool
• Pen Tool
• Smart Objects

These were some of the top advanced features of a photo editing tool like Adobe Photoshop. All these advanced tools will make sure that your photo editing apps stand out from the rest. 

Top Photo Editing Apps of 2023

Ever wondered what is the best picture app for Android? Or which is the top photo editor for iphone? Or even which is the best selfie photo editor app in general?  Well we have answers for all your queries. So let us have a look at some of the best photo editing apps of 2021.

1. VSCO – is a top-notch platform for photo and video editing. It is free tool with in-app purchases available. It is one of the top photo editing tools available out there. Furthermore, it is also regarded as the best app for filters and is very popular among Instagram influencers and users.
2. Snapseed – is a free photo editing platform. Furthermore, it is the best photo editing Android app. It was originally developed by Nik Software but was subsequently taken over by Google. Now, it is available for Android- and iOS-based smartphones and tablets. Snapseed offers a wide variety of editing tools and filters to edit pictures.
3. Afterlight – Afterlight is one of the oldest  photo editing apps that is present in the market since 2012. It is readily available as a free download but has a number of in-app purchasing options for its users. 
4. Facetune2 – Facetune as the name suggests is one of the most popular applications for selfie editing and all sorts of other retouching applications. Originally developed in 2013, for just iOS platforms, Facetune2 was later released on both Android and iOS platform in 2016.

Related Read: The ultimate review on best photo editing apps in the world.

So this was all about the best photo editing tools of 2021. All these photo editing tools are extremely popular among the users across the globe. For anyone who is thinking of developing a similar app must keep in mind that this market is extremely competitive.

How to create a photo editing app?

If you’re interested in creating a photo editing app, there are a few things you should consider in order to make sure your product stands out from the competition. Here are some key steps you can take to develop a unique and successful app:

1. Identify your target audience and niche

Before you start creating your app, it’s important to define your target audience and the specific niche within photography that you want to focus on. This will help you tailor your app’s features and functionality to meet the needs of your target users.

2. Conduct market research

Research existing photo editing apps in the market and identify areas where you can differentiate your product. Analyze customer reviews and feedback to understand what users like and dislike about existing apps. Use this information to create a feature set that will set your app apart from the competition.

3. Choose a platform

Depending on your target audience, you may want to consider developing your app for iOS, Android, or both. Consider factors like market share, ease of development, and user behavior when deciding which platform(s) to target.

4. Plan your app’s functionality

Sketch out a rough idea of your app’s features and functionality, including basic editing tools like cropping, brightness adjustment, and filters. Consider advanced features like object removal, background replacement, and special effects to differentiate your app from others in the market.

5. Choose a design style

The design of your app is crucial to its success. Choose a design style that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. Consider factors like color scheme, typography, and iconography when designing your app’s interface.

6. Build a prototype

Use a tool like Figma or Sketch to create a wireframe of your app’s interface. This will help you visualize your app’s functionality and make necessary changes before beginning the development process.

7. Develop your app

Hire a team of experienced developers to build your app. Use a software development framework like React Native or Flutter to speed up the development process and ensure your app works seamlessly across different devices and platforms.

8. Test and launch

Test your app thoroughly to identify and fix any bugs or issues. Once you’re confident your app is ready, launch it on the App Store or Google Play Store. Consider running a marketing campaign to promote your app and attract new users.

How can Idea Usher help you to Build the Best Photo Editing App?

Photo editing apps are in huge demand due to the widespread social media and fast fashion. Today everyone wants their pictures and selfies to be insta ready. Hence, a top photo effects app is what everyone wants.

Looking for a top notch app development company to develop your photo editing app? You happen to be at the right place. Idea Usher is a leading software and app development company that designs web and mobile based solutions for you.

From design to development, we have got you covered! Our team of the best developers and experts will guide you through each and every step of app development be it designing or the marketing of your app. We will cater to all your needs and requirements to produce the best customized solutions.

Furthermore, we use cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Development, Machine Learning, and complement them with human-centric UI/UX design to offer solutions that are futuristic and result-driven.

Our services are not just limited to just designing and developing your app. We offer our services post your app’s launch too- like support and maintenance. We will help you to form effective PR strategies to boost up your app’s performance and its ROI in the market. 

What are you waiting for then? Contact us today to get your dream project started!

Wrapping Up

We hope you enjoyed reading our insights on how to build a photo editing app? With the advancement in AI technology there are many new features introduced in pre-existing photo editing apps such as Prisma and VSCO.

Till now you have understood that photo editing apps are in a huge demand. Thus, investing in developing a photo editing app today is more relevant and profitable than it was ever before.

However, there is tough competition in the market. But one can easily surpass its peers by building the right business strategies and incorporating advanced technology. This can easily be achieved by hiring the right app development company. 

With Idea Usher we can help you build the best photo editing app in the market! Don’t believe us? Check out our portfolio to know more!

FAQs

1. How much does it cost to build a photo editing app?

The development cost of any photo editing software or application is often the most talked topic. Similarly, it is also one of the most important things that you have to consider very thoughtfully when working on developing a top photo editor for Android and iOS.

However, the answer to this question is not that straightforward. We have to consider a lot of factors to find out the actual cost of development. These factors include Geographical location, Target Platform(Android or iOS), Integrated Technologies, App Complexity and App Design.

Henceforth, developing an app in the USA or Europe is relatively higher than developing an app in any other part of the world.

This even stands true for technology stack and your app design. To conclude, the more advanced features in the app, the more will be the cost of development. Apart from UI/UX designing and front and back end development, testing tools also costs a fortune.

Considering all the factors, the cost of a photo editing app development with all the advanced features and similar user interface can go anywhere between $3000 to $50000. The price can even go up depending on other advanced features like AR filters. 

2. How can I monetize my photo editing app?/ How to get paid for editing pictures through image editing tools?

One should ensure that you have excellent monetization strategies for your photo editing app. It is extremely crucial to have a stable source of income to keep your business running. There are various ways you can monetize your app like- Running Third-party Ads on your app, In-app Purchases for add-on Features and Flat Fee( at the time of app download).

One can also earn a substantial amount of money by editing pictures for others using online photo editing tools like the famous photoshop app, VSCO, etc.

3. Should I outsource the app or build it in-house?

Another question that is asked often is if you should outsource the app or build it-in house. Well according to our experts it is best that you should outsource your app. There are so many advantages of outsourcing your app like it reduces the risk factors for your customers. Additionally outsourcing your app saves a lot of time and is extremely cost-effective. 

Furthermore, outsourcing your app in the marketplace increases your professionalism by providing access to marketplace data.

Also Read: 10 Reasons why you should outsource.