Give photos and videos some abstract flair with GeometriCam

GeometriCam - abstract geometric design in real-time ($1.99) by Giuseppe Capozzo is a unique camera app that lets you create stylish, abstract photo compositions. If you want to add some pizazz to your iPhone photographs, then this is one to consider.

Ever since I got my first iPhone back in 2008, I have been taking tons of photos whenever the need arises. It’s much more convenient than carrying a separate camera around, and with the improvements made to the iPhone camera over the years, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a separate device (I’m not a professional photographer anyway). While I love standard photography and editing on-the-go, sometimes I may want to have a bit more fun with my mobile photography, which is where apps like GeometriCam come in.

The design of GeometriCam is simple and clean, which means that it doesn’t get in the way when you want to snap a picture. If you have used other replacement camera apps, then it should all be fairly straightforward: along the bottom will be the large capture button, toggles for a still image or a video, access to the Photo Library, and the choice of changing the abstract appearance. In the viewfinder area, you’ll have buttons for a square or full size image, switching between the front and rear-facing cameras, enabling flash, and accessing a step-by-step tutorial if need be. Due to the distinctive nature of the app, it may take a bit of time to get used to, so I recommend giving the guide a look before you start. Once you get the hang of things though, it’s fast to create cool images and the app is pretty flexible with customization.

As mentioned before, GeometriCam allows you to get images and video into the app two ways: by doing real-time captures with the camera or importing from your Photo Library. Regardless of the method, anything you choose to save or share will be exported in high resolution files. If you do a direct capture, you’re able to switch between both cameras, toggle flash if needed, change the aspect ratio, and even adjust the image cells to be square or snap to the edges. When importing a photo or video, you’ll be able to apply an abstract geometric filter on it while retaining the original.

GeometriCam features over 30 preset filters that you can choose from, which range from circles and rectangles to diamonds and triangles and anything in-between. Selecting a filter renders it on the image quickly, so you can see the results without waiting. Additionally, each filter can be fine-tuned with shape pattern settings (family, shift, levels), color options, and further adjustments for color depth and other settings through sliders. No matter what you’re tweaking, GeometriCam will render changes swiftly, which is nice. Another bonus is the fact that the sliders are accurate and precise, with no annoying movement after you release your finger from the screen.

While the app makes use of buttons for changing the overall appearance, the developer made sure to include intuitive multitouch gestures and shortcuts as well. In GeometriCam, each image is laid out on a grid of cells, and you can drag horizontally or vertically to change the width or height of the cells, or pinch to adjust both at the same time. You can also tap-and-hold on the grid to give it square shaped cells or double-tap to resize the cells so the grid snaps to the frame edge. If you make edits to a preset and prefer your own version, you can save it as a user preset for quick access in the future, or tap-and-hold a user preset to delete it. There is also a mixer that combines multiple presets for a crazy surprise, which can be fun if you’re willing to take a chance.

Any image or video you create in GeometriCam can be saved directly to your Camera Roll, shared via the native iOS Share Sheet, or even copied to Instagram. GeometriCam exports in high resolution so no detail is lost.

I’ve been using GeometriCam for just a short while, but I have to admit that it is a ton of fun. The interface is minimalistic enough so that it stays out of the way when you need it to, but there are plenty of different effects to apply to your photos and videos with a lot of customization and flexibility. The results that you can get out of GeometriCam are bound to make your images stand out among the crowd, and frankly, it’s just a lot of fun.

I recommend giving GeometriCam a try if you are looking for a photo app that turns your images into works of geometric abstract art. GeometriCam is available on the App Store for the iPhone for just $1.99.