The app that can convert pictures from negative to positive is called a photo editing application. There are many different photo editing apps available for smartphones, tablets, and computers that offer this functionality. In this article, we will discuss what negative and positive photo effects are, why you might want to convert a picture from negative to positive, and review some of the top apps that can achieve this effect.
What is a Negative Photo Effect?
A negative photo effect refers to inverting the colors in an image so that they appear opposite to how they look in real life. For example, blue skies would turn red, green trees would turn purple, and skin tones would appear very unnatural. This creates an eerie, inverted look to photos.
Photographers may intentionally take photos with a negative effect for creative purposes. However, most often, a negative effect is unintentionally applied to an image due to issues with how the photo was taken or developed.
What is a Positive Photo Effect?
A positive photo effect simply refers to a normal image where the colors are displayed accurately to real life. The colors are not manipulated or inverted. Most people are accustomed to viewing photos in a positive effect.
Converting a negative image back to a positive effect will reveal the photo with its natural colors. This makes the image look normal again, with blue skies, green grass, and regular skin tones.
Why Convert a Negative Photo to Positive?
There are a few reasons why you may want to convert a negative photo effect to a positive one:
- Correct an accidentally inverted image: If a photo unintentionally came out with a negative effect, converting it back to positive will fix the colors.
- Creative control: Photographers can play around by intentionally adding a negative effect, then converting back to positive for an interesting, altered look.
- Improve quality: A positive image is usually more bright, vibrant, and high-quality than the inverted version.
Using photo editing software makes it easy to quickly switch a negative photo to a positive. This opens up creative options for photographers and fixes issues with accidentally inverted images.
Top Apps to Convert from Negative to Positive
There are many great photo editing applications that include the ability to convert between negative and positive effects. Here are some of the top options:
| App Name | Platforms | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | Desktop | Advanced editing tools, layers, masks, filters |
| Pixelmator | Mac, iOS | ML-enhanced tools, batch editing, filters |
| Snapseed | Android, iOS | Selective filters, auto-correct, vignette |
| Polarr | Android, iOS, Web | Presets, overlays, masks, filters |
| TouchRetouch | Android, iOS | Object removal, color control, transformations |
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard in photo editing software, offering professional-level tools for designers, photographers, and graphic artists. While it’s mainly a desktop application, the Photoshop Express app provides pared down tools on mobile.
To convert a negative image to a positive in Photoshop, you would use the Invert adjustment layer. Photoshop provides fine controls over the inversion and allows you to paint it onto specific areas of the image.
Pixelmator
Pixelmator is a powerful image editor for Mac and iOS. It features machine learning-enhanced tools like automatic background removal, quick selections, and intelligent photo enhancements.
The Negative effect can be applied through the Effects browser. Simply paint it onto the image, then change the blend mode to Color to view the inverted version. Toggle it off to return to the positive photo.
Snapseed
Snapseed is a free photo editor developed by Google, available on iOS and Android devices. It has easy-to-apply filters, tools to adjust color and tone, and options to add vignettes and frames.
To invert a photo, open the Tools menu and select the Invert adjustment. You can then paint the effect onto specific areas or apply it to the whole image. Toggle it on and off to switch between negative and positive.
Polarr
Polarr offers advanced photo editing right in your browser, along with apps for mobile devices. It uses AI to power many automatic enhancement tools. The wide range of overlays, masks, and filters provide extensive creative options.
The Negative filter can convert images to a negative effect. Adjust the opacity to control the intensity. Polarr also makes it easy to stack filters, adjusting each one independently to craft the perfect look.
TouchRetouch
TouchRetouch focuses on efficient photo editing and retouching on mobile devices. Along with handy tools to remove objects and blemishes, it provides color control options.
The Invert Colors adjustment lets you switch the colors of a photo negative. You can apply it to the whole image or use the brush to paint it only onto specific areas.
Achieving the Best Results
When converting negative photos to positive, keep a few tips in mind:
- Avoid overexposing the inverted image, as too much brightness can blow out details.
- Increase contrast moderately to make the positive version pop.
- Adjust color balance and saturation to fine-tune the final positive image.
- Apply extra sharpening to compensate for softness introduced by the negative effect.
- Use selective inversion to keep some areas intentionally negative for creative effect.
Take advantage of the editing tools in the app you choose. Most provide control over brightness, contrast, color, shadows, highlights and more. This will help optimize the positive photo after inverting from the negative version.
Conclusion
Converting photos from a negative effect to a positive one is an easy and powerful technique. Photoshop provides the most advanced suite of inversion tools, but mobile apps like Snapseed also include great options accessible right on your phone.
Creative photographers can explore using negative effects and conversions to open up new possibilities. It also serves as an efficient fix when dealing with accidentally inverted images.
Knowing how to quickly convert those eerie, unnatural negative photos into vibrant, positive images is a useful skill for any photography enthusiast to have.
