This week I’m reviewing two apps and one website by the developer BeFunky Inc. The Be Funky app can be used to edit photographs from the user’s camera roll or make simple collages (arrangements of two to nine photographs). The Visionn app allows the user to record videos and take pictures with different artistic filters applied. The user can also apply filters to photos that are already on the camera roll. The BeFunky website is a suite that includes photo editing, digital collage, and graphic design functions.
Intended Use: The apps are intended for making art.
Video created with the Visionn app.
Target Audience: The apps are listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. The Visionn app is the simplest of the three and could be independently used by users age seven and up. The BeFunky app can be used by users age ten and up. The BeFunky web suite can be used by users age twelve and up.
Usability:
The Visionn app is easy to use, simply swipe the screen to change filters. The other functions can be changed by pressing icons on the screen (camera for photo and video for video). The center button is the camera shutter/record button.
The BeFunky app is both a visual and text-based app. Users can preview changes before applying them to their photographs and adjust the intensity of the effect.
The BeFunky web suite combines visual and text-based menus. Each filter or change is adjustable and a preview is available. The sheer number of options may be somewhat overwhelming for some users.
Cost:
The BeFunky app is free to download.
The Visionn app is $1.99.
Many of the BeFunky web tools can be accessed for free online. A subscription is required to access to all of the premium features at BeFunky.com ($9.99 per month or $59.98 per year).
Technical Requirements:
Visionn requires an iOS smart device.
The BeFunky app requires an iOS or Android smart device.
The web version of BeFunky can be accessed on any computer.
Pro’s: The apps from BeFunky are relatively easy to use and can create striking effects quickly. The interfaces do not display distracting advertisements. Images and videos created using the smart device apps do not overwrite original files so there is no risk of losing original works. This allows users to experiment with different techniques and make different versions of an artwork safely. The BeFunky photo editor allows for a limited amount of layering. Specifically, users can add text and shapes to their photos which they can edit and move around. This is not the same as other apps including the Adobe Suite, Krita, or GIMP which allow multiple layers of photographs, brushwork, masks, and other adjustment layers with advanced blending options.
*Update: 1/22/2023 Another positive attribute of the app is that it easily integrates with Google Drive. Users can open a photograph in Google Drive, edit it in BeFunky, then save their work back into the drive.
Con’s:
The Visionn app limits the length of live capture videos to four minutes. You can work around this, however, by post-processing videos from your camera roll (there is no length restriction for this). You also cannot adjust the effects (increase or decrease their intensity). What you see is what you get.
The collages in the BeFunky app are essentially photo arrays rather than images that you cut out and assemble back together. This is not unique to BeFunky, however, most of the available apps for “collage” function in this way as of this writing.
The free version of the BeFunky web suite allows access to all of the tools, however, premium tools will leave a watermark on your image. The number of free tools is quite limited (all tools with a blue/green dot are considered premium). As mentioned earlier, the ability to layer is limited to text and shapes.
Is it worth it?
The Visionn app is worth your money if you plan to use it for taking artistic videos. If you are planning on using it for still photographs only you might be better served with other apps.
The BeFunky app is worth while as a basic photo editor. It is easy to use and allows users to create localized changes (e.g. touch-ups, burning, dodging, etc.), traditional photographic adjustments (e.g. brightness, contrast, focus), and artistic effects.
The BeFunky web suite may be a suitable alternative to other, more expensive, subscription-based photo editing and graphic design programs (e.g. Canva is $119.99 per year and the Adobe Creative Suite is $9.99-$54.99 per month depending on which package you choose). If you do not need to use layering to achieve your artistic vision this may be a less costly and more user friendly option for you.
Sample image before edits in BeFunky.
Sample image after edits in BeFunky.