Cross Process for iPhone

Old film photos often have a certain look that makes them stand out. One way to achieve that look is by cross processing, a development technique in which various film types and darkroom chemicals are combined to create unique looks. Cross Process by Nick Campbell looks to replicate that concept in the iPhone world.

When you launch Cross Process, a camera immediately opens allowing you to take a photo from within the app that you’ll be able to process. If you prefer to choose an existing photo (as I almost always do) or you’re using an iOS device without a camera, you tap cancel; that brings up the option to select from your photo roll, as well as the app’s settings. (Having a setting that allows you to choose whether to launch directly into the camera or camera roll would be a helpful addition.)

Cross Process offers a few basic options that you can select from within the app. A Process menu allows you to toggle which colors will be highlighted: Red, Green, Blue, and Basic. I was most happy with the results when I toggled one color on and left all the rest off. If too many are on, the results often seem to cancel each other out and appear less noticeable.

You also have the option to add a border to the image and to save the original (which is always recommended). Once you’ve set your options, all you need to do is select your image, or take a new one, and it’s immediately processed and saved.

There are a lot of great iPhone camera apps that allow you to give a cross-processed look to your photos, along with many other popular low-fi options. Having an app dedicated only to one look may be a little limiting, but if you’re looking for a simple, well-designed app for a familiar old look, Cross Process can give you a nice result.

[Macworld contributor Beau Colburn lives in Boston and posts iPhone photos on his site Snap different.]