iPhone cameras have improved and evolved so highly that they even compete with entry-level complete cameras these days. You can take stunning car photos for social media sharing, videos, and even for professional causes. Nonetheless, car photos taken indoors and outside especially may not have the proper exposure, white balance, brightness, etc., just as you want. At this point, retouching and editing the car photos on iPhone will transform them into professional ones. 

But how do you edit car photos on an iPhone? Should you use the iPhone’st App or the third-party app? Also, how do you adjust the saturation, brightness, and alignment of the car photos so that they grab immediate attention?

We will guide you with straightforward steps and suggestions if you are interested in these questions. In this guide, you will learn the editing steps for car photos using the default app on iPhone and Snapseed. So, let’s dive into the car editing details to turn them into fantastic pieces of art and photography. 

Even many of the stunning car photos you scroll are edited on IPhone. Sounds like a scam,  right? It’s true because IPhones  cameras  can beat many cheap cameras these days and are pretty compatible with mid to advanced real cameras. So getting your desired car photos is all about some editing skills on your Iphone.

 Unlike thousands others out there this guide is not just a pack of recommended apps like Iphone’st or other third party softwares. It will guide you through some step by step processes on saturation, brightness, alignment and all other entry to advanced editing skills . InFact you do it all using the IPhone’s default apps and snapseed. Let’s explore to find out if we do what we preach. 

How To Edit Car Photos on iPhone?

With the ever-improving camera capabilities of iPhones, capturing stunning car photos has become easier than ever. But to make your car photos stand out, you should edit and retouch them only slightly to remove any imperfections. 

Method 1: Use the Default Editor of iPhone To Edit Car Photos  

iPhone offers an in-built photo viewer and editor with unique filters, adjustment options, and enhancement features for photos. You can use it to quickly edit car images and turn them into more professional and remarkable ones. 

Step 1: Ensure you have the latest App

iPhone releases the newest version of its photo editor with each iOS upgrade. In these versions and updates, they fine-tune the adjustment options, add new filters, and offer different options. So, you must ensure you have the latest iOS running on your phone to get all the newest editing options. 

Currently, iPhone is running on iOS17, so make sure you have the proper updates. If you have older iPhones, you can run them in iOS 14 to iOS 16 to maximize the editing facilities. 

You can update the iOS from the settings option of your iPhone. For this, from the settings option, go to the “General” menu and click on the “Software Update” option. Also, the photo editor will automatically take updates once Apple releases the latest version. 

Step 2: Keep a duplicate of the car photo 

You will lose the original car image when you edit and save the images. So, copy the car image to create a duplicate version before editing it. You can work on the duplicate version with it, as the original one remains the same for future use. 

For this, open the image using the default app. From there, go to the “Duplicate” option from the “Share” menu of the app. Once you click and confirm the duplicate version, there will be another image of the car photo. You can then check on the left side of the editor to click on the “Back” arrow to return to your photo library. 

You will find the duplicate image at the bottom of the photo library. You can then select the image as you navigate through your photo library to find the car photo you want to edit. Tap on the car photo to open it in full-screen view.

Step 3: Access Editing Tools

You’ll notice several icons and options at the bottom of the screen as you open the car image you wish to edit. Look for the “Edit” button. Tap the “Edit” button to enter the editing mode.

If you want to use third-party apps for editing the car image, click on the three horizontal lines besides the “Edit” option. It is enclosed in a circle in the screen’s upper-right corner.

Step 4: Crop and Straighten

In most cases, you will find that the car image isn’t correctly aligned. There may be too much space around or behind it. So, you should adjust the composition or straighten the image. 

• Tap on the “Crop” icon for cropping the image. It looks like a square with arrowheads at the bottom of the screen. You can crop the car image manually with your hand. You must drag the rectangular corner of the image to cut it. 

• There are also preset options for auto-cropping the image. You should click the aspect ratio free form option beside the “reset” menu to crop the image. You will find 16:9, 5:4, square, wallpaper, etc., cropping options there. 

• To straighten the image, use the dial at the bottom of the screen. For this, you can slide it left or right. You will get the horizontal and vertical adjustment options and the straightening options. So, from there, choose the one you need. 

Step 5: Adjust Lighting and Color

You can also make basic adjustments to the brightness, exposure, and color of the car photo to remove blemishes and fine-tune it. First, tap the “Adjust” icon in the editor app. It is identifiable with sliders and circles icons located at the bottom of the screen.

A series of adjustment sliders will appear as you open the image adjustments. You can modify settings like brightness, exposure, and color with them. The list includes:

• Exposure
• Brilliance
• Highlights
• Shadows
• Contrast
• Brightness
• Saturation
• Warmth
• Sharpness
• Definition
• Vignette
• Noise Reduction

Let’s see how you can adjust these features to help your videos stand out. 

Brilliance:

Your car photo may not have the right brilliance and details. Thus, it’s crucial to adjust them using the brilliance option. You can drag the slider left or right to modify the brilliance until you find the correct details and brilliance of the car photo. Ensure you use it properly and don’t overdo it. Or the image will look like a burnt one. 

When you slide the brilliance to the left, it will turn the shadows darker. Also, it will highlight the photo better. Conversely, when you slide right, the image will be dark in highlights but will improve and brighten the shadows. 

Brilliance will affect the mid-tone of the image. You can boost the brilliance to improve the car paint and bodywork. It will further add depth to the car image. 

Exposure: 

First, you must adjust the brightness of the image. For car photos, we suggest you choose slightly increased exposure. It will bring out the details and shine of the car, especially in darker environments. However, don’t overexpose, as it can blow out the highlights and make the image look washed out. 

Highlights: 

For car photos on iPhone, you should tone down the highlights. It is ideal for the shiny metallic surfaces like chrome bumpers or headlights. Moving the slider left to reduce highlights will help prevent the metal parts from being blown out. 

Conversely, you can slightly increase the highlight to add sparkle and definition to the car photo. 

Shadows: 

You must check the darkest parts of the image and adjust the shadows accordingly. In car photos, we suggest you lift the shadows slightly. It will reveal better details in areas like under the hood or wheel arches.

Nonetheless, if you increase the shadow too much, it can crush the blacks. So, the car image will look muddy.

Contrast: 

The contrast of the car image will enhance the difference between light and dark areas. If you want the car image to pop up with colors, increase its contrast. For this, move the slider to the right side. It will also emphasize its details.

However, you should keep the contrast of the image to mid-range. Or the image will be too harsh and unrealistic. So, the audience will find the image unattractive. 

Brightness: 

The exposure of the image affects all tones equally. On the other hand, brightness primarily affects the darker areas. A slight increase can, thus, brighten the car’s image. It will ensure that the car photo looks vivid and attractive. 

Saturation: 

The saturation of the image will adjust the intensity of the colors. You can boost the saturation if you want the car body and its paint to look more vibrant. For this, move the slider to the right. On the other hand, an oversaturated car image can look artificial and cartoonish. If the saturation is too much, move the slider to the left to reduce it slightly. 

Warmth: 

With the warmth, you can adjust the color temperature. You can make it warmer (yellowish) or cooler (bluish) as you work with the warmth. A slightly warmer tone boosts the richness of car colors. It is ideal for cars like red or orange.

On the other hand, a cooler tone can add a more modern or dramatic feel to the car image. 

Sharpness: 

Do you wish to improve the car image’s definition of edges and details? You can boost the sharpness if you want the car image to look crisper and cleaner. On the other hand, if you over-sharpen the image, it will become noisy.

Definition: 

The definition of an image is almost similar to sharpness. Nonetheless, it mainly affects the fine details and textures in the image. You can boost the definition to improve the details of a car’s paintwork or wheels. 

Vignette: 

Car images with a slightly darker background and edge look attractive and aesthetically pleasing. It is also ideal to draw attention to the center. You can add depth and drama to a car photo with a subtle vignette filter. Do not use a strong vignette; the car photo will look cluttered and claustrophobic.

Noise Reduction: 

Many times, the car image may be too grainy or noisy. It can be especially noticeable in low-light photos, although the iPhone has a fantastic night mode. You can move the slider to the left side to reduce the noise. It will smooth out a car image and ensure it doesn’t look noisy. If you apply too much noise reduction, the image might become blurry. 

So, be sure to reduce the noise to mid-range to remove only the grains without making it too blurry. 

Remember, the key to good editing is subtlety. Apply these adjustments gradually and use your eyes to judge what looks best for your specific car image. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works for you!

Step 6: Apply Filters

The default photo app of the iPhone provides many filters. You can apply and adjust these filters to enhance the look of your car photo. Tap the “Filters” icon to access the different filters. It resembles three overlapping circles located at the bottom of the screen. 

You can adjust the intensity of the filter effect by sliding your finger left or right on the photo.

Step 7: Save Your Edited Photo

Once you’re satisfied with your edits and enhancements of the car photo, it’s time to save your edited car photo. 

• Tap the “Done” button in the screen’s bottom-right corner.

• Choose from the “Save” or “Save as Copy” option, according to your preference. 
• Choose your preferred option and confirm to save the edited car image. 

Alternative Ways to edit car photo using Snapseed app:

Your iPhone comes with a built-in editing tool called “Photos.” It is powerful; however, it has limited options. Thankfully, there are more powerful apps available for editing car photos. Here are some popular options:

• Snapseed: A free and powerful app with many editing tools.
• Adobe Lightroom: Offers advanced editing capabilities and syncs with the desktop version.
• VSCO: Known for its stylish filters and user-friendly interface.
• Afterlight: Features a straightforward interface with powerful editing options.

For this guide, we’ll use Snapseed to edit the car image. It is free on the App Store and is brilliant to use with an easy UI. 

Step 1: Import Your Photo into Snapseed and make basic adjustments

First, open the Snapseed app. Then, find and tap the “+” sign to extend your photo library. 

From there, you can select the car photo you want to edit.

After that, you can adjust the primary color, tone, etc., to enhance the aesthetics of your car photo. For this, you can choose:

• Tune Image: Tap “Tune Image” to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and ambiance. Use the sliders to fine-tune these settings.
• Crop & Rotate: Use the Crop tool to adjust the composition or straighten the image.
• Details: Enhance the sharpness and structure of the image by adjusting the “Sharpening” and “Structure” sliders.

Step 2: Selective Editing

Sometimes, you might only need to edit and apply the adjustments to specific parts of your car. For this, you should tap and choose the “Selective” tool.

There, carefully tap on the area you want to edit. After that, adjust the area’s brightness, contrast, saturation, or structure. You can use your fingers to zoom in or out of the car photo to change the selection size.

Step 3: Apply Filters

Filters can add a unique touch to your car photos. For quick image editing, Snapseed has different filters. Once you choose the “Styles” option, explore various filters. From there, you can select the one that complements the car photo. Also, you can adjust the filter intensity as needed.

Step 4: Add Drama with Vintage Effects

Do you want to give your car photo a vintage or dramatic look? If so, choose the “Tools.” Option, and from there, select “Drama.” It will enhance the ambiance of the car image. Also, adjust the filter strength to your liking.

Step 5: Adjust HDR Scape

Sometimes, strictly cool-toned car images might look dull and too simple. Instead, HDR Scape can enhance the contrast. It will also boost the clarity of your car. You can apply the HDR scape to metallic elements like rims or grilles. It will improve the incredible metallic sheen for your car photo’s sleek, modern look. 

Step 6: Save the edited image on Snapseed 

Tap on the checkmark icon on Snapseed. Thus, you can save your edited car photo to your iPhone’s photo library. You can confidently import the image as the original image remains in raw format. 

Tips for Editing Car Photos on iPhone Like a Pro:

Editing can only increase the look of the car image and remove blemishes. However, it will turn out worse if you don’t capture the image properly and edit it accordingly. So, follow our suggestions for a perfectly edited car photo on your iPhone. 

• Shoot in RAW: New iPhones support the RAW format. So, you shoot the photo in RAW mode for more flexibility in editing. Use the manual mode on your camera app to control settings like ISO, shutter speed, and focus.
• Lighting is critical: Shoot during the golden hours (early morning or late afternoon) for soft, warm lighting.
• Composition matters: Pay attention to the background, framing, and angles to make your car the focal point. 
• Avoid over-editing: You must stay moderate with filters and adjustments. The image will look unrealistic if you adjust the filters and other options too much. 
• Use presets: Some apps allow you to save your editing settings as presets. You can save the presets to apply the same style to multiple photos.
• Undo and Redo: Don’t be afraid if you make a mistake during editing. Also, you might change your mind about an edit. In such moments, use the “Undo” and “Redo” buttons to return to the previous state of the edited image. It is available in the editing interface.

Undoubtedly, the default Photos app of iPhone is capable. We suggest you explore third-party apps for more advanced editing options.

Conclusion:

It is fun and creative to edit car photos on an iPhone. You can choose the right apps and techniques to turn your ordinary snapshots into captivating car photography. The key is to start with a great shot of your favorite car. 

Then, you can choose the right editing app and follow the steps in this guide to edit the car photos. You should be patient and carefully edit the image to ensure it stands out and becomes a favorite.