Flickr for iOS gets a revamp with new filters and photo editing tools

Yahoo has released Flickr 2.20 for iPhone and iPod touch, a major new update to its app for quickly sharing and uploading photos using your iOS device’s camera.

The new build adds three major new filter-based features to its roster, plus adds new camera tools while dropping the paywall on some of the more professional editing tools. Both sets of tools are also jazzed up with new animated transitions for "the best camera experience yet".

The mobile app debuts a brand new set of filters that appear to have been inspired by Yahoo’s recent acquisition of GhostBird, the publisher behind PhotoForge and KitCam on iOS.

In addition to this, users can also apply live filters to their snaps, allowing them to preview various effects and use them as a lens while snapping the shot. Finally, if users don’t like the stock filters provided, they can be further customized to personal preference.

The update also adds a number of tools to help take better photos, with grids, pinch-to-zoom support, focus lock and improved exposure management controls, allowing users to ditch other third-party apps for snapping photos for use on Flickr.

Yahoo has also removed the paywall on its professional editing tools, meaning users can further enhance their photos with the help of enhance, crop, sharpen, adjust color, use levels and vignette adding tools among others without having to pay for the privilege.

The end result is an app that gets a much-needed update to close the gap on rival photo-sharing services like Instagram. Flickr 2.20 for iPhone and iPod touch is available as a free download now. Also available is Flickr 2.1 for Android.