Developer(s) Lightricks Operating system Available in Multilingual (7) | Development status Active Size 42.3 MB Type Photography | |
Facetune is a photo editing application (“app”) used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user’s iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows Phone device. The app is often used for (yet not limited to) portrait and selfie editing[9]. Features allow users to whiten teeth, remove blemishes, smooth skin, reshape, defocus and blur. Facetune users can also choose from a variety of filters, lighting, textures, contrast, and frame options. Demo photos are downloaded with the app for practicing purposes, and a help button is found within each feature. Facetune enables users to share their pictures on a variety of social networking services, including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Instagram.
Contents
Development
The Facetune app was created by Lightricks, Ltd., an Israeli-based startup company. The company was created by five entrepreneurs, who left their careers to found Lightricks and develop Facetune. As of April 2014, the company has grown from its initial 5 employees to 16 employees, including its own in-house creative team.
Reception
Facetune was first released in March 2013 and achieved instant success. Within only a year of its release, Facetune for iPhone ranked #1 in the photo & video category in 107 countries and reached the #1 paid app in over 80 countries (as of April 2014). It was also named one of App Store’s Best of 2013. The Facetune App was recognized by publications such as the New York Times, USA Today, the NY Daily News, The Huffington Post and Mashable.
Criticism
Facetune critics have deemed the app and other “selfie-editing” apps as harmful to those suffering from “negative body image problems” and have criticized such apps for contributing to societal pressures to constantly look perfect.