Every major social network now lets you post videos, but not every photographic situation is improved by video. With this week’s App of the Week, you can add a little depth to a still image just by moving your phone a little.
Slide is an app by Little Pixels that lets you easily create a stereoscopic-like GIF with your iPhone. Just tap your screen, slide your phone and then tap your subject. Slide will analyze the high-speed video it just took and create a GIF that looks like it’s in 3D. You can then share that GIF as a short video on Instagram, Twitter or wherever you tend to share photos. Here’s a slightly creepy video explaining the process.
Not every photo warrants the app; images without a lot of depth or with no clear subject may not benefit from the 3D effects. And the app does take some trial and error to figure out how to move your phone. According to the (hilarious) FAQ, “just try one smooth horizontal motion, ya goober.”
But once you get down the effect, making a killer GIF is pretty slick. Adding a little movement to your photos is a breeze and really helps them stand out in a crowded Instagram feed. It’s also really easy to experiment with, giving you different results if you move your phone slowly, or move it horizontally.
Slide is iOS only and available for $1.99 on the App Store. It also requires a newer iPhone, one that’s able to record high frame-rate video, in order to perform its magic. If you like it, check out Little Pixel’s other iOS camera app, Manual, which gives you full control over your iOS camera’s exposure, shutter speed and ISO.
