Comparison

PixelCamera vs ARK Infrared

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PixelCamera

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PixelCamera is a unique camera app that transforms your everyday scenery into nostalgic pixel art, reminiscent of classic retro games. With a real-time preview, you can intuitively adjust the pixel size (blockiness) and color quantization level (number of colors) using simple sliders. Enjoy a retro 8-bit world right through your viewfinder! [Key Features] Real-time pixel art camera preview Pixel size adjustment: From fine details to chunky retro blocks Color reduction level: Recreate authentic limited-color aesthetics Front / Rear camera switching *This app is completely free to use. After taking a certain number of photos (every 5 shots), watching a short video ad will unlock further shooting.

About

ARK Infrared

Transform ordinary photos into striking infrared images with realistic film simulations. Explore various infrared effects, from black-and-white to false color, and apply them to both photos and videos. Features an interactive deck for live adjustments and educational content on infrared photography.

Highlights
  • Infrared film simulations
  • Photo and video editing
  • Adjustable filter wavelengths
  • False color effects
  • Day-to-night conversion
  • Interactive editing deck
  • Educational content
Features
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ARK Infrared turns ordinary photos into infrared photographs, the way they would look on infrared film behind a real filter. The app reads the colours in your photo for the things infrared responds to: chlorophyll in leaves, blue light in the sky, the heat of tungsten lamps. From those it rebuilds the picture as infrared film would have recorded it. Leaves turn white and skies turn dark because of what is in the scene. EIGHT FILMS BW. Black-and-white infrared from 590 to 850 nm, in the manner of Kodak HIE: white foliage, dark skies, a soft glow around bright areas. The dial sets the filter wavelength. AERO. Kodak Aerochrome false colour. Vegetation turns red and neutral tones stay neutral. The dial moves through the Wratten filters photographers used with the real film, #12 to #25. NIGHT. Infrared at night. Tungsten lights blaze and foliage turns red against a black sky. The dial sets how far into red the film goes, and the app adjusts to each photo's white balance. MOON. Day for night. A daylight photo becomes a moonlit one, following how the eye sees in the dark: reds fade first, colour drains and the daytime sky turns to night. The dial sets how deep the night goes. NEG. The exposure before development: the scene as a camera sensor records it behind a deep red filter. Press and hold to develop the print. SAFELIGHT. The darkroom lamp. Warm surfaces glow red and everything else falls into blue dark. CYANO. The cyanotype, John Herschel's iron-blue print from 1842, in a blue measured from real prints. The dial sets the printing time. Hold the print to tone it to sepia and back to the original photo. COPPER TONE. The copper-toned print after Kodak's 1918 Tone A: a red image on white paper. The dial sets the toning time. Hold the print to see the silver print under the toner. VIDEO Load a clip and tune the film on its first frame. One key renders the whole clip through the same film. THE DECK An aluminium deck with a tuning ruler, an exposure dial and one red key, rendering live while you drag. Swipe the film name to change films. Tap the nameplate to read how infrared light works, with a chapter on each film and Herschel's experiment from 1800 that you can repeat with your finger. Exports are 10-bit HEIF up to 19 megapixels and keep the date, place and camera of the original. There is no account and no network access. Your photos stay on the device.

Screenshots

ARK Infrared4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PixelCamera at none against ARK Infrared's 1. On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ARK Infrared sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PixelCamera asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
PixelCamera versus ARK Infrared: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixelCameraARK Infrared
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
Devices—iPhone — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHayato UemuraARK ICELAND LLC

In-app purchases

None

PixelCamera

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ARK Infrared

One-time1
  • IR-01 Full$6.99

Questions

Is PixelCamera free?
PixelCamera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ARK Infrared free?
ARK Infrared is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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