Publishing independently costs money – there’s no getting around it. A professional edit, typesetting, a cover design – while you don’t have to pay for any of these things, they can make a difference to the look and feel of your finished book. However, independent publishing doesn’t, for the most part, make much money – the majority of authors these days, whether traditional or independently published, rely on secondary sources of income to keep going. So, if you can save money here and there, it’s a bonus.
I’ve written before about using photography, including the potential pitfalls of using images without permission, the different types of stock images available and the effects you can create using your own images. I still believe that, as independent authors, using our own photography wherever possible is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to promote our work. So, when I heard about the Prisma app, I knew I had to give it a try.
This is a photograph I took with my phone the other week, of the ruined cathedral in Coventry. Not a bad photo, if I say so myself. However, when I put it into the Prisma app, it changed completely:
Helen Glynn Jones 
Sure made a HUGE difference! It’s a pretty neat little app
Thanks, Deb! It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?
Very creative, Helen. And it’s always better to do things yourself if you can.
Yes, I agree – then you keep control 🙂 I do work with an editor though – I have to save up and plan ahead for it, but I think it essential 🙂
Funky!
Thanks! It is pretty cool, hey?
This is a really cool app! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Kate! It is pretty cool, isn’t it? Hours of fun 🙂
Great effects!
Thanks! It’s pretty neat, isn’t it?
Some really cool effects there, Helen. I use Picmonkey for all my photo editing, and I love it, but I think I may be quite tempted to give PrismaPrisma a go… it gives quite a cartoony effect, doesn’t it, which I really like.
It’s great, isn’t it? There are loads of other filters as well, those were just the four I tried. So I’m going to have fun playing around with it 🙂 I’ll have to check out PicMonkey as well, haven’t seen that one 🙂
That is a pretty awesome effect! I’m checking the app out.
Excellent 🙂 It is pretty awesome, isn’t it? I’m having lots of fun playing around with the filters (yet another reason to stare at my phone lol) 😉
I am blaming you now for my newest addiction. I tried it out on some of my vacation photos and now I want to print them out on canvas, hang them on my wall, and invite people over for cheap wine and a showing.
*ducks* Sorry! But I do like the sound of your showing, complete with cheap wine ;-D
I may even put out a cheese platter with toothpicks.
Ooh, with pineapple?
I love it, Helen. I’m downloading it as I type this.
Awesome, Hugh! I hope you have fun playing around with all the effects 🙂
That’s awesome. I’ll have to check it out.
Yes, it has some great effects! Hours of fun 🙂
It’s amazing what that app can do!
It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? 🙂
wowza love this, also love apps that do stuff like this, I have a couple – aftereffects and LightX although I haven’t seen image changing abilities this cool. I think you can do stuff like this in photoshop but its SOOOO expensive. There is a 40quid version if you’re a mac user and I downloaded the trial and it was amazing, its called affinity.
Ooh, I’ll have to give that one a try too! 😀
Wow, What a difference, Helen. I will definitely check it out. I purchase photos for book covers, but for blog posts I’m always scrounging. This even looks fun! Thanks for the follow, and I’m delighted to connect 🙂
It’s really fun, and do quick to do! Thanks to you for the follow as well – it’s lovely to connect 😀 x
Wow! That’s really cool!
Thank you! It’s fun, isn’t it? 🙂
This looks like a really fun app. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing it!
You’re very welcome! It’s a really cool app, and definitely fun 🙂
It’s a great app, isn’t it? I can only get it on my phone, though, and I’d love to play with it properly on a computer. Maybe soon …
Yes, I only use it on my phone too – still, it gives some great effects, doesn’t it? Hope it becomes available for computers soon…
Reblogged this on Suzie Speaks and commented:
Helen did a really interesting post about Prisma this month – with so many working towards and completing their own books this is a really useful tool for potential cover ideas!
Thanks for the reblog, Suzie! 😀
I even use it on drawn images to make them better. 😄
Oh, that’s a great idea! Will have to give it a try. Thanks! 🙂
Welcome 🙂
Hey Helen,
Are you interested to try our new app Picas and write an article on it? It is also a photo editing app uses AI technology, can turn your photos into beautiful artworks!
The app is not yet released. Here’s the beta download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.picas.photo.artfilter.android
Please let me know if you’re interested =)
Best,
Miya
Hi Miya! Thanks for dropping in 🙂 I had a look at your app and it’s a pretty cool little tool – I can see a lot of potential in the artwork effects. I’d be happy to write something on my blog, as I think other writers would be interested – of course if you want to use my words elsewhere you’d have to give me proper credit. If you’d like something other than a blog post, email me at helenjoneswriting@gmail.com and we can discuss 🙂
All best,
Helen
Hey Helen, I have sent you an email last week, just kindly ask if you’ve received it cause I didn’t got your reply 🙂