There's one name that resonates with a particular aura in the world of smartphone photography: Marc Levoy. This computational photography pioneer was one of the main architects of the early Google Pixels' supremacy in photography, phones that left a lasting impression with their ability to produce impressively high-quality images. Even today, the Pixel line continues to impress in photography, while Marc Levoy moved to Adobe a few years ago. He's back in the spotlight today, along with his colleague Florian Kainz, with a new project that could be a game-changer for iPhone owners: Project Indigo.
Launched quietly on the App Store, this free camera app, available for recent iPhones (from the 12 Pro, but Adobe recommends an iPhone 15 Pro or newer for best results), is not just a gimmick. It is the result of a clear ambition, namely to offer an alternative to the often over-processed aesthetics of modern devices and to get closer to a more authentic “SLR-like” rendering, while offering a range of manual controls to the most expert.
The science behind the “perfect” image
Instead of capturing a single image, the application takes a burst of shots (up to 32) which it intelligently merges. This technique, inherited and improved from Google’s HDR+ mode, allows you to capture a much wider dynamic range. Specifically, very bright areas are less "burned out" and shadows reveal more detail, with a significantly reduced level of digital noise.
Adobe insists that this method preserves natural textures by avoiding excessive smoothing, even if it means leaving a subtle grain for greater authenticity. A philosophy that contrasts with the current trend towards sanitized "perfection." Indigo also resurrects "Super Res Zoom," another flagship Pixel technology, which drastically improves the quality of digital zoom by combining multiple images.
The iPhone puts Indigo to the test: the verdict from the field
The first comparative tests between the iPhone's native camera and Indigo are interesting. Faced with the same subject, the results differ consistently. Where the iPhone tends to produce a brighter, Instagram-ready image, Indigo offers a shot that is often darker, more contrasty, but above all more faithful to the real scene, as Android Authority explains.
Que Whether it's a dog's coat, the color of a wall, or the greenery of a path, Indigo seems to better respect nuances and moods. Highlights are better managed, colors more accurate. Apple's application, in comparison, sometimes tends to over-emphasize details and give an overall tint (yellowish or bluish) to the image that moves away from reality. For many, if the iPhone image catches the eye at first glance, Indigo's gains in depth and naturalness upon examination. It's an assumed "look" that approaches the Pixel experience without copying it trait for trait.
A project for the future, still in progress
However, enthusiasm must be tempered since Project Indigo is, as its name suggests, an ongoing project. Early users have noted some teething issues such as slowdowns, crashes, photos not saving, and a tendency to make the iPhone heat up. Additionally, essential features like portrait mode, panorama, and video are currently missing.
But the Adobe team makes no secret of it and considers this application as a "laboratory." The future looks promising with the confirmation of an Android version, the arrival of a high-quality portrait mode, and even "cool computational video features." The last good news is that you don't need to sign in to an Adobe account to use it.
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