Makers of Camera360 go for a fresh start with highly configurable Mix photo app

The Chinese startup behind Camera360 claims to have over a quarter of a billion users, but that hasn’t stopped the team trying a fresh start for a new and more configurable photo app called Mix, which launched this week.

Compared to Camera360, Mix – now free on Android; an iOS version is coming soon – has lots more filters and several layers of special effects that can be applied on the same image (if you so wish). You can mix and match the filters and create your own presets.

After playing with Mix for a while, it seems like it’s trying to incorporate the best bits of Snapseed, VSCO Cam, Camera+, and Pixlr-o-matic (and, inevitably, Camera360) all at the same time. Mostly it does the task well. You can go overboard with the effects, but often it does a great job of getting the right mood. Here’s a rather disappointing photo I took a few days ago that Mix managed to enliven in just the right way (with the help of some fake fluffy clouds):

The new app also claims to have depth-of-field filters (pictured top) to achieve the close-up focusing of a DSLR, though I suspect it’s actually more like clever use of blurring to simulate a DSLR lens. Either way, the flexibility of Mix to do this will be welcomed by some users.

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There’s no social network element to Mix, so you’re free to go post the resultant photo in apps like Instagram or Facebook.

As with Camera360, the Chinese startup is hoping for a global hit with Mix. Other Chinese app developers doing the same thing include Meitu, which recently came out with Pomelo app, which we also liked using.

Mix is available for Android.