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7 Best Free Color Inverters To Invert Colors on iPhone and Android

Last Updated on Mar. 8, 2024 – by David Morgan
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5 Best Apps to Invert Colors [iOS & Android]

It was once quite strenuous to invert colors in a photography darkroom. Fortunately, in today’s digital world, color inverter tools are incredibly simple with the right app.

Tons of color inverter apps claim to be the best choice to invert images. But a quick glance through the reviews on the App Store or Google Play Store tells a different story – a parade of glitchy photo inverter apps with too many ads.

How can you find the best apps to invert colors without downloading tons of duds and paying for multiple subscriptions? We’ve done the leg work, so you don’t have to. Also, we will teach you how to invert a picture on iPhone and Android with the best photo inverter — PhotoDirector, and how you can utilize other photo editing tools to level up your inverted pictures.


What Is Color Inversion?

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Color inversion is a visual effect that transforms the colors of an image or display by converting each color to its opposite on the color spectrum. This process creates a unique and often surreal appearance, where the original colors are reversed, resembling a negative-like effect. It is commonly used in photo editing to add creativity and artistic flair to images, altering the visual perception of the content.

Snapshot of the Top 3 Free Photo Inverters

PhotoDirector Logo

1. PhotoDirector - The Best Overall App To Invert Colors

PhotoDirector is the best photo inverter for you to invert images in one tap. It is also a photo editing app with a bunch of useful features like object removal and photo collage maker. More Info >

2. Negative Image - The Best Color Inverter for Negative Effects

Negative Image is a straightforward app that allows you to apply the color inversion effect to a single photo or multiple photos in one go. More Info >

3. Negative Me - The Best Choice To Invert Images

Negative Me is a free photo inverter that does simple color inversion without annoying advertisements. More Info >

7 Best Free Photo Inverters to Change Colors on iPhone and Android

1. PhotoDirector - The Best Overall App To Invert Colors

Best Overall App To Invert Colors

Compatibility: iOS, Android

PhotoDirector is the best photo inverter to invert images. You can isolate a single color to invert and then adjust the intensity of the inversion. All you have to do is choose a photo from your library, a stock image, or use the built-in camera to take a photo on the spot. Then tap the “Invert” icon, and you will get your color-inverted picture in one second.

PhotoDirector App - Features

For advanced users who want to adjust the invert details, you can also use the color curves to invert colors and adjust the level and intensity for a more unique look.

PhotoDirector has tons of color adjustment tools with an easy-to-use precision slider. Adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, saturation, sharpness, temperature, tint, and HSL for a fully customizable look. Read More: Change the Color of Objects in Your Image on iPhone & Android

You can invert all the colors on the RGB color wheel or isolate red, green, and blue tones. Choose up to 6 points in a single image to isolate tonal adjustments.

PhotoDirector App - Remove People

Besides color inverter tools, PhotoDirector is the best all-in-one free photo editor to remove objects from a photo, make collage photos, apply image overlays, and apply the best filters to photos.

It comes with an extensive library of stock images and cool effects like blur and glitch. Add text, stickers, and filters and adjust with precision tools. It can even beautify people in pictures with tools like face smoothing and blemish removal.

PhotoDirector is always at the forefront of the latest photo trends and technology because it is updated monthly. With so many editing tools and effects, PhotoDirector is surprisingly easy to use, with guided edits and tutorials when you need them.

Best of all, you can get the PhotoDirector app for free.

2. Negative Image - The Best Color Inverter for Negative Effects

Negative Image Demo

Compatibility: Android

With Negative Image, users can apply a negative effect or invert images. Apply the effect to a single photo or multiple photos in one go. You can even choose only a part of the photo to invert colors, leaving the rest of the image untouched. You can share your creations directly to Whatsapp, Facebook, or Instagram.

Negative Image also lets you turn old film negatives into actual photos, and it enables you to choose a part of a photo to alter and lets you simultaneously apply effects to several images. 

Negative Image is a quick and straightforward color inverter to apply a negative effect to your photos or turn negatives into normal color photos. However, the free version offers almost none of the features listed above, has tons of intrusive ads, and hasn't been updated in a year. Also, there are buttons instead of adjustment sliders to change brightness and contrast, so you don't have much control over the look of the images.

3. Negative Me - The Best Choice To Invert Images

Negative Me Demo

Compatibility: iOS

Negative Me has an invert colors function allowing users to convert between the negative and positive of an image in one click. Choose a photo from your library or take one with the built-in camera. It will invert colors in less than a second. You don’t even have to push a button; the change happens automatically.

The app has a window in the corner of every inverted image showing the original. You can also hit the Demo button to see half of the image as regular and half as inverted.

If you don’t like the look of the new image, you can hit the Reset button to try a different picture or Save/Share photos that you do like. Key features of the app also include a built-in camera.

Negative Me is free with no annoying ads. It is a good choice if you want to invert colors of an image and don’t need to make any tweaks. Unfortunately, the app does not offer color adjustment tools or the ability to control the intensity of the effect.

4. Negative Photo - The Best Choice for Negative-to-Photo Functions

Negative Photo

Compatibility: iOS

Negative Photo is a photo negative scanner and maker. With it, you can take photos and simultaneously apply effects with the built-in camera, meaning you can instantly use the color inversion effect. Also, the app has a scanner to upload old photo negatives and turn them into regular photos.

Along with negative, there are other fun effects and photo filters to apply, like cartoon, edge, and sketch filters. Once you have applied effects, you can use sliders to control the intensity and transparency, and then share your creations on social media.

Negative Photo is an excellent choice if you have many old negatives you'd like to digitize as regular-looking photos or simply want to invert colors. It's a great way to keep your memories safe. However, the free version of the app only allows you to invert images. You can't even try out the other features without a subscription.

5. Negative Photo Effects HD - The Best Choice For Adding Effects to Particular Areas

Negative Photo Effects HD

Compatibility: iOS

Negative Photo Effects HD is a brush-on effects color inverter and photo collage maker. Using the finger brush tool, you can apply the negative effect to your photos. Choose the brush size and apply the color inversion effect only to the objects and people you choose.

The app comes with filters, stickers and effects you can apply to your photos or take a new photo with the built-in camera. You can also use the app to change the background color and add elegant patterns. In addition, there are over 30 collage layouts with customizable grid sizes, borders, and backgrounds. Key features also include an invert filter.

The brush tool in Negative Photo Effects HD is a fun way to add effects to a single object in your photo. The odd thing is that there isn’t a way to add the color inversion effect to the entire photo - you have to use the brush tool. There is also no eraser tool to help clean up the edges of the object you brushed. You have to start the process over if you go outside the lines, which is easy to do with your finger.

6. Negative Photo Video Maker - The Simplest Color Inverter for Photos and Videos

Negative Photo Video Maker

Compatibility: iOS

Negative Photo Video Maker can invert colors in any image. You can invert images with Negative Photo Video Maker by tapping the button or using your finger to draw areas where you want to invert colors.

You can turn an ordinary photo into a scary picture or into an old negative camera film. More than a simple photo inverter, Negative Photo Video Maker also provides negative camera frames and other filter effects to apply to both photos and videos.

7. Image Filter Photo Editor Tool - The Most Beginner-Friendly Photo Inverter

Image Filter Photo Editor Tool

Compatibility: iOS

Image Filter Photo Editor Tool provides Photoshop-like filter effects to iOS users. You can download the app on iPhone and iPad and apply a color inverter filter with the easy-to-use user interface. Saturation, brightness, and contrast can be adjusted individually by simply dragging the slidebar. 

Besides being a beginner-friendly photo inverter, Image Filter Photo Editor also includes other effects like comic effect, crystallize, and dot screen to make your images funnier and more unique.

How To Invert a Picture on iPhone and Android

Download the PhotoDirector app and follow along with these simple steps to invert the colors of a photo.


  1. On the app home screen tap Edit, then open the image you want from your Library or Stock images, or use the built-in camera to take a picture.
  2. PhotoDirector App - Adjustments
  3. Tap Adjustments from the bottom menu.
  4. PhotoDirector App - Curve
  5. Scroll through the menu and tap on Curve.
  6. PhotoDirector App - invert colors
  7. Move the ball from the bottom left of the curve to the upper left. Then move the ball in the upper right to the bottom right.
  8. The line going across the curve should now be going in the opposite direction and your colors are now inverted!

To learn more about inverting the colors of a photo on your smartphone, check out: How to Invert Colors of a Photo [iOS, Android]

How To Level Up the Inverted Pictures

Color inversion is a special photo editing technique that not everyone is familiar with. Why not take this opportunity to learn more interesting editing skills and make your inverted pictures even more unique and creative? Keep reading and learn about how PhotoDirector — the best color inverter and photo editor – can level up your inverted picture.

1. Apply Other Color Adjustment Tools

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PhotoDirector is not only a perfect photo inverter, but also a photo editing expert. Just try other color adjustment tools like Exposure, Contrast, Shadows, HSL, and so on.
Learn More: Change the Color of Objects in Your Image on iPhone & Android

2. Make A Photo Collage

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PhotoDirector offers a wide array of free collage styles – classic, minimalist, polaroid, and more, catering to diverse preferences. Why not try turning your inverted images into collages?
Learn More: How To Make a Photo Collage on iPhone & Android

3. Remove Unwanted Objects

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Distracting or irrelevant objects in the photo can be annoying, especially in works like color inversions where a clean canvas is crucial to focus on the main subject. PhotoDirector can help you remove unwanted objects in very simple steps.
Learn More: 10 Best Free Apps To Remove Objects from Photos on iPhone & Android

4. Add Some Stickers

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PhotoDirector doesn’t just provide multiple styles of stickers and animated stickers. You can easily create your personalized stickers with the “Cut Out" feature in a matter of a few clicks. Just try adding some interesting stickers to your inverted pictures and wow your friends with your editing skills.
Learn More: How To Add Stickers to Photos Easily on Your Phone

5. Turn It Into AI Animes

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to combine anime features with color inversion? Probably not, as they seem unrelated. But PhotoDirector can make everything happen, and the results are surprisingly fascinating. Let's come together and create magical, creative, and fun photos!
Learn More: PhotoDirector | Instantly Turn Your Face Into an Anime Face

Download PhotoDirector-The Best Photo Inverter

Inverting the colors of an image is a straightforward process. However, while there are a lot of photo inverter apps out there that do it, many include highly intrusive ads and are glitchy.

Thankfully there is one app that stands out among the rest - PhotoDirector. It has several options to invert images using its color curve tool.

Using the color curves, you have more control over the level and intensity of your color inversions. Plus, you can invert colors for the whole RGB color wheel or isolate red, green, and blue to allow you to create unique looks.

Beyond color inverter tools, PhotoDirector lets you create stunning works of art with jaw-dropping visual effects, beautiful filters, AI Anime, object removal, sky replacement, and so much more.

PhotoDirector is easy to use and an excellent choice for anyone beginning to explore their creativity.

FAQs About Photo Inverter

1. What Features Should I Look For in a Color Inverter?

The top three features you should look for are

  1. RGB Color Conversion
  2. Separate R, G, and B conversion
  3. Customizable color curve

If you’re looking for a color inverter that checks all of these boxes, we recommend PhotoDirector.

2. What is the best Photo Inverter on Phone?

Among all photo inverters, PhotoDirector is no doubt the best app to invert colors. Not only is the UI simple, but it also provides the best effect to invert images. As the best photo editing app, PhotoDirector can fulfill your every need when creating pictures.

3. What Is the Best Color Inverter Software on Windows and Mac?

  1. PhotoDirector Essential - Best Overall Software
  2. Photopus - Best for Batch Processing
  3. IrfanView - Best Graphics Viewer
  4. Adobe Photoshop - Best for Professional Photographers
  5. Adobe Illustrator - Best for Professional Illustrators

Learn about each in 5 Best Color Inversion Software [Windows, Mac].

4. How Do I Invert Images on Windows and Mac?

To invert the colors of a photo on your Windows or Mac device, download PhotoDirector and follow along with the steps below:


  1. Click on Adjustment from the top menu.
  2. Underneath Adjustment will be two options: Manual and Preset. Click on Manual.
  3. Scroll down until you see Curve.
  4. Choose RGB to invert all the colors in the photo, R to only invert red, G for green, or B for blue.
  5. Click on the bottom left of the line running through the curve and drag it to the top. Then click on the top right of the line and drag it to the bottom.
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