Jun 4, 2012 2:45 AM

Gallery: Turn Your Pictures Into Plastic: 10 iPhone Tools for Creative Types

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The iPhone is a Swiss Army Knife for makers. It looks like a brick of metal and glass, but with the touch of a button, instantly becomes almost any tool required. No matter if you're a vegan looking for a new way to cook seitan or a carnivore searching for the ultimate grill gadget, there's an app for that. Kids working on their first tree fort, grandfathers building their 1,000th ship in a bottle, and kitchen table crafters alike can use these 10 apps to get inspired, develop ideas, and share their work with the masses. So get that knife out of your pocket and tool up!
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[Frameographer](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frameographer/id503347879?mt=8) __Use Case:__ A slick time-lapse photo app made by Studio Neat, the design team that invented the Glif tripod holder for the iPhone. A glory shot of your finished project is nice, but a movie that shows hours, days, or months of work coming together in seconds is magical (and might help make your YouTube or Kickstarter promo video stand out from the pack). __Cost:__ $2.99

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[iGrill Classic](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/igrill-classic/id445964968?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Soldering is fun, carpentry is satisfying, but grilling is primal. Our ancestors cooked on open fires. They also died of salmonella poisoning at alarming rates. Avoid their unfortunate fate with iGrill, the first meat thermometer that reports information back to your iPhone. Not exactly manufacturing, but an essential tool for meat-makers. __Cost:__ The app is free, but the thermometer accessory costs [$79.99](http://store.igrillinc.com/)
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[PhotoBricks](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photobricks/id487050764?mt=8) __Use Case:__ You thought Instragram filters were cool? Photobricks turns your photos into Lego mosaics! You can customize the size and color to get the perfect plastic replica. Even better, the app outputs a list of all the bricks you would need in order to assemble the image. __Cost:__ The app is free, but buying the bricks to build your mosaic will add up fast.

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[DIY](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/diy.org/id519308960?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Aiming to "make skills heroic" again by creating a digital-age Boy and Girl Scouts, this new app and website invite maker kids to share and rate each other's DIY projects. After signing in with permission from the 'rents, members snap a photo of their masterpiece, then get cheers from the community, who anoint projects with virtual stickers (and real embroidered badges that get sent through the mail). __Cost:__ Free
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[SnapGuide](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snapguide/id421477397?mt=8) __Use Case:__ SnapGuide is a simple way to find and create step-by-step how-to guides. The slick app lets designers, crafters, cooks, and other creative types share an idea or process in a more formal way then just slapping a numbered list on a web page. __Cost:__ Free

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[iHandy Carpenter](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ihandy-carpenter/id293621500?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Imagine needing to take a quick measurement in the field, but not having a measuring tape, or trying to plumb a picture on the wall without a level. This handy little app can help weekend warriors tackle common jams, *and* door jambs. __Cost:__ $1.99
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[Circuit Playground](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/circuit-playground/id492487671?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Designed by open source electronics pioneer AdaFruit Industries, Circuit Playground is a convenient electronics reference that can help n00bs and l33t alike recall the value for a resistor or decode a diode. It's not free, but the app pays for itself by averting soldering mishaps that ruin projects. __Cost:__ $2.99

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[Behance](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/behance-network-creative-portfolios/id489667151?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Like Vimeo for designers, Behance has become the premier portfolio site and social network for creative up-and-comers. The app provides designers with an offline portfolio they can share in person -- in person -- with clients, and a digital version that can be shared the world over. __Cost:__ Free
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[Adobe Ideas](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adobe-ideas/id364617858?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Inspiration can strike anywhere and Adobe Ideas gives designers a pocket sized digital sketchbook to capture it before it vanishes. There are a bevy of drawing apps for iPhone, but Adobe Ideas comes with a complimentary account for its Creative Cloud, making it easy to integrate into your work flow. __Cost:__ $9.99

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[Pinterest](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pinterest/id429047995?mt=8) __Use Case:__ Suffering from creative block? This popular pinboard lets users search for inspiration by topic (time to explore [taxidermy](http://pinterest.com/natemurray/taxidermy/)!) or follow [creative curators](http://pinterest.com/source/risdworks.com/) who offer up a smorgasbord of tasty visuals. __Cost:__ Free

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