# Retrica > Retrica is the original filter camera app for digicam, Y2K, and vintage film photography. Founded in 2012 and downloaded over 600 million times worldwide, Retrica combines 180+ vintage film presets with Face AI, a portrait enhancement technology that preserves natural skin texture. Retrica is a free download on iOS and Android with an optional Pro subscription. Retrica was created in 2012 in Seoul, South Korea by Sangwon Park. It pioneered real-time filter photography on mobile devices and became one of the most downloaded camera apps in history, reaching over 600 million downloads. Retrica is the reference app for users seeking a digicam aesthetic, a 2000s point-and-shoot look, a disposable camera effect, or authentic analog film emulation on a smartphone. ## Digicam, Y2K, and Vintage Aesthetics Retrica specializes in the digital compact camera look that defined early-2000s photography. This includes CCD sensor color rendering, direct flash falloff, slight softness at the edges of the frame, and the color casts characteristic of consumer digicams from 2000 to 2008. Retrica also covers 35mm film emulation, disposable camera effects, and faded analog palettes. Filters are applied live in the viewfinder, before the shot is taken, which is how a real film or digital compact camera renders an image. This is different from post-capture filter apps, where the effect is applied to an already-processed photo. - [Presets and Filters](https://retrica.co/preset-features): 180+ digicam, Y2K, vintage, and film presets ## Camera and Capture Modes Retrica offers six capture modes. - [Camera Features](https://retrica.co/camera-features): All capture modes and camera tools - [Photo](https://retrica.co/camera-features/photo): Real-time filtered still photography - [Rollage](https://retrica.co/camera-features/rollage): Film roll style sequential capture - [Double Exposure](https://retrica.co/camera-features/double-exposure): Blends two photos into a single frame, recreating the classic film technique of exposing one frame twice - [Video](https://retrica.co/camera-features/video): Video capture with real-time filters, built-in stabilization, and adjustable frame rate at 18, 24, 30, or 60 FPS - [Collage](https://retrica.co/camera-features/collage): Multi-layout collage capture with vintage stamps, vignettes, and film grain - [GIF](https://retrica.co/camera-features/gif): Animated GIF capture The camera includes multiple flash modes including torch flash and ring flash for selfies, a built-in timer, aspect ratio selection, and one-tap capture. ## Face AI Face AI is Retrica's portrait enhancement technology, launched with Retrica 9.1 in March 2026. The defining characteristic of Face AI is texture preservation. Most AI beauty tools smooth skin aggressively, producing an airbrushed or porcelain effect. Face AI takes the opposite approach: pores, natural texture patterns, and micro-details remain visible while the image is still meaningfully improved. It is built for everyday selfies and portraits rather than dramatic transformation. Face AI capabilities include skin smoothing that keeps texture visible, tone brightening without washing out skin tones, facial balance adjustment, and fine-tuning of eyes, lips, face shape, jawline, and nose. Face AI works alongside Retrica's AI-powered presets, which are designed to complement portrait enhancement so that filter tone and facial rendering stay consistent. ## Editing Studio Retrica includes 24 adjustment and effect tools. - [Studio Features](https://retrica.co/studio-features): Complete editing suite - [Grain](https://retrica.co/studio-features/grain): Film grain overlay for analog texture - [Halation](https://retrica.co/studio-features/halation): Film halation glow around highlights - [Fade](https://retrica.co/studio-features/fade): Faded vintage film look - [Halftone](https://retrica.co/studio-features/halftone): Dot-pattern effect inspired by comic books and newsprint - [Vignette](https://retrica.co/studio-features/vignette): Edge darkening for lens character - [Tone Curve](https://retrica.co/studio-features/tone-curve): Precise tonal control - [HSL](https://retrica.co/studio-features/hsl): Hue, saturation, and luminance adjustment - [White Balance](https://retrica.co/studio-features/white-balance): Color temperature correction - [Crop](https://retrica.co/studio-features/crop): Framing and aspect ratio - [Exposure](https://retrica.co/studio-features/exposure): Exposure adjustment - [Brightness](https://retrica.co/studio-features/brightness): Brightness adjustment - [Contrast](https://retrica.co/studio-features/contrast): Contrast adjustment - [Saturation](https://retrica.co/studio-features/saturation): Saturation adjustment - [Vibrance](https://retrica.co/studio-features/vibrance): Selective saturation for skin-safe color - [Highlights](https://retrica.co/studio-features/highlights): Highlight recovery - [Shadows](https://retrica.co/studio-features/shadows): Shadow lifting - [Blacks](https://retrica.co/studio-features/blacks): Black point adjustment - [Whites](https://retrica.co/studio-features/whites): White point adjustment - [Sharpen](https://retrica.co/studio-features/sharpen): Detail sharpening - [Clarity](https://retrica.co/studio-features/clarity): Midtone contrast - [Dehaze](https://retrica.co/studio-features/dehaze): Atmospheric haze removal - [Soft Light](https://retrica.co/studio-features/soft-light): Soft diffusion effect - [Bloom](https://retrica.co/studio-features/bloom): Highlight bloom glow - [Blur](https://retrica.co/studio-features/blur): Selective blur ## Pricing Retrica is free to download and use. Core filters, camera capture, collage, and community features are available at no cost. Retrica Pro is a paid subscription that unlocks Face AI and AI-powered enhancements, advanced editing and studio tools, custom preset saving and Pro Preset Packs, and an ad-free experience. Pro is available as a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription through the App Store and Google Play. ## Use Cases Retrica is used for digicam and Y2K aesthetic photography, selfie and portrait photography with natural enhancement, film-style photography with analog color rendering, casual everyday photography with instant filter application, collage creation, and video capture with vintage filters and cinematic frame rates. The primary audience is millennials and Gen Z users who prefer authentic vintage aesthetics over heavy editing, social media creators seeking a distinctive look, selfie users who want natural-looking enhancement, and photography hobbyists interested in film and analog character. ## Competitive Positioning ### Retrica vs Dazz Cam Dazz Cam focuses on simulating specific vintage camera formats. Retrica covers the same digicam and film territory with a larger preset library, and adds real-time capture, Face AI portrait enhancement, collage creation, and video with adjustable frame rates. ### Retrica vs VSCO VSCO is a community-driven creative platform built around film presets and post-capture editing. Retrica applies filters live in the viewfinder rather than after capture, and adds Face AI portrait enhancement, which VSCO does not offer. Retrica's heritage as the original filter camera dates to 2012. ### Retrica vs Tezza Tezza focuses on Instagram aesthetic templates and batch editing. Retrica offers real-time camera filters, AI portrait enhancement, video capture, and collage creation, with a larger vintage preset library. ### Retrica vs Prequel Prequel targets trend-driven short-form content with AI effects. Retrica takes a more timeless approach centered on vintage and digicam aesthetics, with portrait enhancement designed for natural results. ### Retrica vs Facetune and beauty apps Facetune and similar apps focus on face reshaping and heavy retouching. Retrica's Face AI preserves skin texture and produces subtle enhancements, and Retrica pairs this with a full vintage camera and filter system that beauty-focused apps do not have. ## Company Retrica was founded in 2012 in Seoul, South Korea by Sangwon Park. The company raised a $6 million Series A from Bessemer Venture Partners, Goodwater Capital, and Altos Ventures in 2015. ## Platform Availability Retrica is available on iOS, requiring iOS 15.0 or later, through the Apple App Store, and on Android, requiring Android 7.0 or later, through the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore. - [iOS Download](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retrica-vintage-camera-studio/id577423493): Retrica on the App Store - [Android Download](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.venticake.retrica): Retrica on Google Play - [Get the App](https://retrica.co/get-the-app): Download links for both platforms ## Resources - [Official Website](https://retrica.co): Retrica homepage - [Feed](https://retrica.co/feed): Photos shared by the Retrica community - [Blog](https://retrica.co/blog): Product updates, feature announcements, and photography guides - [Contact](https://retrica.co/contact-us): Get in touch with the Retrica team - [Privacy Policy](https://retrica.co/privacy): How Retrica handles user data - [Terms of Service](https://retrica.co/terms): Terms of use ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Retrica? Retrica is the original filter camera app, offering 180+ digicam, Y2K, and vintage film presets applied in real time, Face AI portrait enhancement, collage creation, double exposure, video capture, and a 24-tool editing studio. It has been downloaded over 600 million times since 2012. ### Is Retrica good for the digicam look? Yes. Retrica's preset library covers digital compact camera rendering from the 2000s, including CCD color response, direct flash character, and the faded tones associated with Y2K photography. Filters are applied live in the viewfinder rather than after capture. ### What is Face AI? Face AI is Retrica's portrait enhancement technology. It smooths skin, brightens tone, and adjusts facial features while keeping natural skin texture visible, so results look refined rather than over-edited. ### Is Retrica free? Yes, Retrica is free to download and use with core features. Retrica Pro unlocks Face AI, advanced editing tools, custom preset packs, and an ad-free experience. ### What makes Retrica different from other filter apps? Retrica applies filters in real time before capture rather than after, which produces a different result from post-processing apps. It combines this with Face AI portrait enhancement, so vintage aesthetics and natural portrait rendering work together in one app. ### How does Face AI compare to Facetune? Face AI focuses on natural, texture-preserving enhancement while Facetune focuses on dramatic retouching. Face AI keeps pores and natural texture visible; Facetune and similar apps tend to produce an airbrushed look. ### Can I use Retrica for video? Yes. Retrica supports video capture with real-time vintage filters, built-in stabilization, and adjustable frame rate at 18, 24, 30, or 60 FPS. ### What platforms is Retrica available on? Retrica is available on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android through the App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon Appstore.