A new version (3.0.5.30) of Nokia's Lens app Cinemagraph is now available from the Windows Phone Store for Windows Phone 8 devices, adding support for the application of effects (filters) to the animated GIFs produced by the app.

After capturing a new cinemagraph, or when editing an existing cinemagraph, the app now has an "enhance" option on the toolbar that leads to a menu choice of "loop+speed" and "effects". The former gives access to the previsouly available controls for editing the length, loop point, and speed of the current animation. The latter gives acccess to the new effects screen, which gives the option of applying a filter to the current animation.

The effects available in Cinemagraph (Silver, Ivory, Seashell, Quartz, Jade, Aquamarine, Amber and Opal) are a super-set of those found in Nokia's photo editing and enhancement app Creative Studio and allow an added level of creativity. As in Creative Studio the different effects available are displayed in a filmstrip, with a live preview shown of the current cinemagraph.

Depending on the size of the current cinemagraph filters take between one and ten seconds to be applied. Once you have applied a filter it is necessary to save it as a new cinemagraph. That's because, unlike the animation areas, loop, and length controls, you can not come back and edit (remove) a filter at a later time. However, it is possible to apply multiple filters on top of one another, which allows for some truly weird colour and styling combinations. 

Nokia's Cinemagraph app debuted with the Nokia Lumia 920 more than 6 months ago, but Nokia has issued a number of update in the intervening time, adding support for social sharing and portrait cinemagraphs. It has also made the app available for Windows Phone 7.5 devices.

The latest update is a nice extra, although imaging purists may be horrified at the thought of applying detail-reducing photos... on the other hand they're probably too horrified to be using a "gimmicky" app like Cinemagraph in the first place!

Windows Phone Store description:

Cinemagraph is a magical blend of photo and movie-like animation, creating pictures that seem almost alive. Take a photo, landscape or portrait, and helpful on-screen assistance lets you easily select the animated area of your picture to create your very own cinemagraph. The end result is enchanting.

This latest release gives you even more control over your cinemagraphs, with options to edit the length, loop type and speed. Plus, there are also filter effects you can add, like silver, sepia or black and white.

Cinemagraph, which is exclusive to Nokia devices, can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Store for free. The latest update is only available for Windows Phone 8 devices.