Samsung Galaxy S6 Tutorials, Guides, FAQs, How Tos and Tips [Part 8]

Good day readers and welcome to the latest edition of our series on Samsung Galaxy S6 Tutorials, Guides, FAQs, How Tos and Tips. It’s the 8th part of the series in which you can find helpful tips and guides on the use of the S6 camera and video application as well as the app’s settings management.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge sport a camera hardware and software, which has been simplified from prior Galaxy efforts with clearer layout of the primary functions, but performs better in almost every situation.

Below is an outline of all tutorial topics covered in this series. You can follow the link to jump directly to a certain topic and sub-topics to view/read.

How to Take Photos and Record Videos
How to View Pictures and Videos from the Gallery
How to Edit Photos
How to Share Pictures and Videos
How to Manage Camera Settings and Options

The new Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone comes with a 16 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera that allow you to take sharp pictures and videos. Read on to learn more about your new phone’s camera and its features.

You can access the phone settings menu and learn more about your phone’s camera and its features. In case you need some help doing so, here’s a quick guide for you to get started.

Access Camera Settings

Follow these steps to access your phone’s camera settings:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Camera
Touch the Settings icon located on the upper-left corner of the Camera app screen.
Touch Help to view help topics on camera use.
Touch to select a topic to learn more.

Taking Photos and Record Videos on the Galaxy S6

The S6 Camera lets you take high-resolution pictures and high-quality videos.

Quick tips for best outputs

Wipe the camera lens with a soft cloth beforehand, to ensure clear photos or video outputs, keep it free from dirt, fingerprints or smudges.
Also avoid exposing the lens to direct sunlight for long periods as this may discolor filter and affect the color of pictures.

Follow these steps to take pictures and/or record videos with your S6 camera.

Taking a Picture

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Camera to launch the camera viewfinder or screen.
Position or aim the camera at your subject.
When the subject is within your desired angle, tap the Capture icon.

An indication that the picture is captured is when the shutter clicks. Captured images will then be saved to your phone.

Another way to launch or open the S6 camera app is through the Lock Screen. To do so, simply swipe the Camera (Capture image) icon up from the lock screen and the camera opens.

Recording a Video

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Camera to open the camera viewfinder.
Position/aim the camera at your subject.
When ready, tap the Record icon and the video recording starts.
To pause recording, tap the Pause Recording icon.
To end or stop the recording, tap the Stop Recording icon.

When the camera stops recording, the captured video will be saved to your phone.

Using Different Shooting Modes

The Galaxy S6 camera also offers a number of shooting modes you can use to make your photos or videos special or even better.

Follow these steps to access different camera modes in your new Galaxy device:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Camera to display the camera screen/viewfinder.
To select a shooting mode, tap the Camera Mode icon located on the lower-left corner of the Camera screen.
When the modes display, scroll to and touch a mode to select it.

Available camera modes you can use to enhance photos and videos on the Galaxy S6 are as follow:

Auto mode – used to adjust the exposure to optimize the color and brightness of photos automatically. You can take single or burst shots in auto mode. Burst shots can be taken by holding the Capture icon then start taking multiple shots until you lift your finger.
Fast motion – lets you record videos at a low frame rate for fast motion viewing.
Interval shot – lets you take a picture every few seconds with the front camera.
Panorama – lets you take multiple photos and merge them into one expansive image. You may opt tp create a vertical or horizontal panorama picture.
Pro – used to manually adjust the ISO sensitivity, white balance, exposure value, color tone, and focal length while taking a picture.
Rear-cam selfie – lets you take a self-portrait with the rear camera.
Selective tools – used to blur items in the distance, making objects stand out from the background.
Selfie – lets you take a self-portrait with the front camera.
Slow motion – lets you record videos at a high frame rate for slow motion viewing.
Virtual shot – used to create an interactive tour of your surroundings.
Wide selfie – lets you take a wide-angle selfie shot using the front camera to fit more people into your pictures.
Download – lets you search and download more modes to use with the S6 camera. When prompted, read and accept the terms prior to browsing for new modes.

The Galaxy S6 Viewfinder Screen Items and Layout

Aside from viewing your subject, the Viewfinder screen also provides access to various camera controls and options to manage.

On the left side, you can find the shortcuts menu for you to access frequently-used camera settings such as Effect, Rich Tone (HDR), Timer and Flash. All you need to do is tap on the icon representing the setting you want to use.

Effect is an option used when adding special graphical effect to the picture.
Rich tone (HDR) is used for saving the picture in HDR or rich tone only.
Timer is used for capturing time-delayed pictures or videos.
Flash can be enabled or disabled whenever you want. Flash options you can toggle through (with the rear camera only) include ON, AUTO, and OFF.

Below the Shortcuts Menu is the Camera Settings icon, which when tapped prompts you with the camera settings menu that will let you configure more camera settings.

Items on the right side of the Viewfinder screen are icons for Gallery, Record Video, Capture Picture, Switch between Front/Rear Cameras, and Shooting Modes. Likewise, these items worked by simply tapping on them when necessary.

Gallery – used for viewing pictures or videos in the Gallery application.
Record video – used for recording video. Tap this icon whenever you’re ready to record your video.
Capture picture – used for taking a picture. Tap this icon when the camera is aimed right at the subject.
Switch Between Front/Read Cameras – used to toggle between the front and rear camera.
Shooting Mode – lets you choose a shooting mode to use.

Viewing Pictures and Videos with the Galaxy S6 Gallery

The Gallery application lets you view pictures and watch videos you’ve downloaded, taken with your phone’s camera, or copied to your phone’s memory. You can also use the application for viewing either you or your friends’ pictures on a social network you are on.

Hint: By default, file format for captured photos with your phone camera is JPEG or .jpg while for videos is MPEG4 or .mp4.

You can apply basic editing to any picture saved in your phone using the basic editing tools like cropping and rotating, as well as setting a picture as your contact photo or wallpaper and share it with your friends.

Here’s how to get to the S6 Gallery app:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery to launch the Gallery.
From the Gallery screen, touch Time to open a drop-down list that contains other viewing options to select.
Touch to select other views you prefer to use, like Albums for example.
If you choose Albums view, a list of albums opens. Just tap an album to view its contents. Hint: Tap the Back key to return to the Albums main screen and select another album to view.
For viewing a picture, tap a thumbnail to view the entire picture in full screen.

Hint: You will be prompted with different options while viewing a picture in full screen. Among these are the following:

Favorite – used for tagging a picture as a favorite.
Share – used for choosing a sharing method for the picture.
Edit – used for adding some modifications or changes that would enhance your picture.
Delete – used to erase the current picture.
Camera – used to open the camera app. Works by tapping the icon.
More – used to view other available (picture) viewing options such as Details, Slideshow, Set as contact picture and Set as wallpaper.

If you want to view a video, select a video by tapping on it and it willl be displayed in full screen. Just like when viewing a picture, you will also be prompted with different options you can use. These include, Play, Favorite, Share, Editor, Delete, and More. Just tap any of the options you want to use.

Play – tap to start playing the video.
Favorite – tap to tag a video as a favorite.
Share – tap to select a sharing method for the video.
Editor – tap to edit the video.
Delete – tap to erase or remove the current video from the Albums list.
More – tap to view additional options including Details and Slideshow.

More Hints:

To view an item in the review screen, tap the thumbnail image located on the upper right corner of the camera screen after capturing a picture or video. Doing so will give you access the options to save, view, send or delete the selected photo or video.
To zoom in or out on a picture, pinch the screen or tap the screen twice.
To play, pause, or stop the video playback, use the onscreen controls.
To open a selection menu when viewing pictures and choose what to do with the selected photo or video, tap a picture/video.

Editing Photos on the Galaxy S6

Pictures can be browsed in the Gallery application in either filmstrip or grid view. Tapping on a picture will prompt you with a selection menu with options to delete, rotate, crop picture, and more.

How to rotate and save a picture on the Galaxy S6

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery to open the Gallery app.
From the Gallery screen, tap the picture you want to rotate.
Next, tap Edit (Gallery Edit icon).
Tap to select Rotate from the given menu options beneath the screen.

Once the picture is rotated, it will be saved to the phone.

How crop a picture on the Galaxy S6

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery to display the Gallery screen.
From the Gallery screen, tap the picture you want to crop.
Tap Edit (Gallery Edit icon).
Tap to select Crop from the given menu options beneath the screen.
Touch and hold the edge of the box to adjust the crop box size. When you are prompted with the directional arrows, drag your finger inward or outward to resize the crop box.
If you want to move the crop box to the area of the picture that you want to crop, drag the crop box to the desired size and position.
To apply the changes you’ve made to the picture, touch Save.

The cropped picture will then be saved in the Album as a copy while the original picture is retained.

How to use Photo Editor on the Galaxy S6

You can use the S6 Photo Editor for advanced edits on your pictures like adjusting the tone, straightening, adding visual effects and enhancing portraits. Here’s how:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery to open the Gallery app.
Tap the picture you want to edit.
Tap the Edit icon to continue.
Touch to select Photo Editor to display photo enhancement tools.
Start adjusting your picture with any of the following tools:

Adjustment – to straighten your picture and rotate it freely.
Tone – to adjust the picture’s brightness, saturation, hue, contrast, and temperature.
Effect – to add/apply color effects to the picture.
Portrait – to enhance the portraits’ facial features.

How to create a photo collage on the Galaxy S6

Here are the steps to create a photo collage with your pictures on your device:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery.
Tap a picture you want to add to your photo collage.
Tap the Edit button to continue.
Touch to select Collage from the given options.
To select more pictures for the collage, touch the Plus (+) icon or Add.
Tap the pictures to select them.
Once you’re finished selecting pictures, touch Done.
You will then be prompted with your collage layout.
To adjust or modify your collage, use the tools at the bottom of the screen. Among the editing tools you can use include Aspect ratio, Layout, Border, and Background.

More Hints:

Touch the Aspect ratio icon to adjust the aspect ratio of your collage.
Touch the Layout icon to change the layout of your collage.
Touch the Border icon to add or set a border to your collage.
Touch the Background icon to change the background of your collage.

To adjust an individual picture within the collage by tapping a picture and then use any of the following pop-up menu options:

Replace – to replace or change the selected picture.
Remove – to remove the selected picture from the collage.
Effect – to set or assign an effect to the selected picture.
Adjustment – to resize, reverse, crop, flip, or rotate the selected picture.

You can also drag the selected picture to reposition it within its place in the collage. Once you’re done editing, touch Save to save the collage to the Photo editor album.

Sharing Pictures and Videos on the Galaxy S6

With the Galaxy S6 Gallery app, you can share pictures and videos in different ways. You can either share them through email or multimedia messages, social networks like Facebook and Google Plus and YouTube (for videos). You can also share photos and videos from your S6 to another mobile device or a computer via Bluetooth.

How to share/send photos or videos from your Galaxy S6 through Gmail

Photos and videos can be shared or sent in an email or Gmail message in forms of attachments. Here’s how:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery.
Tap the pictures or videos you want to share or attach to your email. If you want to share multiple items, touch and hold an image to enable multiple select then touch all the items you want to include.
Touch Share.
On the sharing menu, touch Email or Gmail.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete and send the message.

In case you have multiple email or Gmail accounts set up on your device, the default account will be used. To determine which account is being used, check the From line.

Share photos or videos from your Galaxy S6 through MMS

With Multimedia Messaging service (MMS) you can send photos and videos with your phone’s messaging application.

Important Note: While it is possible to send several photos or videos in one multimedia message, it is recommended to just send one at a time especially if the file size is large. Follow these steps whenever you’re ready:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery.
Tap the photos or videos you want to share via MMS. If you want to select multiple items, touch and hold the image to activate multiple select and then touch all the items you want to include to your message.
Touch Share to get to the sharing menu.
Touch Messages on the Sharing menu.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete and send the message.

Share photos or videos with other devices using Bluetooth

You can also use your phone’s Bluetooth feature to send/share photos and videos to other phones or computer. Here’s how:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery.
Tap the photos or videos you want to share via Bluetooth. If you want to share more than one item, touch and hold an image to activate multiple select and select multiple items. Tap all the items you want to include.
Touch Share to continue.
Touch to select Bluetooth on the Sharing menu.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete sending of files to another device via Bluetooth.

Share photos or videos using Additional Apps or Social Media

Another way to share photos and videos from your S6 Gallery is through additional apps or social media. In fact, there are several media file sharing apps and social media sites like Facebook, Google+, Hangouts, and Instagram you can use. Here’s how:

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery.
Tap the album containing the photos or videos you want to share.
Choose the items you want to share. You can also turn on multiple select by touching and holding an image, in case you want to share multiple items. Tap all the items to share.
Tap the screen, and then touch Share.
Tap the app you want to use.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the file sharing process.

How to share videos on YouTube

Before uploading/sharing your videos to YouTube, you need to create a YouTube account and sign in to that account on your phone. Once you’re signed in, follow these steps to start uploading videos.

Touch Apps from the Home screen.
Touch Gallery to open the Gallery screen.
Tap the videos you want to upload to YouTube. You can also select multiple videos to upload by touching and holding an image to activate multiple select and then tap all the videos you want to upload.
Touch Share to proceed.
Touch to select YouTube on the sharing menu.
When prompted, enter the required information for your video like description and tags, and then select a privacy option.
Touch Upload to start uploading your videos to YouTube.
Wait until the upload is complete and your video will then become available to all YouTube users.

Manage Camera Settings and Options on the Galaxy S6

You can use the icons on the main camera screen and the full camera settings menu to adjust your camera settings. Read on to learn more.

How to switch cameras

To switch between the front and rear cameras, touch Apps from the Home screen, select Camera, and then touch the Switch Lens icon from the Camera Viewfinder screen. The camera then switches type.

How to set camera options

You can set your camera settings depending on the situation, event or your own preference. To do so, touch Apps from the Home screen, select Camera, and then touch Settings from the Camera Viewfinder. The camera settings menu then opens with different options you can configure.

Available options may vary depending on the camera type in use (front or rear camera).

And that concludes the 8th part of our Samsung Galaxy S6 Tutorials, How Tos and Tips series.

Please keep posted for more relevant contents to populate our Tutorials Index pages in the following days. We will do our best to provide you with more simplified references from basics to more advanced uses of the new Samsung flagship smartphone.

For more questions and/or guides/ specific tutorial requests on the Galaxy S6, please don’t hesitate to send them to us through email at [email protected], and we will be glad to assist you further. You may also visit our Facebook page to keep track of our latest posts and website updates through Facebook newsfeeds.