News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

September 26, 2007

software

Pixelmator 1.0 released into the wild

Posted Sep. 26, ’07, 9:19 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Software

PixelmatorAn image editor here, an image editor there, everywhere an image editor. The latest addition to the arsenal of low-cost image manipulation programs is the long-awaited Pixelmator, which has finally been released this morning.

Not unlike Flying Meat’s Acorn, Pixelmator is aimed at the user who doesn’t need the full power of Photoshop, but wants something like 75% of the functionality, with a much smaller footprint. It leverages the power of Apple’s Core Image technology, and offloads the processing to the graphics card where possible. You’ll find layer-based editing, the usual assortment of painting tools, the ability to layer in iSight pictures directly from the application, iLife integration, and the full complement of filters and effects.

The interface is super shiny, with black palettes floating hither and thither, tool icons that pop out at you, and wacky filter interfaces (you’ve got to check out the panel for Kaleidoscope—triptastic). It stands very much in contrast to Acorn’s approach, with its single palette, which just goes to show you there’re always multiple ways of solving the same problem.

Pixelmator will run you $59, and it requires 10.4. Future 1.x updates will be free to users.


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