New, Cheap Image/Photo Editor for Mac

[Scorpion]

A lot of the features of Photoshop at a fraction of the cost, Pixelmator (http://pixelmator.com/) looks pretty cool. It can even edit and save Photoshop (PSD) files with layers. Yes, there are free programs like Gimp for Linux and there's Corel Photopaint for Windows, but $59.00 isn't bad for what looks to be a pretty robust image editor. I love my Photoshop though. :p

[Scott Pruett]

Interesting... I just skimmed through their user manual... this includes a tremendous amount of PS's capability for 1/10 the cost. There are still some features "missing" compared to PS that I'd have a hard time without, but this looks promising. I bet I could get by with it + Lightroom or C1.

What open source platform did they build this on?? If they used the Gimp engine, they did an incredible job. Gimp annoys me a lot.

Just like your beloved Mac OS X, Pixelmator is also built on open source. It uses a very sophisticated foundation to provide you with the most powerful image editing tools available. More than 15 years of development have gone into Pixelmator.

[Patonb]

Gimp.org

Gotta love it just for its name.

[Zeus]

I've installed and run GIMP on my Mac (http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/), but mostly just to see what X11 looks like. Using X11 for the GUI makes GIMP feel decidedly non-Mac, which was a big deal for me. Calling it ugly is an understatement. The inability to cut-and-paste between X11 and OS X apps is the clincher!

MacWorld has a great 'review' of Pixelmator (http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/creative/2007/09/pixelmator/index.php) with links to those that don't like Pixelmator quite so much (with some very good pros & cons). The lack of CMYK support (promised in future versions) kills Pixelmator for many pros. Acorn is Pixelmator's main competitor, and Photoshop Elements is scheduled for an Intel-native version next year.

Pixelmator is based upon the ImageMagick open-source project (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageMagick) - hence it's rapid development time. It also leverages OS X's CoreImage API to offer many high-quality real-time filters.

Finally, Preview is also getting beefed up in OS X 10.5 (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/02/road_to_mac_os_x_leopard_an_extensive_look_at_prev iew_3_0.html). The market for relatively cheap image editors is finally hotting up on OS X!

Chris.

[Scott Pruett]

bump.

Pixelmator is part of the Macheist bundle this year. Get it + 10 other apps for $49. I did. :)

http://www.macheist.com/

[McDuff]

Scott, so you think it is a safe assumption that they will reach the whatever final $ amount to unlock Pixelmator? Looks like Snapz Pro X should already be unlocked but not showing that way yet.

[Scott Pruett]

both are unlocked already. I have my serials.

[Broknwing]

bump.

Pixelmator is part of the Macheist bundle this year. Get it + 10 other apps for $49. I did. :)

http://www.macheist.com/

lemme get this right....this is 11 programs for under $50....and one of 'em is a graphics editor ala cheaper than Corel...? :D

[Scott Pruett]

lemme get this right....this is 11 programs for under $50....and one of 'em is a graphics editor ala cheaper than Corel...? :D missed this post... yes, but now 14 for $49. :D Currently VectorDesigner is the only one not unlocked... yet. This is a killer package.

www.macheist.com (http://www.macheist.com)

[Broknwing]

missed this post... yes, but now 14 for $49. :D Currently VectorDesigner is the only one not unlocked... yet. This is a killer package.

www.macheist.com (http://www.macheist.com)
Thank you :D
Bought it last night...and VectorDesigner(YEP, a Vector based graphics program!!!!!!) is unlocked now...just waiting on that key to register it as well...

[sjean423]

Making me wish I had a mac ..... :)

[Broknwing]

Making me wish I had a mac ..... :)

You CAN get a Mac... ;) REALLY you can... :) I've encouraged a few others to convert...I can help you along...lol

[Scott Pruett]

You CAN get a Mac... ;) REALLY you can... :) I've encouraged a few others to convert...I can help you along...lol chelle has a point... :D

[Broknwing]

chelle has a point... :D
right on top of my head :p


oh, oh, oh....about the Mac....yeah, that.... ;)

[bob clark]

Making me wish I had a mac ..... :)

Hi SJean,

Have you tried the FREE Paint.NET v3.22 program (1.6MB) (http://www.getpaint.net/) yet?

Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.

It started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool.

It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP.

System Requirements
Minimum System

Windows XP (SP2 or later),
or Windows Vista,
or Windows Server 2003 (SP1 or later)
.NET Framework 2.0
500 MHz processor (Recommended: 800 MHz or faster)
256 MB of RAM (Recommended: 512 MB or more)
1024 x 768 screen resolution
200+ MB hard drive space
64-bit support requires a 64-bit CPU that is running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2003, and an additional 128 MB of RAM

You first need Microsoft's .NET Framework v2.0 (22.4 MB) (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa731542.aspx) installed in order for Paint.NET to work. You may already have v2.0 installed (it may have come with SP2??) so check in XP's Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs to confirm.

Those uppity Mac users! :)

Good luck,

Bob.

[Wise Young]

Several web sites list what people think are the "essential Mac Programs". For example, this site lists 14 programs:
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/01/17/essential-mac-os-x-applications-for-bloggers/
• ecto. This is a desktop blogging tool.
• ImageWell. This is an image editing tool.
• Skitch. This is an image creation tool (beta).
• Twhirl. This seems to be a tool for tracking posts.
• Flickr Uploader. This loads photos from iPhoto to Flickr.
• Cyberduck. An FTP browser.
• Instantshot. This is a screenshot application.
• Captureme. This is a video capture application.
• Adium. Instant messaging.
• Skype. Internet telephony.
• Firefox. Best browser.
• Textedit. Editor.
• Keynote. Slide presenter for mac.
• Taskpaper, Omnifocus, Things. These are all task to-do-listing apps.

I agree with the choice of Skype, Firefox, and Keynote but have other programs that I consider essential for the Mac. Specifically,
• Microsoft Word. This is the quintessential word processor.
• Microsoft Excel. This is the best spreadsheet. Nothing can compete.
• Microsoft Powerpoint. While keynote is better, everybody else uses this.
• iTunes. This is the best music program.
• SRS Wow. This program makes your computer into a great stereo.
• iPhoto. The best photo database. If you are professional, use Aperture.
• Mail. The best mail program for the Mac.
• Adobe Acrobat. Essential pdf program.
• GraphicConverter. Opens and converts any graphic image.
• Yojimbo. Best database for pdf, text, web, and image files.
• WriteRoom. Text-editor that blacks out the background.
• Endnotes X1. This is the best scientific reference database.
• Papers. This is the best database for pdfs of scientific articles.
• Omnigraffle. This is the best object oriented graphics creation program.
• Journier. This is the best journal/diary program
• Texedit Plus. This is the best simple text-editing program.
• Transmission. This is the best torrents download program.
• Missing Sync for Blackberry. This is the best sync program for blackberry.
• Filemaker Pro. This is the best text database on any system.
• Quicksilver. This is the best navigation device for Mac. Sapiens is 2nd.
• SnapNDrag. The best window/screenshot for Mac.
• ScanSnap. Coupled with the Fuji scanner, this is the best scan software.
• Calculator. Part of OSX but most people don't know that it is also RPN.
• ideFrag. The best disc defragmentation program for OSX.
• Superduper. The best backup program (not yet ready for Leopard)
• Appleworks 6. This is still has the best drawing/paint program.
• Statview. I love this program but it is OS9 and will not work on Leopard.
• DiskWarrior. The essential disc directory fixer.

There is of course all the Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) but I am not sure that I recommend them because they are so expensive and hard to use for what they deliver.

Wise.

[sjean423]

Bob, yes I use it as my main photo editor. I originally got it for the clone tool. I think you may have been the one that recommended it to me. (Thanks by the way)

'Chelle, not buying a new computer any time soon .... but am certainly considering a mac when I replace my old laptop. But that is quite a way down the road.

[Lizbv]

Vector designer

does anyone use this regularly and what do you save the files as?

does it read AI files? :thinking: what do you think.....

thoughts plzzz