Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Cool tools, Leopard, Graphic Design
Pixelmator 1.1.3 updates move, crop and zoom
The Pixelmator folks have updated their clean and simple picture editing app once again, and there are a host of new features and improvements on board for this one. The crop tool was the first thing that caught my eye -- it's more powerful than ever, as you can crop layer masks, set a rotation point, and constrain proportions with the palette. The zoom and move tools got some usability updates as well. All in all, it's a nice little update, and there's enough stuff in here to call for another try if you weren't into the functions of Pixelmator before.1.1.3 is a free upgrade for current Pixelmator users. For you non-users, a trial is free from their website, or the full app is available for $60.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dominik H. said 9:50AM on 2-22-2008
It's $59. ;-)
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Jeff said 9:56AM on 2-22-2008
Pixelmator people: Please please please implement a line tool. This is a very basic image editing feature and, in my opinion, should have been included with 1.0.
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ryan said 10:29AM on 2-22-2008
Line tool!
Kevin said 10:28AM on 2-22-2008
I'm holding out for rounded corners.
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philucerian said 10:52AM on 2-22-2008
the export to jpeg feature is still lacking.
there is a slider for setting the JPEG compression level, but no indication of the exported file size or preview of how it will look.
great piece of software, but unfortunately this one nit pick is preventing me from finally giving adobe photoshop the boot.
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obtusegoose said 11:07AM on 2-22-2008
It's great that they're fixing bugs and adding features. But I'm still waiting for basic text alignment: left, right, center. Can't use the program without being able to align text.
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Alex said 11:25AM on 2-22-2008
Gradient and color overlays!! I need those to make pretty things! ;-)
Yes and a friggn LINE TOOL!
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JClark said 1:31PM on 2-22-2008
I'd like to see some sort of alignment guides or even just a grid to snap to. Look at the way programs like OmniGraffle let you know when you're lined up with the center or edge of another object, and even how it shows you right there how big the object is when you're adjusting it, and other objects whose size it matches.
Add those to Pixelmator and it'll become many times more useful for me.
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Cody said 2:02PM on 2-22-2008
I recommend Acorn over Pixelmator any day
http://www.flyingmeat.com/acorn/
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Anthony said 4:49PM on 2-22-2008
I want to buy Acorn but it doesn't have rotate!!! Drives me mad. :)
McManus said 2:04PM on 2-22-2008
Pixelmator is a great toy and all, but I still can't recommend it as my #1 pick because:
1.) No 'History Brush' -- Until this feature gets implemented (it's basically my bread-and-butter for my photography style), I'm stuck with Photoshop. They have not commented on my feature request for this in their support forums, either.
2.) No HDR capability -- They have actually mentioned that support for this will 'eventually' come, but until it does my second favorite tool of choice remains with Photomatix (or alternatively, Photoshop).
(FYI I use Aperture as my workflow manager and do 90% of my edits there, so my complaints are mostly within that additional 10% of polish I add on top of my photos)
~McManus
(a slightly dissatisfied Pixelmator customer)
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McManus said 10:32AM on 2-24-2008
I rescind my previous comment: duplicating a layer, modifying it, and then adding a layer mask gives me the exact functionality that a history brush would. Actually, I take it back; the layer mask is even BETTER since you can actually undo accidental strokes.
If you're trying to do photo-editing, Pixelmator isn't too bad, but it definitely isn't stand-alone. I tried using it last night without Aperture and realized some tools were missing, or at least I haven't been able to find them yet (such as highlight recovery).
Overall it's a nifty tool with a lot of promise. Add some HDR and other tools (which they're supposedly working on) and you've got a very cost-effective and nifty photo-editing package.
~McManus
fd said 4:23PM on 2-22-2008
This program is so limited in the feature dept and far behind other applications that do individual things much better; that it will be long time before I pay $60.
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wdympcf said 6:26PM on 2-22-2008
I was really excited about Pixelmator when it first came out, but it has been a bit of a letdown. Despite all of the hype about it being blazingly fast, I find that it runs very slow. I can't even use my Wacom tablet with it, because Pixelmator lags behind the input.
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Marshall said 6:35PM on 2-22-2008
Pixelmator is obviously being developed very actively. I hope they can make time to add a ruler (or some other way to measure) to make their tool even better.
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george said 6:51PM on 2-22-2008
still no ruler? still no buy. sorry.
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John Russell said 1:14AM on 2-23-2008
Too bad it can't do drop shadows and pixel-perfect measurements yet.
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Andrius said 3:47PM on 2-23-2008
Šaunuoliai Dailidės :)
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