Filed under: Odds and ends, Developer, Graphic Design, Snow Leopard
Pixelmator 1.5 Spider update out
As usual, the new version is available for update from right within the current app. For new users, Pixelmator is available for $59 over on their website, complete with a free trial if you want to check out this photo editing powerhouse before buying. I really enjoy using Pixelmator -- it's lightweight and easy to use, and while it's not quite as full-featured as Photoshop (though with every big version release like this, they get closer), it's a great app to do a little image editing in.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
d3bruts1d said 8:02AM on 9-09-2009
Sweet!
Reply
spraximus said 9:05AM on 9-09-2009
How does this do with PSDs created in Photoshop? I'm a web developer and get Photoshop comps from a designer. I need to be able to take a PSD created in Photoshop and slice it up. I've always had to use Photoshop to do the slicing, but that's overkill. Will Pixelmator suffice?
Reply
Wojtek said 9:08AM on 9-09-2009
Pixelmator works with PSD files, opens them and saves them. As far as I can remember even saves layers.
Give it a 30 day try and see. I switched to it a while back from Photoshop. I find Photoshop to be way too expensive, I still use it at work, but at home I prefer Pixelmator and Aperture for photo work
bward74 said 9:41AM on 9-09-2009
I love this app and thoroughly recommend it to those who think Photoshop is too expensive and/or too convoluted (like me). This app is cheaper and does exactly all I need it to do. Glad it now works with SL.
Reply
robogobo said 10:19AM on 9-09-2009
I have Pixelmator from a Macheist bundle a few years ago. I tried it and still found I needed to go back to Photoshop too often, unfortunately. I'd love to be done with Adobe, but PS and InDesign have me trapped. I just opened PM and it updated me to 1.5. Should I try it again? What's improved?
btw, if anyone knows a good InDesign alt, let me know. I even tried using Pages, which is pretty darn powerful. But again, not enough.
Reply
robogobo said 10:20AM on 9-09-2009
ps, I need something that works with Aperture, not just iPhoto. Heck, I'll have to put aside some time for PM now.
Janichsan said 1:25PM on 9-09-2009
>ps, I need something that works with Aperture, not just iPhoto.
I have to admit I do not own or use Aperture, but doesn't it create a Aperture Library (similar to the iPhoto Library) that is accessible via the standard "Open" dialog under "Media"? If it does, this might offer you the Aperture integration you are looking for.
Ken N said 10:35AM on 9-09-2009
Pixelmator ROCKS! For a not artist type (me) this program is a great editor, enhancer. I have PS, but don't use it enough to get reasonably good at it. Pixelmator is easy to use and intuitive in ways that PS is not. And it handles PSD files just fine.
Keep it up Pixelmator.
Reply
D. Toliver said 10:52AM on 9-09-2009
Yay! Except, I'd like to a folder system implemented for the brush palette! It's getting out of control. I don't want to have to go back and forth deleting and reinstalling brushes.
Reply
Aaron Tait said 11:11AM on 9-09-2009
Why isn't this update 64-bit? I'd really like to know their reason. This is a Cocoa app and I doubt they are using deprecated APIs (mostly carbon) that didn't get upgraded for 64-bit.
Reply
Aaron Arlof said 12:56PM on 9-09-2009
Over the last weekend, I spent most of it trying Mac-native alternatives to Photoshop & Illustrator. Sadly, I came up empty.
Where apps like Pixelmator fail is the lack of ability to use anything like Layer Styles that are present in most Adobe apps. Many designers can't produce most of their designs (especially for web or screen) without the flexibility that Layer Styles provide. Is Adobe's implementation of LSs the best? No. This is an area where an upstart like Pixelmator could improve on and expand this aspect of Adobe apps.
The other missing piece is a Mac-centric developer who's willing to get the development force to create a pack of apps that rival Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign and Flash and sell it all for a lower price ($500?). I would love to leave most Adobe apps in the dust because of their bloat and new, *wonderful* (sarcasm) user interface/window system but until the right Mac developer stands up, we're all locked into Adobe's system for the long haul.
Reply
David said 12:42PM on 9-09-2009
Don't think it will be too long, Pixelmator is dramatically getting better by every update. They really seem to listen to there users and I do think that they are aware of the layer style issue.
Janichsan said 1:36PM on 9-09-2009
Yep, layer styles are most important things I'd need to completely get rid of Bloatoshop. The are a few other (smaller) things I'd like to have in Pixelmator (e.g. the possibility to use other colour models than RGB, i.e. CMYK, Lab, etc.), but apart from that I like that program a lot.
Carlos said 5:38PM on 9-09-2009
Great! I've been waiting to upgrade for months! :P
Reply