TopTenREVIEWS

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TopTenREVIEWS - Bronze Award - Awarded for excellence in design, useability and feature set

By Lecia Monsen

Despite being the go-to platform for graphic designers and creative types, there are few image editing software programs beyond the industry gold standards like Adobe Photoshop and other platform-crossovers for Mac users to choose from. Third-party developers and Mac have not always shared the best relations. In fact, for years, running and using programs not manufactured directly by Apple was a gamble. In many ways, it still is. Nevertheless, it is getting better—and Pixelmator is proof of that. And for that reason and many others it is "TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award" winner.

Pixelmator has set out to become an economic alternative to Adobe Photoshop. For the most part, it accomplishes just that. Some features can dip into the “poor man’s” (insert Adobe Photoshop tool/feature), but, by and large it performs and functions similarly to its (bitter) rival and even manages to emerge from its shadow in a few key areas.

Before we get to the long-form critique, the following strengths and weaknesses stood out in Pixelmator during its use:

Standout Features

Open Source: Improvements Come from Within and Without
Automator
Onscreen Notification
GPU-Powered
iPhoto Browser Functionality
Capture Still-Frames from Built-in Mac Camera

Pixelmator Screenshots

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Value:

Pixelmator sets the high-water mark among image editing software programs for its overall value. Coming well under one-hundred dollars without skimping on the program, at all, is almost unheard of. Despite not quite living up to its “$59 Photoshop” boast, it almost does, which is practically a ringing endorsement for Pixelmator.

Editing Features:

Pixelmator doesn’t have an equivalent to PhotoShop’s AdobeBridge or ImageReady, nor does it have vector tools that are important to some graphic design tasks. When it comes to features to lack, these deficiencies are fairly benign, particularly when considering the program’s price tag. What Pixelmator does offer, however, is an array of editing tools and features that range from simple touch-ups and blemish removal to fully automated image optimizers and advanced levels controls adjustments and layering tools. Best of all, Pixelmator offers onscreen notification for each task being executed and offers actual real-time gradient reflection for informed changes, giving the undo button some needed rest.

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