Pixelmator Adds New Color Profile Management and CMYK Support

[MacRumors]

Pixelmator, which was recently name-checked by Phil Schiller during the iPad mini media event, has updated its image editing software to include CMYK support, as well as a new feature called "Soft Proofing" that allows users to apply different color profiles to images in order to get a better idea of what the image will look like in the real world.

In the digital world, colors can be defined in many ways, and when it comes to precision, a feature called Soft Proofing comes in handy. Soft Proofing lets you quickly apply different color profiles to your images so you can get an idea of how the outcome, such as the printed image, might look. That's right, CMYK lovers, now you can preview and work in CMYK colors.

On top of that, thanks to the sRGB standard, the image colors inside Pixelmator will also look better. The sRGB color standard is widely used on most devices you come across every day, such as digital cameras, scanners, or even your iPhone. This means that the colors of images you edit in Pixelmator will look absolutely perfect outside Pixelmator and across all of your Apple devices.

Pixelmator is available on the Mac App Store for $29.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Pixelmator Adds New Color Profile Management and CMYK Support

[Sean4000]

My dream has come true. CMYK support at long last!!!!

The last reason for me to use photoshop has been nullified. We can finally leave PS behind at long last.

My Company, Visual Electric Co., will save thousands of dollars on licenses Adobe will now lose out on. We're tired of paying out the nose for Photoshop. Amen for competition.

This will be a day long remembered.

[bruinselmann]

This application is just fantastic, and a shining example of how successful an app can be when it's priced properly. This, for a lot of users, has replaced Photoshop, for God's sake - and it's just $30!

Now, if only they were to release an iOS version...

[BornAgainMac]

CMYK support. I don't know what that means but I like it.

[Jamieserg]

Recently started using pixelmator to replace photoshop CS4. Haven't looked back. brilliant app. brilliant price.

[extricated]

Originally Posted by bruinselmann

This application is just fantastic, and a shining example of how successful an app can be when it's priced properly. This, for a lot of users, has replaced Photoshop, for God's sake - and it's just $30!

Now, if only they were to release an iOS version...

I've wondered about picking it up. CMYK support is great to hear.
Does anyone else out there think it's a viable alternative to Photoshop?

[kevinfulton.ca]

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

CMYK support. I don't know what that means but I like it.

Web and video use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color standards while print uses CYMK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK). Not a big deal if your editing for digital uses, but this was one of the last pieces needed for me to cut my Photoshop ties. At least for home use.

[coder12]

They've been great with updates lately, I love the retina support, and CMYK is just icing on the cake

[gnurf]

Originally Posted by extricated

I
Does anyone else out there think it's a viable alternative to Photoshop?

It's at least an alternative to the Lite edition. I'm no artist, but I have some print material that could benefit now. Pixelmator will continue to get my attention if it keeps improving like this

[Johnf1285]

I love Pixelmator it's the best app I use it suites my needs from a web design standpoint wonderfully. A great Photoshop replacement. Wonder if they'll ever consider an Illustrator type of app?

[iLuvMyMacToo]

Great news! I recently went to Pixelmator because PS is getting way to expensive to maintain every time Adobe decides to update... er upgrade.. it. I've done most of my recent designs with Pixelmator and CMYK support is just what I wanted.

[kevinfulton.ca]

Originally Posted by extricated

I've wondered about picking it up. CMYK support is great to hear.
Does anyone else out there think it's a viable alternative to Photoshop?

It's a BIG time viable alternative, but it depends on your needs. I'd say it rests comfortably between PS Elements and PS. If all you need is the core PS features (masking, brushes, color replace etc.) then you'll love this app. If you need Layer Styles, Actions, or want to rotoscope a video clip then you'll need to buck up the big bucks for the full version of PS. For under $50 it's worth it just to check it out. Chances are you'll still use it for simpler tasks, because once you get used to the UI (it takes a little bit) you'll be blown away by how fast it is.

[scottrichardson]

Give us non destructive layer styles, adjustment styles, and I'll switch tomorrow.

[andyone]

Now if only Pages would finally support CMYK...

[Michaelgtrusa]

Love it! updated went well.

[MacDav]

Hmm...Might give it a try. I use Photoshop for just about everything related to Photos and creative changes.

[CrickettGrrrl]

I totally, absolutely LOVE this app! Going to download the update now, yay! I prefer it to PhotoShop now, ---just doodling or quickly laying out an idea even, just more fluid than PS. Every update is icing on the cake.

[Exotic-Car Man]

Now if only my color printer printed that quickly...

[CrickettGrrrl]

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

I love Pixelmator it's the best app I use it suites my needs from a web design standpoint wonderfully. A great Photoshop replacement. Wonder if they'll ever consider an Illustrator type of app?

Try iDraw, it's in the Mac App Store, and looks a lot like Pixelmator. I've been using it to do vector tutorials from Vector tuts+. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but is still viable, and wonderfully fluid.

----------

Originally Posted by extricated

I've wondered about picking it up. CMYK support is great to hear.
Does anyone else out there think it's a viable alternative to Photoshop?

Go to PXM-Tuts.com and check out the lessons there. I use both Photoshop and Pixelmator, and Pixelmator has become my first choice for doodling ideas & beyond, it's just great. The developers have been issuing a lot of updates with added features. Show some love and maybe we'll get some layer styles, & other goodies too. Pixelmator does a lot stuff that Photoshop does, but somewhat differently. Do some of the tuts online and it's easy to get the hang of it, so fluid to Mac. Feel like I'm just scratching the surface.

[Razeus]

Still no 16-bit editing support????

[r.harris1]

Originally Posted by Razeus

Still no 16-bit editing support????

Considering at one point the developers said they weren't ever going to deliver CMYK (at least in my memory reading their forums), my guess is that 16-bit will happen at least reasonably soon.

[mrsir2009]

Originally Posted by bruinselmann

This application is just fantastic, and a shining example of how successful an app can be when it's priced properly. This, for a lot of users, has replaced Photoshop, for God's sake - and it's just $30!

Now, if only they were to release an iOS version...

Sure has It was a good alternative to Photoshop for me, as it has everything I need (and a lot more) and it's at a reasonable price. No wonder everyone pirates Photoshop when it costs over $500...

[sylwiusz]

Well, actually the other Photoshop alternative - Photoline, had been CMYK-compatible for many years. Not such a eye candy but I think it is still closer to Photoshop in terms of features, than Pixelmator. You can download trial at http://pl32.com/

[Yvan256]

I'd love to see 15-bit, 16-bit and 18-bit color reduction (with dithering options), because not all LCDs are 24-bit.

I'm also wondering if their Web slicing tools have improved since the last time I tried the demo version.

[baryon]

It's great to have a well-priced, modern and minimalistic application like this in a world where Photoshop is pretty much the only pixel editor out there. Adobe has a lot to learn from them!

On the other hand, Photoshop has so many features that it's nearly impossible to replace it for someone who needs things like Scripting, Smart Objects, Adjustment Layers, etc. Photoshop is fantastic, but it's important to have a solid alternative and know that you don't need Photoshop unless you need some quite specific things.