Pixelmator 2.0 Launches Tomorrow, With Content-Aware Fill and Full Lion Support [Now Available]

[bagelche]

I wish the mods on this forum would at least temporarily ban you for making such ridiculous comments for guest and other members to read. I mean it when I say your posts are OFFENSIVE. They are an insult to my intelligence and others. This one is especially an insult to every graphic designer whos spent more than 5 minutes and 30 dollars on getting to a professional status.

Funny, this is kind of how I felt after reading your screed, but I don't need the moderators to ban you.

I work with pros and I work with amateurs and bar none know-it-all pros (who don't) are the worst to deal with.

Not every pro works in the same way on the same content with the same needs, therefore not every pro is alike. Pixelmator will meet the needs of some and will not meet all the needs of others--fine. These same arguments are swirling around FCPX. I use it for some thing, 7 for others, and Premiere for yet others. In some shops X is a flat out no go--I see that, but in other cases it's a terrific tool. On the Creative Cow forums right now is a thread on how FCPX is being used for the current World Series broadcasts--seems pretty professional to me. Same with Pixelmator.

Wikus, stop being so close-minded and condescending to other tools and solutions (and people). Frankly, that is not "pro" behavior and I would not hire anyone who acted that way--it demonstrates a lack of mental flexibility that I expect for problem-solving, let alone being in the field of creativity. And it just comes off as jerky.

regards.

 

[Porco]

Just got version 2... liking it so far. Really I think there is no harm in having both Photoshop Elements and Pixelmator for the average user. The more tools you have at your disposal the better.

 

[CylonGlitch]

Funny thing is, I purchased Pixelmator by accident when the AppStore first came out. I was clicking on it to look at it and clicked too many times. So I ended up buying it. It was on discount at the time; but man it was was the best accidental purchase in a long, long time. It's my go-to app for anything graphical, and now a free upgrade to v2.0, I'm loving it!

 

[knhirt]

Painting with Pixelmator is still pretty slow. Simple sketching (using a tablet) is unbearably laggy, while photoshop handles full-on painting with ease on my 2010 Mini.
I'd switch immediately if I could sketch and paint on Pixelmator, but my computer just can't handle it.

 

[MyFakeAcc]

Is Pixelmator better than PSE 10?
Since Lion I need a replacement for my old rosetta PSE.

 

[ee4life]

You just don't get it. Installing a tool on your computer doesn't give you any understanding of typography, composition, illustration skills, character design etc. etc.

Installing a tool on your computer also doesn't provide you with an original idea.

By your logic anyone with a simple enough version of Autocad on his computer could come up with great industrial design. So Jonathan Ives design of Apple products is really nothing special, because anyone on the street could have done it given a simple enough software.

By your logic I'm a carpenter because I can hold a hammer.

I think you're being overly harsh in your analysis. Being able to hold a hammer doesn't make you a master carpenter immediately, but being able to buy a significantly cheaper hammer with fewer whiz-bang features than the expensive one gives you the opportunity to learn carpentry in a way that will satisfy your needs. And those whiz-bang features eventually trickle down to the cheaper models, making it possible that non-pros can grow as the tools they are getting comfortable with do. That doesn't mean there won't be a pro market at all. Sometimes there is no substitute for formal training or artistic gifts, but sometimes you just want to drive a nail into some wood and you don't want to have to hire someone just to do it.

 

[mrboult]

Is Pixelmator better than PSE 10?
Since Lion I need a replacement for my old rosetta PSE.

Haven't been near a copy of Elements in two years or so. Since I discovered Pixelmator basically.

I don't know where elements is at these days, but two years ago Pixelmator won that battle hands down in nearly every area FOR ME.

 

[chaosbunny]

I think you're being overly harsh in your analysis. Being able to hold a hammer doesn't make you a master carpenter immediately, but being able to buy a significantly cheaper hammer with fewer whiz-bang features than the expensive one gives you the opportunity to learn carpentry in a way that will satisfy your needs. And those whiz-bang features eventually trickle down to the cheaper models, making it possible that non-pros can grow as the tools they are getting comfortable with do. That doesn't mean there won't be a pro market at all. Sometimes there is no substitute for formal training or artistic gifts, but sometimes you just want to drive a nail into some wood and you don't want to have to hire someone just to do it.

Sure, and I don't have anything against Pixelmator, in fact I welcome every competition driving the market so everybody, be it pro or prosumer or whatever can get better products.

I just have something against LTDs "the prosumers are gonna take over because now they get the tools" post - as if only the tools make a craftsman a good craftsman.

I guess some "prosumers" have used cracks of Adobes software for ages.

 

[yAak]

Well reviewed image editing product on OSX for $30?
Bought.

I'm REALLY ready for the image editing market to move beyond the choices of:
- insanely over-priced, fully-functional, polished
- over-priced, functional, mostly-polished
- free/low-priced, mostly-functional, not polished

I'm hoping Pixelmator creates a new category of: "low-priced, functional, polished" and based on its positive reviews, I am willing to spend $30 to find out for myself!

 

[firestarter]

Does this program do something that PS can't?

Photoshop does many many many things that Pixelmator can't.

+1,000 to that! I would love this to put some fear into Adobe.

Unlikely.

I've just given the demo a brief once-over and it does very few of the things I think are essential for photo editing today.

- No 16 bit mode
- No processing options when opening RAW files (i.e. no Adobe Raw Converter equivalent)
- Poor selection of colour profiles
- Poor selection tools
- Really slow content-aware patch tool
- Sharpening tools too simple

It's an interesting app for the home, and possibly for web design/icon design and stuff like that. For any more serious requirements, it's a million miles from Photoshop.

 

[HiRez]

OK, so I downloaded 2.0 today, played around with it for a few minutes.

-- The first thing that struck me is that when you open a JPG document (and I'm assuming other types) and make the first change, it asks you if you want to duplicate it because it will destroy information. I guess this is an implication of Lion's autosaving mechanism, and I had never thought of it before. I'm used to being able to open any document, mess around with it as much as I want, and only when I go to save make the decision of saving over the original or creating a copy, or choosing another format. So that's going to take some getting used to.

-- I knew Pixelmator didn't have layer styles, it still doesn't appear to. So not a surprise, but still disappointing. Shape layers already have drop shadow sliders, too bad these can't be used on raster layers too. Not quite layer styles, but it'd be nice to have.

-- One thing I forgot about from PS: adjustment layers. Ugh, these make life a lot easier, Pixelmator needs these.

-- Looks like they improved the text tool, that's great. But kerning (tracking) is adjusted via a slider and you have to first select the text you want kerned. As far as I can tell, there is no support for quickly kerning the characters surrounding the active insertion point with the standard Option key (or any other key). This makes doing fine kerning adjustments very tedious.

-- Can't see a way to apply a gradient to a shape layer without rasterizing it first, it looks like only a simple one-color fill is supported. Likewise, it would be nice to apply gradients to the stroke.

-- No support for 16-bit images. Not really a deal-killer, but would be nice to have.

-- I can't get it to import Illustrator (.ai) or PostScript (.eps) files, although it will import .pdf. That means if someone sends me one of those file types (very common), I'm going to have to open those files in Illustrator and export them to PDF.

Anyway, nice app, and a super awesome value for $30. It really feels like the "Photoshop killer" graphics program Apple would make if they decided to. Plus it's easy install and updating from the App Store and without all the cruft and baggage that Photoshop/CS brings. But there's just a few features, namely non-destructive layer styles/effects and adjustment layers, that make it frustrating. I really think they need to add these two things, at minimum, before working on any other feature. Adding these 2 features would bring it to about 95% parity with Photoshop for my most common needs (in other words, it would cover what I do 95% of the time in Photoshop).

EDIT: one more thing I would like to see: multi-layer alignment and distribution tool.

EDIT 2: loving the real-time feedback filters. The dot and line screen filters are brilliant and really easy to use. And a lot of others could be really useful. The tiling filters should be really helpful.

 

[Sir Cecil]

You'd think they would have bothered to make an updated Manual available at launch, with so many changes, and potential new users in mind. Their site has only the old manual available. Poor show.

 

[MyFakeAcc]

But there's just a few features, namely non-destructive layer styles/effects and adjustment layers, that make it frustrating.

Do you know if they are included in PSE?

 

[HiRez]

Do you know if they included in PSE?

Yes, I believe both layer styles and adjustment layers are in PSE. Of course it's easier for Adobe because they already did all the development for PS, they just needed to pull it over. But IMO these are two very important features that the Pixelmator team should prioritize above all else.

 

[firestarter]

Yes, I believe both layer styles and adjustment layers are in PSE. Of course it's easier for Adobe because they already did all the development for PS, they just needed to pull it over. But IMO these are two very important features that the Pixelmator team should prioritize above all else.

I think they also need to be a bit more serious about their RAW conversion.

It's no good converting a RAW file into an 8 bit internal file without allowing any sort of exposure correction on the way. Exposure correcting inside the app is bound to result in posterisation and rapid loss of image quality.

I also think it's questionable to use Adobe RGB colour profiles in only 8 bit. Again, most colours will be concentrated into 7 bits or less and posterisation will occur.

 

[zapnyc]

This prosumer debate reminds me of the audio world. When ProTools and other platforms started to be marketed to the masses with a small piece of gear included, and via a cheap $500 price point, supposedly "everyone" then had access to "pro" gear and could "create music" "like the pros".

It did liberate many people when it comes to making basic tracks and simple demos. But if I had a dollar for every time a kid with an MBox and a dream brought the shreds of his album to my pro engineer friends begging them to fix it, I'd be a rich man. The sound of professional production is, more often than not, learned via a lot of experience and hard lessons.

No matter what, it's not the meat; it's the motion.

That said, I'm rooting for Pixelmator, but only because --regardless of professional abilities-- software should cost less than Adobe charges....particularly for upgrades...

 

[starvingartist8]

Review of 2.0

I have not used Pixelmator before 2.0

I think it is a tad sluggish sometimes especially beginning a brush stroke (not always). I like the animations it has when selecting tools but I dislike the icons. They are too small and don't have a unique silhouette to easily nagivate. The brush does not seem to work very well with pen pressure for opacity (I hardly noticed it at all actually).

Being a digital painter I cannot use this for my work unfortunately. I think this app has room to grow and a positive future though.

For now I will stick to Photoshop CS5

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Painting with Pixelmator is still pretty slow. Simple sketching (using a tablet) is unbearably laggy, while photoshop handles full-on painting with ease on my 2010 Mini.
I'd switch immediately if I could sketch and paint on Pixelmator, but my computer just can't handle it.

I agree. Also can't get pressure to work with opacity very well

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That said, I'm rooting for Pixelmator, but only because --regardless of professional abilities-- software should cost less than Adobe charges....particularly for upgrades...

I hear you

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Your denigration of designers is a slap to the face to all those who spent hard time getting to a point of status. Your bias for being pro-apple and anti-anything else is overwhelming, ignorant and offensive. Keep in mind when I say offensive, because I make this clear throughout this reply.

That said, you need to learn a lesson;

NOBODY in the industry uses pixelmator. Waltz into any professional agency or studio and 100% of the time they will be using Adobe CS and I stress the word PROFESSIONAL because I strongly believe you don't understand what professional means in the real world.

In the 10+ years I've worked as a graphic designer, be it as a freelancer, on contract or permanent, I have never seen anything used except for Photoshop. You *could* use your one-sided argument about 10+ years ago when Corel Draw had some kind of presence, but that is not the case as Pixelmator wasnt around then.

That said, nobody is going to use Pixelmator for the following reasons:

1) Not a standard
2) No support for all photoshop filters, effects, etc.
3) No support for older PSD formats especially with complicated layers
4) No studio is going to take the risk of having a potentially botched conversion of a PSD file when sending it out for a print job that costs in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
5) No studio is going to arrogantly ask for pixelmator-only compatible formats to work with. Just go look how far studios are getting by without adapting to Indesign and still using Quark. You'll have a hard time, because its not happening much.

The biggest one is the fact that its NOT a standard. Nobody is going to sympathize or side with noobs if theyre completely out of the standard loop. I know you absolutely adore everything apple has released, but not everything has gone out with record sales, for example.... FIREWIRE?? Not exactly the dominating interface apple wished it to be considering how widespread USB is (and will be more so with USB 3.0 given all the legacy support). Also, having software or access to doesnt make you a designer. Guess what, I have 3D Studio Max installed on another machine of mine. Does that make me a 3D artist? No. Does it make me a good 3D artist? No again. Again, an insult and offensive to think some schmoe with some 3rd rate software is going to be as qualified as someone whos worked on their craft for a year, 5 years, 10 years or their entire life. Dont be arrogant. You put apple on a high pedestal for anything they do (ive seen you make extremely biased comments on the forum) but I would hope that you know that the guys working on the UI at apple arent your joe schmoe noob capable of producing amazing aesthetics simply because he knows how to use a handicapped copy of photoshop. These guys are artists, and photoshop is a tool, a much more complete tool than pixelmator.

So how does Pixelmator stack up against the industry standard? The price speaks for itself. 30 bucks. You get what you pay for. No designer is going to use it. Ever. Unless Pixelmator does something drastic... like, i dont know, add 100% compatibility and feature set? Not likely.

I wish the mods on this forum would at least temporarily ban you for making such ridiculous comments for guest and other members to read. I mean it when I say your posts are OFFENSIVE. They are an insult to my intelligence and others. This one is especially an insult to every graphic designer whos spent more than 5 minutes and 30 dollars on getting to a professional status.

Not to mention the suites. I am a graphic designer 6 years in. I work for Billabong and all we use is the adobe design premium suite. Every day I am using Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat. Since photoshop can do everything Pixelmator can do and better I don't see why any Pro company would buy it when Photoshop comes in a package of other software that is constantly used as well.

In my opinion the only way pixelmator could compete is if it made a layout app, illustration app and their current photo editing app as well as an alternative to acrobat pro. Then it would take a few years even after it is a good competitive product vs adobe software for the industry to even consider looking at the pixelmator suite.

Also the fact that photoshop cs5 runs flawlessly as well as indesign and illustrator.

A lot of people are against you on this one but obviously they are just hobbyists

 

[NickFalk]

While nothing is ever likely to touch the shear number/quality of features Photoshop CS has Pixelmator now makes Photoshop Elements worthless.

It has more features, costs less, is quicker and takes actual advantage of the OSX API's Apple have created.

 

[NickFalk]

Yes, I believe both layer styles and adjustment layers are in PSE. Of course it's easier for Adobe because they already did all the development for PS, they just needed to pull it over. But IMO these are two very important features that the Pixelmator team should prioritize above all else.

It might have been last years version but Layer Styles was certainly not included in the version I bought. (Hoping to replace my ancient Rosetta running version of Photoshop). It did support any layer styles on images imported, but there was no way to alter these in PSE.

 

[Glen Quagmire]

Your denigration of designers is a slap to the face to all those who spent hard time getting to a point of status. Your bias for being pro-apple and anti-anything else is overwhelming, ignorant and offensive. Keep in mind when I say offensive, because I make this clear throughout this reply.

What about your denigration of people who you sneeringly refer to as "noobs", or people for whom Pixelmator is more than adequate (which is most people)?

Come down from your ivory tower. Or do you hold yourself to a different standard than everyone else? Because you shouldn't.

You really are a bit of a snob, aren't you? How utterly obnoxious.

 

[davegoody]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


Image


Version 2.0 of popular image editing application Pixelmator goes live tomorrow on the Mac App Store. The app was one of the early success stories on the Mac App Store, generating more than $1 million in revenue in the first 20 days.

The new version of Pixelmator includes support for a number of Lion features, including Full Screen, Auto Save, and Versions. It also includes an advanced healing tool, similar to Adobe Photoshop's Content Aware-Fill technology, moving an advanced feature into a brand new price point. The Loop has some additional screenshots.

Pixelmator 2.0 will be initially priced at $29.99, though the regular price will be $59.99. The Pixelmator team told us they hadn't decided exactly when the price will rise. Version 2.0 will be available on the Mac App Store tomorrow.

Version 1.6 of Pixelmator is available for $29.99 on the Mac App Store. Users who have purchased Pixelmator from the Mac App Store will receive the version 2.0 upgrade for free.

Update: Pixelmator 2.0 is now available in the Mac App Store for $29.99.

Article Link: Pixelmator 2.0 Launches Tomorrow, With Content-Aware Fill and Full Lion Support [Now Available]

Cool, for that money, worth a punt as have a third machine that I want to use (occasionally) for editing, and can't run to the cost of another Photoshop licence.

 

[foodog]

You paid a mere $60 dollars nearly 3 years ago when the economy was better. I dont see the need to be in grief. $30 dollars for a solid application to meet your needs isnt going to put you in debt, Im sure you could make that money in a matter of 2-3 hours even at minimum wage.

I am in the same situation. I paid 60 when it first came out... had I waited until it was 29.00 through the app store I get the 2.0 upgrade free. They pay a percentage to Apple to sell via the App store so they made a heck of a lot less off the recent customers that the people that supported them when they started. When they started they needed the money to get to the point where version 2.0 was released. Why punish the people that helped them survive to sell software in 2011?

Two counterpoints
1. In 2009 the economy wasn't much better is was well into recession. I would argue the prospects are better in 2011 than they were in 2009.
2. Minimum wage is 7.25 which nets you 14.50 for two hours work, three hours gets you 21.75.

 

[Drag'nGT]

I'm quite sad about this... I have been a longtime user of Pixelmator 1. I purchased it directly from them for $59.99 back in 2009. Unfortunately this excludes me as being upgrade eligible. A penalty for being an early adopter .

I've noticed this with some of the other apps that I bought before the App Store came into existence. I emailed some and asked them how to switch my apps over to the App Store when it launched. Some of them sent me codes to get the app in exchange for my product key to my purchased version.

 

[bagelche]

Ars Technica's review was posted today.

 

[SockRolid]

Photoshop is dead to me

Started using Pixelmator early this year and haven't touched Photoshop since. No, Pixelmator 2.0 doesn't do every single little high-end professional trick that Photoshop does. Yes, Pixelmator is an incredible value.