Pixelmator is made in a country that's designated "flawed democracy" on the democracy index, so I was always hesitant to buy or trust it. This purchase by Apple may help a bit.
I see an increase in H-1B visas for Apple. As for Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro - Great Apps that I have enjoyed for many years. It would be nice to see Pixelmator team put in charge of a Pixelmator/Photos merge. I have a sneaky suspicion that the Pixelmator Team has their own ideas for photo organization that could replace Apple's Photos strategy. It could be nice to have Pixel/Photos as standard install for Mac and iOS. Even better Pixelmator Pro and Photos.
Pixelmator can already be accessed through Photos for editing so there's no reason why Apple couldn't simply merge Pixelmator with Photos, creating the best photo editing software for Apple products along with their constantly upgrading Photos app for storage and photo database.
Photos for storage and photo database is not remotely comparable to Lightroom, Capture One or Aperture, not even GraphicConverter.
Apple are far too interested in AI in Photos but cannot even implement its automated montage features without chopping the heads and feet off full-figure images when they're in portrait mode. Neither can one organise images to their own preference, or edit metadata properly, or store images outside a library whilst retaining portability for backups.
Rolling Pixelmator Pro into Photos would be a disaster, its far too good to let Apple ruin it with its glacial pace of development and focus on family-friendly features.
Doesn't mean Apple wouldn't include this into macOS and iOS in the future. It may not be called Pixelmator but it could take the tech and make its own app, or include into something like Preview.
Or, they could give it the Emagic treatment, use the tech for a basic application that comes with the Mac, and keeping around a „Pro“ version that keeps getting better and better.
We don’t know, Apple might honor them. They may also lower the prices. Apple is better than most with software pricing. They’ve shaken up several industries with their low prices.
Pixelmator Pro is one of my favourite editing apps, but it's proprietary file-format and unmanaged sidecar files, together with no adequate file manager independent of Photos means it still cannot complete with Adobe. If Apple were to acquire GraphicConverter for its Browser features then they would have the basis for a industry-leading solution.
Unfortunately, based on Photos and the push for Apple Intelligence, Apple will likely focus on the wrong features and it will be their way or the highway. They'll decide as always, they know better than the user. There is no point in all the AI stuff that Photos incorporates when its automated Collections chop the heads and feet off in portrait format images.
Pixelmator Pro and Photomator have had solid updates at regular periods, Apple updates its apps at a glacial pace. Sadly, I can see another great app getting destroyed.
I agree about the formats and such. But I don’t think Apple will be going after Adobe directly. This is more like iWork than Office. It’s an alternative for those who aren’t interested in the much more sophisticated software Adobe offers at higher prices.
Why can’t the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians enjoy the good life with a little coin in their pockets and new opportunities? Pixelmator Pro is a very good program by the way. Whatever Apple offered them, it must be life-changing in light of the recent history in that part of the world under Soviet rule.
Comments
As for Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro - Great Apps that I have enjoyed for many years. It would be nice to see Pixelmator team put in charge of a Pixelmator/Photos merge. I have a sneaky suspicion that the Pixelmator Team has their own ideas for photo organization that could replace Apple's Photos strategy. It could be nice to have Pixel/Photos as standard install for Mac and iOS. Even better Pixelmator Pro and Photos.
Apple are far too interested in AI in Photos but cannot even implement its automated montage features without chopping the heads and feet off full-figure images when they're in portrait mode. Neither can one organise images to their own preference, or edit metadata properly, or store images outside a library whilst retaining portability for backups.
Rolling Pixelmator Pro into Photos would be a disaster, its far too good to let Apple ruin it with its glacial pace of development and focus on family-friendly features.
I agree about the formats and such. But I don’t think Apple will be going after Adobe directly. This is more like iWork than Office. It’s an alternative for those who aren’t interested in the much more sophisticated software Adobe offers at higher prices.