Apple taking aim at Adobe?

[Timmyjoe]

Just discovered that Apple bought Pixelmator, a software company that is a "direct" challenge to Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator. They make the Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro apps for Mac and iPhone/iPad, as well as the Photomator app.

I've been anti-Adobe ever since their subscription model took effect, and I refuse to sign up. Have been using Photoshop Elements, but find it really is limited. One of the main features I've missed is Curves Adjustment, which Elements "simulates", but it's wholly ineffective. Photomator has Curves, like Photoshop.

I've just started exploring the program but so far I like what I see. Wondering if others here have tried it. You can buy it outright for $79, so no subscription necessary (although I do see options for paying monthly, so that buying outright option may not be long lived).

I'm glad to see someone challenging Adobe, and with Apple's financial clout, maybe they can make something of it. I am also aware that Apple can be kind of fickle, and may bail on the whole project like they did on Aperture.

Time will tell.

So anyway, anyone else here using Photomator? If so, would love to hear what you think.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Cascadilla]

I haven't used Photomator, but don't be surprised if Apple goes to a subscription model just like Adobe at some point. Phone sales aren't increasing like they were 10 years ago so the revenue has to come from somewhere.

 

[splitimageview]

Interesting. I tried these some time ago, probably so long ago not to be relevant.

I did purchase Affinity to replace Adobe, which I like a lot.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I use Photomator on my iPad as one of my primary editing tools. I am a simpleton when it comes to photo editing but I find it quite good. I particularly like the perspective correction and uprezzing tools. I also like that it works directly on photos in my iCloud photo library, rather than having to import and export like many other apps I use. I bought Photomator as a one-time purchase several years ago when it was on sale; I don't remember what I paid but it was quite reasonable. Don't know what their current pricing structure is, but if they move to a subscription model, I would most likely not subscribe on general principle.

 

[shawn]

I haven't used Photomator, but don't be surprised if Apple goes to a subscription model just like Adobe at some point. Phone sales aren't increasing like they were 10 years ago so the revenue has to come from somewhere.

Apple hasn't done anything like that . IOS/MacOS updates free. Apple software I purchased *many* years ago (Remote Desktop, Final Cut Pro....etc..etc) and I'm still getting upgrades to the latest versions at no cost.

If looking for a Photoshop replacement Affinity Photo is very good. No subscription model and they are clearly going after Adobe with their software products as they have replacements for several tools.

 

[Darthfeeble]

It's $49 for Pixelmator, and $29 yearly for Photometer. Imagine where we would be if they hadn't dumped Aperture. I didn't try either after I saw the prices. I"m very happy with the subscription version of Lightroom/Photoshop. Seems cheap to me for what you get.

 

[Guth]

I used Adobe products for decades, mainly in my work. 5hough I used Photoshop from time to time, Illustrator was actually my primary tool. After Adobe switched to a subscription model I continued to use older versions of their software programs that I owned for as long as I could. But eventually I gave up and began using software from Affinity instead. Sadly I was far more capable/comfortable when using Adobe's software. But I do believe that this is down to my shortcomings rather than the Affinity products themselves. I just haven't taken it upon myself to invest the sort of time needed to grow as familiar with the Affinity programs as I was with the Adobe programs. I don't doubt that others would find Affinity's programs to be quite good and very reasonably priced (they seem to offer sales pricing multiple times each year).

 

[Timmyjoe]

Just paid $79 for a perpetual license for Photomator, which I can load on all my Macs and my iPad. Seems like a good deal, especially when compared to Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom.

Best,
-Tim

 

[stephaneb]

Pixelmator is mostly great, but it is unable to store layers in a tif file, which is big problem when used from Lightroom. Photomator is mostly a toy at this stage, they have a very long way to go before being a credible alternative to Lightroom. No keywords, for a start.

 

[JoeV]

Mac OS Photos app (that comes with the OS) has curves adjustments along with many more.

 

[bbutterfield]

For what it’s worth I shoot exclusively b&w film in 120 and 35mm. I’ve been using Lightroom for the past 5 years, mostly so I could take advantage of Negative Lab Pro for my scanned images. I have very simple post-processing needs, mostly cropping and tone adjustments. Lightroom/Photoshop is highly overkill for me. Photomator provides a sufficient toolset for everything I need to do including negative inversion for a lot less money. I also find the tools more intuitive than the alternatives, more Mac-like (whatever that means).

 

[Mos6502]

If Apple's involvement can convince businesses that they don't need to use Adobe as the industry standard, simply because they've been around for a long time, then I'm all for it. Ditched Adobe years ago, but a lot of companies still use it because they always have.

 

[Godfrey]

(Note: I was working at Apple through the years between 1991 and 2004, and again for the years between 2010 and 2016. I knew/know most of the folks involved in design and iimplementation of Apple operating systems and photographic applications through that entire time.)

Apple had an excellent following in the Aperture application in years past, and it was a highly lauded image processing solution at the professional level. Aperture was cancelled as a consequence of cost-savings needed in that time frame, and because it only ran on macOS. They used the development money to expand the Photos app for all three platforms (macOS, iOS, iPadOS).

In the meanwhile, the Pixelmator/Pixelmator Pro app has grown to be an excellent alternative to Adobe photo editing suite at a lower price for those who don't need the extensive services of the entire Adobe creative suite, is a more full-featured editing tool than Photos, and has been implemented across all three Apple OS offerings ...

So it only makes sense that Apple would have an interest in it. Whether you consider it subscription-ware or not, the new Photomator app is offered at $79.95 per year, $7.99 per month, or $119.99 Lifetime license on macOS (not sure on iOS and iPadOS just yet).

I haven't spent any time with it yet, but as its roots are in the Pixelmator app which I did use pretty extensively for a time, I expect it is a very good offering.

(Note 2: I have no issues with using/paying for Adobe products either. I have been using Lightroom/Lightroom Classic now for 20 years, and it's been a reasonably priced, reliable and well supported app with which I've gotten lots of photography done. I have not found the $10/month subscription price for recent years to be all that burdensome.)

G