Pixelmator Pro viable for photos?

[Freida]

Hello guys,

I've noticed that new version of Pixelmator is coming out and I wanted to ask about your opinions here.

I've used Aperture mainly for a editing my photos as I do basic stuff like colours, exposure, highlights etc. Never used photoshop as I don't know how to use it.
A year ago, I purchased ON1 Photo Raw which seemed great at start but later realised it doesn't have the nice library like Aperture etc. Regardless, its still something I plan to use. However, ON1 doesn't have iPad version and I really prefer one software solution so was thinking to switch to Pixelmator Pro + their iOS app.
Suggestions, ideas or feedback, please?
Ideally I would love to have one app that I can learn inside out and grow from there. I'm still kinda disappointed that Apple killed the Aperture as that was amazing software and free updates. (Unlike ON1 that wants $80 for the next version)

What are your thoughts, please?

 

[robgendreau]

If you didn't like On1 due to the lack of library-like features, Pixelmator probably won't help per se. It's a graphics program, and although it does great with photos it's more like Photoshop or Affinity Pro than like Aperture or Lightroom.

But version 3.7 does interact pretty well with Photos, if Photos is to your liking. At least in High Sierra, with the improvements it's made to Photos. But look at Affinity Pro as well; it's iPad app is quite awesome.

And of course we don't know the price yet either.

And you might try some other extensions to Photos. Like RAW Power, if you liked Aperture's adjusting tools. They are the same (well, actually better since Aperture has been circling the bowl for years).

And you've probably considered it, but Lightroom and Lightroom Mobile are awfully nice as well. Lr Mobile is super fast on an iPad, esp a Pro. See this:

 

[Freida]

That looks great but I would prefer one app. Right now I do culling etc. in Photos which is fine and then I wanna have something to edit with nice and pleasant UI
I've tried Lightroom and didn't really like it and heard affinity is not ideal either. Thats why I was curious about Pixelmator as in their videos they show a lot of nice stuff but who knows how the reality is.
Ideally, Aperture style would be awesome

 

[Donka]

If you are happy in Photos and looking for an editing app on both Mac and iOS then Pixelmator or Affinity Pro are currently your best bets. The latter is more powerful but the former will probably get you results faster. I suspect Pixelmator Pro will be somewhere in between and could be the perfect fit.

 

[Freida]

If you are happy in Photos and looking for an editing app on both Mac and iOS then Pixelmator or Affinity Pro are currently your best bets. The latter is more powerful but the former will probably get you results faster. I suspect Pixelmator Pro will be somewhere in between and could be the perfect fit.

That is kinda what I hope for. I hate Adobe's pricing and I think Pixelmator seems to be the "cheap" photoshop so after all these years I would hope they got it right and the Pro version will be perfect fit. Damn I hate apple for killing Aperture. That was the perfect app for me.
Anyway, I'll wait and see when the pro is released and maybe then I'll come back for opinions from you guys too.
I hope they won't put the price up too much.

 

[Ledgem]

Apple Photos has improved compared to when it was released. They've added more editing capabilities that are similar to Aperture, but it still lacks brushes. Linking out to other editing programs (like Pixelmator) is easy, and when you save your work it automatically updates in Photos, with an ability to revert to the original. Editing has thus become easier, but it was still easier in Aperture... Pixelmator (standard version, not Pro) is already more advanced than what I was doing in Aperture. If I learned Pixelmator better then perhaps I'd feel differently, but editing was still faster and easier in Aperture.

I'm waiting to see what MacPhun's Aperture alternative (rumored to be released in 2017, but who knows) will be like. If it's good, I'll leave Photos behind and go with that and Luminar (also by MacPhun). Otherwise, I might just stay with Photos and rely on the external editors, like Pixelmator... it really is a shame that Aperture wasn't developed further.

 

[Freida]

I like the fact that you can edit with external apps which is what I tried, however what I didn't really like is that if I next day decide to make a change or small revert it just doesn't save the "work" file (or at least I haven't found it) so I have to start again. I might revaluate or look into it more but I agree. Aperture editing was easy and the brushes were great. Lets see what the Pro brings and what the ones you mentioned bring. Maybe we will find a real substitute

 

[Traverse]

Apple Photos has improved compared to when it was released. They've added more editing capabilities that are similar to Aperture, but it still lacks brushes. Linking out to other editing programs (like Pixelmator) is easy, and when you save your work it automatically updates in Photos, with an ability to revert to the original. Editing has thus become easier, but it was still easier in Aperture... Pixelmator (standard version, not Pro) is already more advanced than what I was doing in Aperture. If I learned Pixelmator better then perhaps I'd feel differently, but editing was still faster and easier in Aperture.

I'm waiting to see what MacPhun's Aperture alternative (rumored to be released in 2017, but who knows) will be like. If it's good, I'll leave Photos behind and go with that and Luminar (also by MacPhun). Otherwise, I might just stay with Photos and rely on the external editors, like Pixelmator... it really is a shame that Aperture wasn't developed further.

My issue is poor RAW support in Photos. That's what's pushing me to try the new LR CC.

 

[Starfia]

Neither Pixelmator nor Pixelmator Pro have any serious library functionality.

The current version of Pixelmator provides an extension for the Photos app that allows you to highlight, darken, retouch and distort without leaving it – or you can do the roundtripping you were mentioning. Even that sounds like it might be enough for what you were describing.

Pixelmator isn't hard to learn, and Pixelmator Pro is looking even more simplified in its general organization.

 

[guzhogi]

Neither Pixelmator nor Pixelmator Pro have any serious library functionality.

The current version of Pixelmator provides an extension for the Photos app that allows you to highlight, darken, retouch and distort without leaving it – or you can do the roundtripping you were mentioning. Even that sounds like it might be enough for what you were describing.

Pixelmator isn't hard to learn, and Pixelmator Pro is looking even more simplified in its general organization.

In High Sierra, you can also go to Photos, and do an "Edit with → PixelMator".

 

[Starfia]

Right, that's what I meant by roundtripping.