XnView is an efficient image viewer, browser and converter for Windows. This software is really simple to use and totally free for personal use. It supports more than 500 image formats!
Acorn 6.0.1 – Bitmap image editor. Acorn is a brand new picture editor built with one goal in mind — simplicity. Fast, easy, and fluid, Acorn provides the options you’ll need with no overhead. Acorn feels right, and will not drain your bank account. Acorn is a raster graphic editor for macOS developed by August Mueller of Flying Meat Inc, based out of Mukilteo, Washington, United States. Acorn was first released on September 10, 2007 and was built upon the framework of a previous image editing application of Flying Meat Inc., FlySketch. Acorn makes extensive use of Apple's Core Image framework for its image.
Acorn 6.5.2 Acorn is an image editor built with one goal in mind - simplicity.Fast, easy, and fluid, Acorn provides the options you'll need withoutany overhead. Acorn feels right, and won't drain your bank account.
License: Shareware, $30
Developer/Publisher: Flying Meat Inc.
Modification Date: October 17, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 14 MB
Affinity Designer 1.7.3 Affinity Designer is the fastest, smoothest, most precise vector graphicdesign software available. Whether you’re working on branding, conceptart, print projects, icons, UI, UX, or web mock ups, Affinity Designerwill revolutionise how you work.
License: Buy, $50
Developer/Publisher: Serif Labs
Modification Date: October 1, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 411.2 MB
Download File Size: 411.1 MB - Demo
Download File Size: 1.1 GB - for iPad
Affinity Photo 1.7.3 Five years in the making, Affinity Photo redefines the boundaries forprofessional photo editing software. With a meticulous focus on workflowit offers sophisticated tools for enhancing, editing and retouching yourimages in an incredibly intuitive interface, with all the power andperformance you need.
License: Buy, $50
Developer/Publisher: Serif Labs
Modification Date: October 1, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 420.3 MB
Download File Size: 425.4 MB - Demo
Download File Size: 1.1 GB - for iPad
ArtRage 5.0.8 ArtRage is a full featured digital painting program that brings togetherthe convenience of digital editing tools, the realism of traditionalpaint texture and colors and the fun of creating art in one easy to use,professional level, program.
License: Shareware, $79
Developer/Publisher: Ambient Design Ltd.
Modification Date: July 26, 2018
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 114.2 MB
Art Text 3.2.6 Art Text is an application to create high quality textual graphics,headings, logos, icons, web banners and buttons. The program implementsthe latest Mac OS X technologies which allow you to easily modify anytexts and vector shapes into a fancy graphic. Use the result with iWork,Microsoft Office, BeLight applications and other programs. Create morecompelling business presentations, brochures, flyers, postcards,business cards and Web sites with the program.
License: Shareware, $30
Developer/Publisher: BeLight Software
Modification Date: September 6, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 669.3 MB
Canvas Draw 6.0 Take your business to the next level with the most diverse contentcreation tool on the market. Designed for business professionals andcreatives alike, Canvas Draw includes a comprehensive set of vectorobject and advanced raster image editing tools, allowing you to combineadaptable text, image, object, and effect elements in a single document.
Comic Life 3.5.10 Comic Life gives you a super-quick and easy way to create astounding comics, beautifulpicture albums and enticing instruction booklets to name a few of the many possibilities. Included are professional and fun templates, ready to drag and drop onto your page forinstant attractive photo layouts. Or if you like to be in control, position your photosand panels how you like and save them for later use.
License: Shareware, $30
Developer/Publisher: Plasq
Modification Date: October 2, 2018
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 67.4 MB - App Store
Download File Size: 72.2 MB - Demo
Download File Size: 202 MB
EazyDraw 9.3.4 EazyDraw provides a balanced feature set that includes tools needed fortechnical drawing, web and App graphic design, print publishing, logos,page - text layout and more. Easy enough for everyone but with the depthyour project will need. Includes comprehensive support for bitmap and vector graphic formats:Import and ungroup for edit PDF, and EPS. Import and export SVG and nowDXF. Preview and publish to EPS and TIFF with RGB or CMYK processcolors. Exchange scaled CAD drawings using DXF. Publish web graphics.Create macOS, iOS, and watchOS app development graphics and icons.
License: Demo, $95
Developer/Publisher: Dekorra Optics
Modification Date: October 23, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 86.5 MB
ExifRenamer 2.3.3 ExifRenamer allows you to interactively control the renaming process.You can have a file preview and can add a prefix, suffix, change thename or can add a time difference. The photographs can now be sorted in chronological correct orderjust by displaying them in alphabetical order. The used namingconvention is: YYYY-MM-DD_hh-mm-ss.jpg The program supports many cameravendors (for example Casio, Olympus, Canon, ..). Just selectExifRenamer as Automatic Task in ImageCapture..
ExifTool 11.72 ExifTool is a platform-independent Perl library plus a command-lineapplication for reading, writing and editing meta information in a widevariety of files. ExifTool supports many different metadata formatsincluding EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, GeoTIFF, ICC Profile, PhotoshopIRB, FlashPix, AFCP and ID3, as well as the maker notes of many digitalcameras by Canon, Casio, DJI, FLIR, FujiFilm, GE, HP, JVC/Victor, Kodak,Leaf, Minolta/Konica-Minolta, Motorola, Nikon, Nintendo, Olympus/Epson,Panasonic/Leica, Pentax/Asahi, Phase One, Reconyx, Ricoh, Samsung,Sanyo, Sigma/Foveon and Sony. ExifTool is also available as a stand-alone Macintosh OS X package and aWindows executable: (Note that these versions contain the executableonly, and do not include the HTML documentation or other files of thefull distribution.) OS X Package Download the ExifTool OS X Package from the ExifTool home page. (The file you download should be named 'ExifTool-10.82.dmg'.) Install as a normal OS X package. (Open the disk image, double-click on the install package, and follow the instructions.) You can now run exiftool by typing 'exiftool' in a Terminal window.
Acorn 6 0 4 B1 – Bitmap Image Editor Word 2010
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Phil Harvey
Modification Date: October 23, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher
Download File Size: 4.6 MB
Free Ruler 2.0.3 Features: * Horizontal and vertical rulers. * Pixel units. * Float rulers above other applications (press F to toggle). * Move windows independently or as a group (press G to toggle). * Show or hide the shadow behind rulers (press S to toggle). * Align rulers at mouse location (press O for origin). * Reset ruler locations with Command-R.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Pascal Balthrop
Modification Date: October 26, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 4.3 MB
GeoTag 4.6.2 GeoTag is a free OS X application that allows you to update imagemetadata with geolocation tags by panning and zooming in a map windowand then clicking on the location where a photo was taken. It is a goodway to add location information to photos or fine tune existing locationinformation. Version 4 uses Apple Maps and contains its own copy of ExifTool.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Marco S Hyman
Modification Date: August 4, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 12.5 MB
GIMP 2.10.12 The GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freelydistributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, imagecomposition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, inmany languages. Since the 2.8.2 version, GIMP runs on OSX natively. No X11 environment is required.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Gimp Project
Modification Date: June 13, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 166.8 MB
GraphicConverter 11.1 GraphicConverter offers everything you would need and expect from anall-round image editing program on your Mac with ease of use, anexcellent range of features, stability and reliability.
License: Shareware, $40
Developer/Publisher: Thorsten Lemke
Modification Date: October 8, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 159.7 MB
HoudahGeo 5.4 Use HoudahGeo to geocode and geotag your photos. “Pin” photos to theexact places where they were taken. HoudahGeo stores latitude, longitude and altitude as geotags rightwithin the image file. Just like a GPS-enabled camera. Geotags tie your photos to geographical locations. View your photos on amap. Use your favorite photo cataloging tools to organize and findphotos by places. Future-proof your photos with geotags. HoudahGeo writes EXIF, XMP, andIPTC metadata tags to JPEG and RAW image files. Industry standardsensure that the information can be used by a wide variety of softwareand services.
License: Shareware, $39
Developer/Publisher: Houdah Software
Modification Date: October 11, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 24.4 MB
Illustrator 23.1 The industry-standard vector graphics app lets you create logos, icons,sketches, typography, and complex illustrations for print, web,interactive, video, and mobile.
License: Demo, Starting at $20/month
Developer/Publisher: Adobe
Modification Date: October 2, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 2.3 MB Installer
ImageMagick 7.0.8-68 Use ImageMagick to create, edit, compose, or convert bitmap images. Itcan read and write images in a variety of formats (over 200) includingPNG, JPEG, JPEG-2000, GIF, TIFF, DPX, EXR, WebP, Postscript, PDF, andSVG. Use ImageMagick to resize, flip, mirror, rotate, distort, shear andtransform images, adjust image colors, apply various special effects, ordraw text, lines, polygons, ellipses and Bézier curves.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: ImageMagick Studio
Modification Date: October 5, 2019
Requirements: macOS
Download File Size: 13.8 MB
Homebrew installation: $ brew install imagemagick
Intaglio 3.9.5 Patterned after the original Macintosh drawing applications, Intaglio isintuitive to beginners and familiar to traditional Macintosh users.Intaglio builds on the 2D graphics, text, color, and scriptingcapabilities of Mac OS X to provide unprecedented power and flexibilityin an inexpensive drawing program. Intaglio isn't just compatible withMac OS X, it was designed from the ground up to fully exploit thecapabilites that make this platform ideal for graphics work. NaturallyIntaglio is great for casual users, but it is also an ideal tool forexperienced graphics experts who need special features or want asimpler experience than what is provided by the usual multi-platformgraphic franchises.
License: Demo, $89
Developer/Publisher: Purgatory Design
Modification Date: October 15, 2017
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 11.5 MB
iWatermark Pro 2.5.10 iWatermark is the worlds No. 1 watermarking application for Mac andWindows. Stylishly Copyright all your images in just minutes. iWatermark includes new effects like aqua and emboss. iWatermark is an essential tool for anyone with a digital camera,professionals and beginners or graphic artist.
License: Shareware, $30
Developer/Publisher: Plum Amazing
Modification Date: August 14, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 59.2 MB
Krita 4.2.7.1 Krita is a professional free and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to see affordable art tools for everyone. * concept art * texture and matte painters * illustrations and comics
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Krita Foundation
Modification Date: October 3, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 173.6 MB
Lightroom CC 2.4.1 With Lightroom, your photography goes where you go. Organize, edit, andshare your photos from anywhere - on your computer, on the web, on youriPad, and on your iPhone or Android device. It's all your photography.All in one place. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software is the professional photographer'sessential toolbox, providing one easy application for managing,adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs so youcan spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind thelens.
License: Demo, Starting at $10/month
Developer/Publisher: Adobe
Modification Date: September 18, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 2.3 MB Installer
Painter 20.0 The top choice in painting software by artists worldwide Achieve painting perfection with the most realistic and professionaldigital art studio. Painter offers Natural-Media and unlimited artmaterials to delight any illustrator, photographer or fine artist.
License: Demo, $429
Developer/Publisher: Corel
Modification Date: May 22, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 558.8 MB
Peeler 1.0.1 Peeler is a graphics program that can 'peel' logos and illustrations offtheir backgrounds, producing transparent backgrounds. Peeler 'peels' a graphic image off of its background much like peeling atransparent sticker from its backing. The result is a transparent image with colors true to the original imagethat can be layered or composited into other artwork or simply usedas-is on other backgrounds.
License: Demo, $19
Developer/Publisher: Bergdesign
Modification Date: April 14, 2016
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.7 MB
Photos 5.0 Photos helps you keep your growing library organized and accessible.Powerful and intuitive editing tools help you perfect your images.Memories displays the best images from your photo library in beautifulcollections.
License: Comes with your new Mac
Developer/Publisher: Apple
Modification Date: September 26, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.15 - 64-bit, Earlier versions come with earlier operating systems
Photoshop CC 20.0.7 Create anything you can imagine. Anywhere you are. The world's best imaging and design app is at the core of almost everycreative project. Work across desktop and mobile devices to create andenhance your photographs, web and mobile app designs, 3D artwork,videos, and more.
License: Demo, Starting at $10/month
Developer/Publisher: Adobe
Modification Date: October 23, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 2.3 MB Installer
Photoshop Elements 2020 Get the new release to automatically organize your photos, make themlook amazing with intelligent photo editing options, turn them intostunning creations, and easily share your memories.
License: Demo, $100
Developer/Publisher: Adobe
Modification Date: September 4, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.2 MB installer
PhotoStickies 5.6.7 PhotoStickies displays one or more photos (located on your local drivesor in the Internet) on your screen, shows webcam pictures, acts as afast image viewer, and records and replays slideshows. Also,PhotoStickies can be used as a wallpaper utility.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Devon Technologies
Modification Date: October 30, 2014
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 2.6 MB
PhotoZoom Pro 8.0.4 PhotoZoom Pro not only creates larger images than any other software(up to 1 million by 1 million pixels), it also produces higher qualityresults. PhotoZoom Pro is equipped with S-Spline Max, a unique,award-winning image resize technology which excels at preserving cleanedges, sharpness, and fine details. Even noisy, compressed originals can be enlarged successfully. Normally,noise and JPEG compression artifacts become disturbingly visible duringenlargement. PhotoZoom Pro 7 however offers the tools to eliminate thesedistortions. You'll be amazed by the amount of detail PhotoZoom Pro 7 isable to dig up from below the mess.
License: Demo, $169
Developer/Publisher: BenVista
Modification Date: August 30, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 13.8 MB
Pixelmator 3.8.7 Pixelmator, the beautifully designed, easy-to-use, fast and powerfulimage editor for Mac OS X has everything you need to create, edit andenhance your images.
License: Buy, $30
Developer/Publisher: Pixelmator Team
Modification Date: October 22, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 116.3 MB - App Store
Download File Size: 119.5 MB - Demo
Pixelmator Pro 1.5.1 Pixelmator Pro is an image editor packed full of innovations. From areimagined editing workflow and simplified editing tools to machinelearning powering all-new, intelligent image editing features. So thetools at your fingertips are smarter and more powerful, yet moreintuitive and easier to use than ever before. With intelligent, intuitive tools for moving, resizing, and arranginglayers, Pixelmator Pro makes it incredibly easy to put every object inyour composition exactly where you want it. The Arrange Tool isnondestructive so you can resize and rotate with total freedom. Smartspacing guides appear automatically to help evenly arrange objects. Andadvanced alignment tools give you a way to align multiple objects with asingle click. So no matter what kind of composition you're working on,Pixelmator Pro is the perfect app for building it up, piece by piece.
License: Buy, $40
Developer/Publisher: Pixelmator Team
Modification Date: October 25, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 184.4 MB
Download File Size: 187.8 MB - Demo
Posterino 3.6.4 Rather than let those photos on your hard drive collect digital dust,use Posterino to create a beautiful collage. Just choose a template andadd your favorite photos. Posterino will randomly shuffle your imagesinto a poster-worthy keepsake. Changes to the layout, frames and filtersare accomplished with a single click. Your memories will be ready fordisplay in minutes, and you can let the viewing begin.
License: Shareware, $20
Developer/Publisher: Zykloid Software
Modification Date: October 15, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 117.9 MB
Preview 11.0 View and annotate PDFs, fill out and sign forms, and edit images. Whenyou’re done, share your file, export a password-protected PDF, or exportimages in a variety of file types.
License: Comes with your Mac
Developer/Publisher: Apple
Modification Date: August 24, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.15 - 64-bit, Earlier versions come with earlier operating systems
Procreate 4.3.8 Procreate is the most powerful sketching, painting and illustration appever designed for a mobile device, built for creative professionals.This complete artist’s toolbox helps you create beautiful sketches,inspiring paintings, and stunning illustrations anywhere you are.Procreate features ground-breaking canvas resolution, 136 incrediblebrushes, an advanced layer system, and is powered by Silica M: thefastest 64-bit painting engine on iOS. Create a canvas and startpainting with any of Procreate’s exclusive dual-texture brushes. Use theimmediately responsive smudge tool to perfectly blend color with anybrush in your library. With Procreate’s incredibly high-resolutioncanvases you can print your artwork at massive sizes. Experience therevolutionary selection, transform, and perspective tools builtexclusively for multitouch and finish your illustration with stunningcinema-quality effects. Procreate’s powerful and intuitive interfacealways puts your art in focus.
License: Buy, $10
Developer/Publisher: Savage Interactive
Modification Date: September 27, 2019
Requirements: iOS 11.1 or higher
Download File Size: 193.5 MB - for iPad
Download File Size: 164.7 MB - Procreate Pocket for iPhone
Seashore 2.4.12 Seashore is an open source image editor for Cocoa. It featuresgradients, textures and anti-aliasing for both text and brush strokes.It supports multiple layers and alpha channel editing. It is basedaround the GIMP's technology and uses the same native file format.
License: Freeware
Author/Publisher: Mark Pazolli/Fork by Robert Engels
Modification Date: September 26, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 10.4 MB
Home PageSimple Comic 1.7 Features Page Layout - Pages laid out as they would be in print Page Ordering - Left to right or right to left Page Scaling - Original size, window fit, horizontal fit and defined height Fullscreen - Maximize viewing area Archive Handling - Seamlessly deals with .cbr, .cbz, .zip, .rar, tar, 7z, lha and others PDF Handling - Opens PDF based comics Multiple Sessions - View multiple comics at one time Auto-save - Comics are automatically bookmarked and reopened at launch Page Rotation - Rotate the pages to maximize display area
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Dancing Tortoise Software
Modification Date: April 28, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.2 MB
SimpleImage 6.3.1 SimpleImage is a simple but powerful image and movie viewing application thatlets you view all the most popular image and movie formats, like JPEG, GIF,animated GIF, TIFF, PICT, PNG, MPEG, AVI and more in a single, sleek application.
License: Shareware, $20
Developer/Publisher: Christopher Wood
Modification Date: November 30, 2018
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 38.1 MB
Sketch 59.1 Professional digital design for Mac. Sketch gives you the power, flexibility and speed you always wanted in alightweight and easy-to-use package. Finally you can focus on what youdo best: Design.
License: Demo, $99
Developer/Publisher: Bohemian BV
Modification Date: October 21, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 58.4 MB
Download File Size: 11.9 MB
ToyViewer 5.6.0 ToyViewer is an image viewer, which also provides various editingfunctions and image converting filter services to other applications. IfToyViewer is installed in your Mac, you can see image files in PCX, PPM,Sun Raster, etc. on other Cocoa applications.
License: Freeware
Developer/Publisher: Takeshi Ogihara
Modification Date: November 30, 2019
Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 8.6 MB
Xee 3.5.3 Xee is a lightweight, fast and convenient image viewer and browser. It is designed to be aserious tool for image viewing and management, with a sleek and powerful interface. Xeeworks as a much more useful replacement for Preview, or most any other image vieweravailable on Mac OS.
License: Shareware $4
Developer/Publisher: Dag Agren
Modification Date: August 16, 2017
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 18.0 MB
xScope 4.4 xScope is a powerful set of tools that are ideal for measuring, aligningand inspecting on-screen graphics and layouts. xScope is really six tools in one that will help any designer do theirjob faster and produce more accurate results: * Rulers - On-screen rulers that measure distances and angles * Screens - A dynamic view of smaller screen sizes and web browser content areas * Loupe - A magnifying glass that gives you a close-up view of your work * Guides - Markers for precise horizontal and vertical alignment * Frames - Markers for precise width, height & origin alignment * Crosshair - Finds the exact location on screen
License: Shareware, $50
Developer/Publisher: ARTIS Software & The Iconfactory
Modification Date: August 14, 2019
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 29.8 MB
What is Acorn?
Acorn is a basic image editing application for the Mac from FlyingMeat.com. Its standard price is $49.99US, but it is specially priced at $29.99 US during the month of May 2013. It can be purchased from the developer, or from the Mac App store; with all the usual advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Where’s the Market for Acorn?
Acorn uses the tag-line: The Image Editor for Humans. While that line casts me on the role of non-human, I understand perfectly what it means. Apple owns the low-end of this category with iPhoto, for organizing images, and doing simple, mostly global, corrections to them. And Adobe owns the high-end with Photoshop and Lightroom. In fact, the only Mac application that comes to mind in between these two extremes is Adobe’s Photoshop Elements, which is a stripped down version of Photoshop for non-power users. Acorn certainly fits in the same zone as Elements, without the name recognition that Photoshop offers, or the value of having the app you’ve been learning be an exact subset of the app you may end up graduating to, as is the case with Elements and Photoshop.
How’s the Interface?
Since virtually all non-Apple, non-Adobe image editors are on Windows, or from Windows, it is typical to expect a rather unattractive look and interface in such programs. Acorn, refreshingly, looks like a well-designed Mac app. With its most recent update Acorn uses much the same general layout as Elements or Photoshop, with a double-row vertical tool palette on the left edge of the screen, and further tool control windows to the right of your image. While it is not an actual subset of Photoshop, a Photoshop user has no difficulty navigating the app, and learning in Acorn would not leave a new user at a big disadvantage in moving to Photoshop later.
What’s the Feature Set?
If you are not the type of user that feels a need to work in Lab space, convert images to CMYK, or perform other power functions, Acorn might well fit your more-advanced-than-iPhoto needs. It offers many of the typical basic and intermediate functions, including layers, masks, and even alpha channels; as well as most common selection, cropping and adjustment functions. One interface element that takes a moment to get used to is that many of the tools found in the Image column of Photoshop’s menu bar are under Filters in Acorn. We’re used to looking under Filters for Blur, Sharpen, and Stylize effects; in Acorn you’ll find Color Controls, Exposure, Gamma, Grayscale, and other such items there as well.
What about HighBit Files, and Other Formats?
Acorn has no trouble opening images saved at 16 bits per channel, or saved as Tiffs with common Tiff compression formats. Pings are also supported. Even layered Photoshop (.psd) files. So most formats the typical user will come across are covered.
Does It Deal with RAW?
Acorn is capable of opening RAW files in at least some formats. Its RAW converter is simple, and best used for emergency situations where a RAW image needs to be viewed, or a quick Jpeg created from it, and a full fledged RAW editor is not convenient or available. The controls in Acorn are not powerful enough to be effective in adjusting RAW images using the SpyderCube. HSL controls for use with SpyderCheckr are also lacking. So consider Acorn not as a RAW converter, but a RAW converter substitute.
This question is of special interest to Datacolor customers. Color presents identically on-screen in Acorn and in recent versions of Photoshop. sRGB and ProPhotoRGB versions of the same image present identically in Acorn as well. So clearly the application is utilizing the display profile; and converting from the tagged image space to the display profile correctly.
Imac cleaner 1 2. The printing dialog from Acorn presents are the standard versions accessed other applications for the same graphics printer, allowing a custom printer profile to be selected. Printing sRGB and ProPhotoRGB versions of the same image gives matching results; so printer color management seems to be functioning correctly as well.
Acorn even has an Assign Color Profile command. There is no matching Convert to Color Profile command, so this limits users from converting the pixels in an image from one color space to another (such as the conversion from sRGB to ProPhoto used for the tests above), and allows only the more practical task of setting the correct color space for an image which is either mistagged, or more likely untagged. Assigning sRGB to the ProPhoto version of the test images used for this article instantly changed the colors to be incorrect, as would be expected, and reassigning ProPhoto instantly corrected them again.
So What’s the Conclusion?
More and more photographers are going without a copy of Photoshop, given its price tag of several hundred dollars. Many of these users are using the much more affordable, and for most photo tasks much more practical, Lightroom to organize and edit their images. There are also the users still working in iPhoto, but who have reached the point of wanting more advanced features than iPhoto offers.
Such users have the need to occasionally make localized edits, layered files, composited images, images with text added, and other such tasks not covered by Lightroom or iPhoto. Acorn is a very legitimate option for both these cases. It can even be set as the optional second editor from Lightroom, to open Lightroom exported files directly into Acorn for pixel editing.
With Photoshop Elements listing at $99US, and even on special tending to run well above Acorn’s price, Acorn is certainly an easy-editor worth considering.
Credits: C. David Tobie, Copyright 2012. Website: CDTobie.com Return to Blog’s Main Page