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Pixelmator already provides a great editor for those who edit and create images for web graphics. It has a powerful set of core tools for creating layouts, user interface elements, and can easily manipulate pictures for web use. Pixelmator’s interface and tools are easier to learn and use for users who don’t spend all day in an image editor.

Pixelmator 2.0, which is due out this summer adds many nice tools to really improve the workflow for graphics creators. Some of the more notable new features include: vector drawing, a pixel editing tool, and a new type tool. Now, lets take a look at both the current and new version compared with Adobe Photoshop for graphics creators.

Pixelmator has a few advantages over Photoshop and they are:

1. Cost: Pixelmator is one tenth the price of Photoshop. If Pixelmator has the tools the users need, there is no reason to spend that much extra money on Photoshop.
2. Speed: Pixelmator is faster to load than Photoshop. With less tools and a simpler interface, it is faster to accomplish quick image editing tasks.
3. Multiple Machines: Pixelmator is in the Mac App Store, so it can be downloaded to any machine one has iTunes activated on. This greatly simplifies the moving and upgrading between computers. Adobe Activation process is a horrific experience and is a big draw-back for people who actually purchase their software.
4. Magic Wand: The interactivity of wand tolerance easily beats Photoshop’s version. Pixelmator really shines by making standard tools better. Adobe may add new big features to each upgrade, but they rarely go back and improve existing ones.

While Photoshop is ten times the price and has a more complicated interface, it has everything Pixelmator has and more. Some of these tools allow Photoshop users to create graphics in less time than users who use Pixelmator. The following is a list of features the developers should add to Pixelmator to help graphics users to speed up their workflow.

1. Layer Styles: Layer styles automate repetitive tasks like drop shadow, bevel, and grow. While all these tasks can be accomplished in Pixelmator, layer styles would greatly speed up the user’s workflow. Styles also allow these tasks to be editable, which saves more time when changes need to be made.
2. Vector Drawing: Vector drawing gives creators more control over their creations. Vectors can also be easily modified for improved speed. Fortunately, Pixelmator users don’t have to wait much longer as Vector Drawing tools are coming out this summer in version 2.0.
3. Content Fill: Content Fill is really two tools: content fill and heal. Content fill allows the users to remove an unwanted section out of an image. The heal tool does the same with a brush to remove dust and and other flaws in an image. While Photoshop has had a heal tool for while, the content fill feature is new in CS5. Pixelmator will be getting both of these tools in 2.0.
4. Better Text Tool: Photoshop has a much better text tool and character features than Pixelmator. Hopefully, the new Type Tool in version 2.0 will bring it closer to Photoshop for adding text to images.
5. History: Pixelmator has undo/redo, but some users prefer to jump back to previous states like one can with Photoshop in the history panel. This is not a major issue as versions can be created to return back to. For some users though, it does save them a lot of time. Mac OS 10.7 Lion’s new feature, versions, may also help in the future.

Pixelmator already provides most of the tools graphics artists need to create great content. For professional users, Photoshop still has a leg up by providing tools to greatly improve workflow speed and edibility. Yet, for users who don’t spend most of the day creating graphics, Pixelmator’s streamlined interface and lower learning curve actually make it a better choice. Pixelmator’s version 2.0 will help to bring it even closer to Photoshop for graphics creators. The one major missing feature is layer styles, which improves the artist’s speed at creating predefined effects like drop shadows and bevels. These layer styles can all be done in Pixelmator right now, but it takes longer to do so. If you are a part-time graphics artist and don’t want to spend the money on Photoshop, Pixelmator is great and many times a better alternative.

Related Articles

• Examining Pixelmator vs Photoshop Part I
• From Photoshop to Pixelmator

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