Michal Ždanský The team behind the popular graphics editor Pixelmator has released a mobile version for the iPad, which for the first time demonstrated during the introduction of the new iPads. The developers claimed that the iOS version includes much of the tools from the desktop Pixelmator and that it is practically a full-fledged graphics editor for tablets, unlike the heavily stripped-down Photoshop for iOS.
Pixelmator for iPad came at a very opportune time for Apple, as tablet sales are declining and one of the reasons is the lack of truly sophisticated apps that can match their desktop counterparts. There are a lot of really great apps in the App Store, but few of them really have a moniker killer, which would make the user conclude that the tablet can really replace the computer. Pixelmator belongs to this small group of unique applications alongside GarageBand, Cubasis or Microsoft Office.
The user interface resembles iWork applications in many ways. The developers were clearly inspired, and it's not a bad thing at all. The main screen presents an overview of projects in progress. A new project can be started completely blank or an existing image can be imported from the library. Thanks to iOS 8, it is possible to use i Document Picker, which can add any image from iCloud Drive, third-party apps, or cloud storage like Dropbox or OneDrive. Pixelmator has no problem opening images already in progress from the desktop version, so you can continue editing the photo on the desktop or, conversely, complete the editing on the desktop.
The editor itself most closely resembles an application Keynote. There is a toolbar at the top right, the individual layers are displayed on the left side, and there is also a ruler around the image. All adjustments are made through the toolbar. Most of the tools are located under the brush icon. It is divided into four categories: effects, color adjustments, drawing and retouching.
Color adjustments are pretty much the basic photo enhancement tools you'll find in most photo apps, including native Photos. In addition to the standard sliders, you can also adjust the curve or adjust the white balance using the eyedropper tool. The effects include most basic and advanced photo effects, from blur to various image distortions to Light Leak. The iPad version shares the bulk of the effects library with the desktop version. Some effects have adjustable parameters, the application uses the bottom bar for them, as well as its own wheel element, which works similarly to the Click Wheel from the iPod. Sometimes you set the color shade in it, other times the intensity of the effect.
Pixelmator has dedicated a separate section to retouching and combines the options for adjusting sharpness, stature, red eyes, lights, blurring and then image correction itself. In fact, the iPad version uses the same engine as the Pixelmator 3.2 on the Mac, which was only recently introduced. The tool can be used to erase unwanted objects from an image and works surprisingly well in many cases. All you have to do is erase the object with your finger and a complex algorithm will take care of the rest. The result is allegedly not always perfect, but in most cases it is quite impressive, especially when we realize that everything happens on an iPad, not a Mac.
The developers have included in the application the possibility of full-fledged painting. There are a large number of brush types available, so different drawing techniques can be chosen (within possibilities). For many, Pixelmator can replace other drawing applications such as Sketchbook Pro or Procreate, especially thanks to advanced work with layers (allows even non-destructive layer styles) and the presence of graphic editor tools. What's more, it also includes support for Wacom styluses, and support for other Bluetooth styluses is likely to come.
A nice addition are the templates, with which you can easily create collages or frames. Unfortunately, their options are limited and they cannot be modified in any way. Pixelmator can then export finished photos to JPG or PNG formats, otherwise it saves projects in its own format and there is also the option of exporting to PSD. After all, the application can also read and edit Photoshop files, although it does not always interpret individual elements quite correctly.
It's no exaggeration to say that Pixelmator for iPad is one of the most advanced apps available for tablets in general. It offers enough tools for more advanced photo editing, but without a precise stylus, it's hard to replace a desktop graphic editor. But for quick edits in the field that can then be tweaked on the Mac, it's an amazing tool that will find use even among creatives who use a tablet for digital painting. Pixelmator for iPad can be bought in the App Store for a nice €4,49.
[app url=https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/id924695435?mt=8]
Please do you know of a reliable application that can process raw and then save it as a jpg in full size and send it by email? I quite often send photos from the field to work and this would make lugging my laptop easier :-)
This is exactly what I was dealing with, how to get RAW photos into the iPad and be able to edit them and read metadata, but it didn't work, so I bought an MB Air..
Photo forge 2 :)
he has been doing it for a long time
photoraw
I use the PhotoRaw app for RAW editing on the iPad.
Is there an option in Pixelmator to quickly switch between the original and edited version of the image, as it is in other editors? Even after an hour I couldn't find it…
I can't install it on an iPad mini with iOS 8.1 and it says it wants iOS 8 or later. Restarting didn't help either.