Pixelmator vs Photoshop (in brief)


Everyday tools

The everyday tools are fairly similar, you have brushes, dodge, burn, sponge, sharpen and blur, and the ability to export and import PSD files that retain their layers and so on when opened in Photoshop.

Photoshop Filters vs Effects Browser

Photoshop currently has 47 filters in its Filter Gallery and Pixelmator has 153 effects in its Effects Browser. The Pixelmator effects are by no means novelties, there are many great ideas here that are easy to use and control. But it must be pointed out that some of these are for uses that Photoshop places in other areas of its menu and window system, for example colour adjustment. (Note: in both instances these are "out of the box" numbers - you can add filters and effects to the apps.)

CMYK workflow

You can softproof in Pixelmator using a number of profiles including CMYK ones, but as far as I can tell the only way to convert an image to a CMYK profile is to do so using Automator's 'Apply ColorSync Profile to Images'. Whereas in Photoshop you can convert files within the app. (Note: do not attempt to change colour profile of PSD or PXM files with Automator, only the output TIFF, JPEG, etc.)

RAW processing vs RAW import

Pixelmator doesn't have the extensive RAW options that Photoshop contains, but 'can open RAW files supported by Mac OS X.'

Deblur vs ...

If you're looking for the latest Photoshop features like deblur then you'll be disappointed. If you are willing to wait for these features then your patience may in the longer-term be rewarded.

3D vs ...

Pixelmator doesn't have the 3D options that Photoshop does, so if you use these already you are out of luck at the moment but there are 3D elements to some of its effects, like page curl, which is super simple to use compared to the complexity of Photoshop's 3D environment.

Time Machine vs Versions

In Photoshop if you need to recover a file you'll need to use Time Machine from Finder. In Pixelmator you can use the 'versions' functionality like you find in many of Apple's desktop apps.

Complexity vs Simplicity 

It takes a couple of seconds on a relatively new iMac to open Pixelmator, whereas Photoshop CC takes at least three times as long. From the very start Pixelmator is great for quick ideas when you can't be bothered to get your head into the complexity Photoshop.

Creative Cloud vs iCloud

I doubt this is a deal breaker but Photoshop can utilize the 20GB of allowance that comes with an Adobe subscription, while Pixelmator shares your iCloud allowance if you choose to sync files in this way. (Of course, you could always save Pixelmator files to Dropbox or some other service if you wish.)

Conclusion

If you are after the basics, along with a set of filters that might well inspire you, not to mention some refreshing simplicity then Pixelmator might will be for you either as a supplement to, or replacement for, Photoshop. If you are a Photoshop power user, however, making use of every new feature as it's released then Pixelmator alone won't be enough.


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