Pixelmator is a graphic editor developed for Mac OS X

Mac OS X

Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...

, by Pixelmator Team Ltd built upon a combination of open source

Open source

The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...

 and Mac OS X technologies. Pixelmator features selection, painting, retouching, navigation, and color correction tools; as well as layers-based image editing, GPU-powered image processing, color management, automation, and a transparent head-up display

Head-Up Display

A head-up display or heads-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints...

 user interface for work with images. Pixelmator uses Core Image

Core Image

Core Image is a pixel-accurate, near-realtime, non-destructive image processing technology in Mac OS X. Implemented as part of the QuartzCore framework of Mac OS X 10.4 and later, Core Image provides a plugin-based architecture for applying filters and effects within the Quartz graphics rendering...

 and OpenGL

OpenGL

OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...

 technologies that use the Mac's video card for image processing.

Pixelmator was the first commercial image editor to fully support the WebP

WebP

WebP is an image format that employs lossy compression. It is developed by Google, based on technology acquired with the purchase of On2 Technologies.As a derivative of the video format VP8, it is a sister project to the multimedia container format WebM...

 image format on Mac.

Features

• Uses technologies like ImageMagick
  ImageMagick
  ImageMagick is an open source software suite for displaying, converting, and editing raster image files. It can read and write over 100 image file formats. ImageMagick is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license.- Features and capabilities:...
  
  , Core Image
  Core Image
  Core Image is a pixel-accurate, near-realtime, non-destructive image processing technology in Mac OS X. Implemented as part of the QuartzCore framework of Mac OS X 10.4 and later, Core Image provides a plugin-based architecture for applying filters and effects within the Quartz graphics rendering...
  
  , Automator, Cairo
  Cairo (graphics)
  cairo is a software library used to provide a vector graphics-based, device-independent API for software developers. It is designed to provide primitives for 2-dimensional drawing across a number of different backends...
  
   and Sparkle
  Sparkle (software)
  Sparkle is a free Mac OS X software framework designed to simplify updating software for the end user of a program. Sparkle supports checking for updates via appcasting.-Programs:It is used in over 100 programs, such as:* Adium* AppZapper* Bookends...
  
  .
• Photoshop
  Adobe Photoshop
  Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
  
   images with layers are supported as well as over 100 other still image file formats.
• Uses layers-based editing.
• Over 20 tools for selection, crop, painting, retouching, typing, measuring and navigation.
• Vector drawing tools
• 16 color correction tools and over 50 filters.
• Integrates with Mac OS X and iLife
  ILife
  iLife is a suite of software applications developed by Apple for organizing, editing, and publishing photos, movies, and music. The suite comprises five applications: iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and iWeb, all of which run on the Mac OS X operating system....
  
   applications such as iPhoto
  IPhoto
  iPhoto is a digital photograph manipulation software application developed by Apple Inc. and released with every Macintosh personal computer as part of the iLife suite of digital life management applications...
  
  .
• Pictures can be taken with an iSight
  ISight
  iSight is a webcam, both external and internal, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The external iSight was sold retail for US$149, connected to a computer via a FireWire cable, and came with a set of mounts to place it atop any then-current Apple display, laptop computer, all-in-one desktop...
  
   camera from within the program.
• Quick file conversion can be done with the help of Automator actions.
• Mac OS X ColorSync
  ColorSync
  ColorSync is Apple Inc's color management API for the Mac OS and Mac OS X.-Version history:Apple developed the original 1.0 version of ColorSync as a Mac-only architecture, which made it into an operating system release in 1993. In the same year, Apple co-founded the International Color Consortium...
  
   and ColorSync profiles are supported.
• Support for Mac OS X Lion
  Mac OS X Lion
  Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
  
   features such as versions, auto save, and full screen mode.

Version history

Version	Codename	Release date	Significant changes
1.0	Firestarter	25 September 2007	Initial Release
Pixelmator 1.0 was released at a price of $59. A beta was earlier released on the August 16, 2007. Initially the developers announced a public beta, but decided later to only publish a closed beta to a select group of testers .
1.1	Kitten	6 December 2007	Over 100 new filters Third-Party Filter Support Graphics Tablet Support
1.2	Draftsman	12 May 2008	Rulers Grid Color Balance Polygonal Lasso Tool Curve Tool
This release included some often requested features, like the Curve tool, Polygonal, Lasso Tool, Rulers, Guides and the ability to display an alignment grid.
1.3	Tempo	4 November 2008	Magic Eraser Magic Wand Improved Paint Bucket Hue and Saturation Smart Palette Hide Action Tooltips Improved Type Tool
Pixelmator 1.3 Added more stability and improvements for working with large images. It also came with new features like click-and-drag for adjusting the tolerance of the Magic Wand, Paint bucket and the new Magic Eraser tool on the fly. The Hue and Saturation, Replace Color and Colorize palettes had been renewed as well. Also better Stroking capabilities with live preview were added. Finally Pixelmator is from version 1.3 available in two extra languages, French and Spanish, alongside the already available English and German language.
1.4	Sprinkle	23 February 2009	New Painting Engine Major overhaul for brushes Improved Paint Bucket Document Presets
This version introduced a new painting engine and the possibility for more advanced brush creation. Support for importing Photoshop Adobe Photoshop Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...  brushes is also included. In addition a new cloud generation filter made its way into Pixelmator in 1.4, and a noise filter in 1.4.1.
1.5	Spider	8 September 2009	Save for web Snow Leopard Support Slice Tool
New features included the ability to save for web, send to Mail/iPhoto, trimming, info labels, Italian language support, and support for Mac OS X 10.6, released less than two weeks prior to this update. Version 1.5.1 brought bug fixes and Brush Collections.
1.6	Nucleus	13 July 2010	Major Performance Improvements 64-Bit Support Layer Groups Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Only
1.6 introduced layer groups and integration with OS X's Image Capture app for importing images from cameras and scanners. Full 64-bit support and deeper integration with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard means that older OS X versions are no longer supported. 1.6.1 was released on September 28. Introducing features such as an improved photo browser and a revamped stroke feature. 1.6.2 came on October 6, 2010, introducing support for the image format WebP WebP WebP is an image format that employs lossy compression. It is developed by Google, based on technology acquired with the purchase of On2 Technologies.As a derivative of the video format VP8, it is a sister project to the multimedia container format WebM... .
2.0	Chameleon	27 October 2011	UI Changes Vector Drawing and Shape tools Content Aware Fill and Healing Burn and Dodge Tools Sponge Tool Red Eye Tool Pixel Tool Type Tool Improvements
New features include a modified UI, tools for inserting and drawing vector shapes, a reworked type tool, burn and doge tools, and improved support for Mac OS X Lion features like Auto Save and Versions.

External links

• Official website
• Pixelmator at Mac App Store
  Mac App Store
  The Mac App Store is a digital distribution platform for Mac OS X applications developed by Apple Inc.. The platform was announced on October 20, 2010 at Apple's "Back to the Mac" event. Apple began accepting app submissions from registered developers on November 3, 2010 in preparation for its launch...