TUAW Interview: The Pixelmator Team
As we mentioned last week, one of the most anticipated OS X applications in a long while finally hit the street when Pixelmator shipped version 1.0. We were fortunate enough to get the two brothers behind the application, Saulius and Aidas Dailide, to contribute our latest TUAW Interview. In terms of their relative contribution to Pixelmator, Saulius is more focused on the UI, while Aidas provides most the heavy lifting on the back end. In this interview they discuss some of the thinking behind Pixelmator, where it came from, and what they are trying to accomplish.
Mat Lu, TUAW
October 4th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
can we expect CMYK support anytime son?
October 5th, 2007 at 3:48 am
Vanni,
we have some other things to do first. CMYK is not our top priority.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:51 am
Yay, an update is coming soon
October 5th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Awesome looking app. I am a photoshop user, but always open to trying new software. Expect a purchase from me soon.
Cheers,
Dustin
October 6th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I am curious, what were the other names, beside Pixelmater, under consideration?
October 9th, 2007 at 9:07 am
To support Quartz Compositions is a very nice idea.
But i think there is one issue, how do you expose controls to the user. just applying a composition to a layer/image would destroy the user experience.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:35 am
@Dustin Senos
If you are a Photoshop user today - don’t buy Pixelmator. You will be very disappointed. Compared to Photoshop Pixelmator is very limited and you will switch back to Photoshop after 5 minutes. It’s simply not a Photoshop replacement.
// Leif
October 15th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I think to compare Pixelmator and Photoshop directly is unfair at this point. Photoshop has nearly two decades of refinement under its belt. When you talk about 800 lb gorrillas, Photoshop is just that. I’m not a Photoshop user, but I am a Photoshop Elements user. I didn’t need a $600 application to screw with my photos; but $99 was fair. At $60 Pixalmator out of the gate has many of the features that Photoshop Elements has for the Mac (v.4) and who knows when we will get an updated version of PHotoshop Elements.
Could Pixelmator one day be a Photoshop Killer? I Don’t know, I don’t know that they are shooting for that level of kill factor. However, I do believe they are shooting to be the best consumer/pro-summer photo editing package on the market for the Mac OS; and in that light they seem to be well on there way.
If you are a PHotoshop user, I don’t see you dropping your $600 investment in money, and years of experience to switch. If you are a newbie or a hobbyiest, then this program may be for you!
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I am a long time Photoshop user and downloaded the demo of Pixelmator recently. I definitely think it is limited and certainly not a Photoshop competitor or replacement. However, the use of core image effects is really cool. Don’t expect Adobe to adopt core image effects any time soon. If you want to supplement Photoshop with some cool effects, then Pixelmator is for you.
I am looking forward to updates of this program and would like to see layer effects such as drop shadows.
October 25th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Will this program support Wacom tablets & be pressure sensitive?
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 am
Hey Guys, wasn’t saying I would replace Photoshop, just mentioning I am interested.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Have to say I have been looking for an alternative to Photoshop for ages. From the demo I have downloaded you guys seem to have created a reasonably affordable alternative. I will be purchasing as soon as I have the money.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:54 pm
I guess it depends on what you want to “replace Photoshop” for. If you’re working in a print house, no. (And I have a feeling that’s why CMYK is not something high on the list since that’s for printing and printing is a whole can of worms in and of itself.) With a few more features (rulers and guides being the most chief among them) I could probably get by using Pixelmator instead of Photoshop. I’d need to write some “Actions” in Automator for a few things, but as a web guy rather than a professional graphic artist, this program just about fits the bill.
I’ll certainly be watching its development closely.