Why Buy Mac Photo Editing Software?
Whether you use a compact digital camera, a mobile device with a camera or a high-end DSLR, Mac photo editing software makes it easy and affordable to edit your photos exactly how you want them. Just a few clicks of the mouse can get rid of unwanted blemishes and red eye, and soften wrinkles. You can also crop a photo that may have had a poor viewing angle, to better focus on the subject. Plus, make the colors pop by adding a filter or adjusting the chroma, or add creative touches like frames or text, and so much more.
The top three Mac photo editing software apps we looked at – Photoshop Elements 10, Pixelmator 2.0 and Acorn 3 – have all these features and more. Be sure to check out
articles on Mac photo editing software.
Of course, you’ll want to share your beautiful works of art, and most software that we'll discuss has sharing features right on the interface so you can easily email your pictures to friends and family, or upload them to websites like Facebook, Flickr or Picasa. Some also connect with device-sharing services like iCloud’s Photo Stream and Adobe Carousel. Most apps allow you to create and print professional photo books as well.
#1 - Adobe Photoshop Elements
Pros
Adobe has added new editing, sharing and organizing features to their popular app.
Cons
Its feature-filled user interface may be a little overwhelming to those who are new to photo editing. new to photo editing.
The Verdict: 9.88/10
Photoshop Elements continues to be the best photo editing app for the Mac
#2 - Pixelmator
Pros
There are plenty of photo editing features, all at an affordable price and optimized for OS X Lion.
Cons
There isn’t a built-in feature for organizing photos, so it relies on iPhoto or Aperture.
The Verdict: 9.08/10
The latest version of Pixelmator is even better than its predecessor, and it is a great photo editor option.
#3 - Acorn
Pros
This app has all the features found in most Mac photo editing software, but it’s one of the easiest to use.
Cons
The software is missing a built-in photo organizer, though you can use iPhoto for that task.
The Verdict: 8.5/10
Acorn was developed to be easy-to-use, and its comprehensive toolset makes it a powerful Mac photo editor.
#4 - FX Photo Studio Pro Pros There are many great features and filters found in this app, and it is very easy to use.
Cons It lacks a few features found in similar Mac photo editing software. It has weak help and support options.
The Verdict: 8.25/10
FX Photo Studio Pro is a solid Mac photo editing software app that’s powerful and simple to work with.
#5 - PhotoStudioPros This software comes with professional tools that are easy to use, even for beginners.
Cons It’s a bit pricey compared to similar Mac photo editors with the same toolsets and features.
The Verdict: 8.2/10
It’s an easy-to-use Mac photo editing software app that can give you pro-level results.
#6 - Imagerie
Pros
Imagerie is a simple, easy-to-use app that’s optimized for OS X Lion.
Cons
It’s a very basic app, so more advanced users may find it lacking depth.
The Verdict: 8.03/10
An affordable, simple Mac photo editor that still offers powerful features.
#7 - Compositor
Pros
It features many photo editing tools and ease of use, all at an affordable cost.
Cons
It doesn’t run on OS X Lion, which is a problem if you have the latest Apple operating system.
The Verdict: 7.85/10
Compositor is an affordable Mac photo editing software app with plenty of tools to satisfy users.
#8 - iLife
Pros
It has plenty of nice new features, including Photo Stream that lets you see your pictures on all your iOS devices.
Cons
It’s still a fairly basic photo editor, and you’ll need Mac OS X Lion to take advantage of iCloud and Photo Stream.
The Verdict: 7.78/10
An excellent app for importing and organizing photos, with only a handful of tools for editing.
#9 - FX Photo Studio
Pros
It features over 170 filters to enhance your photos, plus it's very easy to work with.
Cons
It lacks a few features found in similar apps. The help and support options are weak.
The Verdict: 7.53/10
Despite missing several editing tools and features, it's an easy to use Mac photo editor with plenty of image filters to use.
#10 - PhotoComplete
Pros
It has a simple and intuitive user interface, a nice toolset and a direct Flickr upload.
Cons
While still available for purchase, the app hasn’t been updated since 2006.
The Verdict: 6.88/10
It lacks some tools found in similar apps, but it’s a surprisingly strong Mac photo editing software app.
