Pixelmator, the cheap ($25) image editing app has been a big hit on the App store. First of all – it can read PSD files and save them. It also provides a lot of the basic editing tools and filters that most web/mobile designers use every day. Also it uses 99% of the same keyboard shortcuts as Photoshop, so it’s very easy and natural for a PS user. Sure it’s not as good as the newest PS for large print and photo editing, but for a web / app designer only a few things were missing. Mostly layer styles and vector shape support. Well guess what – they’re all coming to the app as a free update in the very near future.
I have tested Pixelmator for quite a while now and if it had layer styles and shapes I think it could replace Photoshop in my daily workflow completely. After those functions are added I will try and do my day-to-day work in Pixelmator for two weeks and will submit my views every other day. This is VERY good news for all designers out there.
Let’s just hope the company will expand and make a vector editing app as well, because frankly most cheap alternatives to illustrator are not really good.
You can read more about the app and it’s features at pixelmator.com