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The best desktop photo-editing apps
Last month we covered the best mobile photo-editing apps, but if you're serious about photography you'll need more than the tools a phone or tablet can provide. Professionals rely on software from Adobe and others because of the power these programs afford them. Combined with shooting in the uncompressed RAW format, dedicated image editing suites allow you to adjust white balance, exposure, sharpness and color at a granular level. That might be a little intimidating for folks used to point-and-shoot cameras or a smartphone, but for professionals and hobbyists, this means they can reproduce the image they saw in their minds when they hit the shutters on their DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Beyond editing tools, some of these software suites also offer ways to organize and share your photos without leaving the app.
Adobe's AI-powered Photoshop update is a time-saver
Adobe has unveiled Photoshop 19.1 with a much-anticipated AI-based feature for photo retouchers and a fix for longstanding Windows display issues. The first feature is called "select subject," and uses Adobe's Sensei deep-learning algorithms to make it much easier to isolate subjects from backgrounds. Adobe sent Engadget a preview copy of Photoshop to test, and I found that it's a big time-saver that doesn't always work, especially if your subject and what's behind it are too similar.
Pixelmator's AI-driven Photoshop rival is ready for your Mac
Adobe isn't the only one rolling out an AI-savvy pro image editor -- right on cue, Pixelmator has released its previously-teased Pixelmator Pro on the Mac App Store. The $60 software promises many of the tools you'd hope for in a higher-end creative package, such as RAW processing, smart layout tools, non-destructive changes and advanced effects editing, but its centerpiece is its use of machine learning. It can remove objects, snap to items, level the horizon and identify layers without the painstaking manual effort you've typically needed in the past.
Pixelmator Pro is an AI-powered Photoshop alternative for your Mac
Pro image editing tools like Adobe Photoshop are vital in the creative world, but let's face it: not everyone can justify paying $10 or more per month, every month, just to get more than rudimentary tools. You may not have to in the near future, though. The Pixelmator team is previewing Pixelmator Pro, an upgraded version of its long-serving (and historically more affordable) Mac app geared toward serious creatives. The editor promises many of the features you'd expect in a high-end app, and a little bit beyond -- there's even a dash of AI-like technology involved.
Photography algorithm alters perspective after images are captured
Combining multiple photographs to create a new image isn't uncommon, but researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in partnership with NVIDIA have come up with a a pretty wild new technique to create entirely new compositions. It's called "computational zoom," and it promises to let photographers adjust the focal length (which basically amounts to the magnification of an image when you shoot) after the fact. The UCSB researchers have basically come up with a way to combine images that merge both telephoto and wide-angle shots to come up with entirely new compositions.
Google is done updating its Nik desktop photo-editing tools
Bad news if you're a fan of the Nik Collection of free photo-editing apps: Google has announced it will stop supporting the software suite effective immediately. "We have no plans to update the Collection or add new features over time," a banner atop the Nik Collection website and help center reads. Want in? Then download it now and start importing your photos to see what the fuss is all about.
Photo editor uses neural networks to airbrush like a pro
Most people think Photoshop is a magical tool that can change reality, but it does require a skilled artist for decent results. Using neural networks, however, University of Edinburgh researcher Andrew Brock has built an uncanny image editing app that can transform someone's entire hairstyle with just the stroke of a brush.
Pixelmator's photo-editing app is coming to the iPhone
After testing the waters on Mac and iPad successfully, Pixelmator is now bringing its highly rated image editor to Apple's iPhone. Finally. Most notably, the application will feature new editing elements to assist while you're on the go, including a distort tool that lets you warp a photo to your liking and see the changes in real-time. The soon-to-be universal iOS app is going to be available for $5 starting tomorrow, or as a free update to people who already own the iPad version. Oddly enough, the Pixelmator app seems to have disappeared from the App Store in recent hours, but we're sure it'll be back there in time for tomorrow's scheduled launch.
Adobe buys Aviary to bring photo editing to more mobile apps
The world of image editing has changed a lot in the past few years -- you're now about as likely to tweak a photo on your phone or tablet as you are on your PC. Adobe is clearly aware of this shift, as it just bought Aviary and its cloud-savvy image editing platform for an unspecified amount. The two firms will work together on bringing Adobe's editing tools and Creative Cloud services to more mobile apps. That photography app you just downloaded on your phone could create Photoshop-friendly pictures, for example. There's no set timetable for integrating Aviary into Adobe's software platforms, but the quick turnaround from the Behance acquisition suggests that you'll see more powerful mobile editing suites within a matter of months.
Aviary for iOS update adds Instagram and email sharing options, extra magic
Aviary has certainly been busy over the past couple of months, having recently overhauled its photo-editing app for Android, as well as launching on Windows Phone 8. Fortunately, the industrious company has also found time to work on its iOS app, which has just been updated to allow picture sharing via Instagram and good old-fashioned email. The sharing menu now features two new buttons that'll push the selected image into Instagram's own app, or launch Mail and add it to the body of an email. According to the update changelog, the new version also has "a bonus extra dose of magic added." We asked the folks at Aviary exactly how they implemented this exciting feature, but frustratingly, they wouldn't tell us.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 now available for $149
Adobe teased us with a Photoshop Lightroom 5 beta at the start of the spring, and it's closing out the season by releasing the finished goods. Mac- and Windows-based shutterbugs can download the completed image management app today, either at no extra charge through a Creative Cloud subscription or $149 for a stand-alone version ($79 for an upgrade). Buyers get the same core updates no matter how much they spend, including an Advanced Healing Brush for removing objects and Smart Previews that let travelers leave their original files at home. Behance publishing is also part of the revision. When Lightroom is free to try for a month, it likely won't hurt to grab a copy at the source link -- especially if your photo collection is growing out of hand.
Daily iPhone App: Curved
I have a soft spot for image editing apps that let me add some flair to the photos I take with my iPhone. One app that has made its way into my permanent tool bag is Curved. As its name implies, Curved Text on Photo lets you overlay multiple layers of curved text on your iPhone and iPad images. Curved lets you add text and then apply a variety of shapes to wrap the text around elements within your image. Curved shapes include a wave, arc, bell, full circle, semi-circle and others. You can even draw your own lines to wrap the text in the way that works best for your photo. Once your curved text is complete, you can further stylize the look with an artistic font. The app ships with a handful of fonts and extra fonts are available via an in-app purchase. Curved is more than just a text overlay app as it also has a basic photo editor that lets you tweak your image. Tools include contrast, brightness, crop, blemish remover, stickers and more. If you don't like the effects and stickers available by default in the app, you can purchase additional packs for 99-cents each. When you are done with your creation, you can export the image at full resolution to your photo album. You can also share it via email or send it to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. Curved has another option that lets you send the image to other compatible apps that are installed on your iPhone. Curved is available in the iOS App Store for US$1.99.
Fotor Photo Editor for Mac is capable and free if you act quickly
Photo editing on a Mac presents a dilemma for budget-conscious consumers. Photoshop is high-end and expensive. iPhoto is affordable, but its editing tools are rudimentary. There are still plenty other apps to choose from, including Pixelmator and Acorn. Another good title to add to your list of photo editing apps is Fotor Photo Editor. It's not Photoshop, but it has a lot of strengths. Best of all, it is free for a limited time. The app has excellent editing tools, giving you control of the exposure, brightness, contrast, white balance, sharpening, blurring and much more. The app also features 13 different one click enhancement options, as well as a large selection of effects and frames. The app even lets you apply tilt-shift filters to your images, and supports most image formats including the all important raw import. It also lets you import multiple images for HDR treatment. Text can easily be added to photos, and you can pop up a panel with your EXIF data. I found Fotor to be simple and intuitive to use. All the operations are on a panel to the right of the main screen. You can see your original image with a click, then reapply the filters. One thing I didn't like is there is no history-based undo. There is a button bewilderingly called 'none,' which takes all the filters and optimizations off. I'd like the app to go backwards step by step through all the changes and undo them one at a time. With this version of Fotor, undoing a mistake is all or nothing. %Gallery-185514% I think many photographers will like Fotor Photo Editor. The same developers have done some excellent iOS apps and it's nice to see those skills brought to the Mac. I don't know how long Fotor will be free, so grab it as soon as you can. The app requires OS X 10.6 or later and a 64-bit processor. It has been optimized to work with Retina Display screens.
Google+ update for Android and iOS adds Snapseed editing, always-on location option
Snapseed quickly took on Google+ integration after it was acquired by Google. It's now Snapseed's time to return the favor. An update to the Google+ apps is introducing basic image editing (currently for iOS only) and, yes, those seemingly inescapable retro filters to get just the right effect before an image goes into a post. The pseudo-Instagram layer is far from the only addition, however. Android and desktop users can optionally tell Google+ to always share their closest available location in their profile; posts in the stream now include more text and make it easier to see photos and videos; Community participants can also invite people, share posts and manage activity away from their computers. If you've ever wanted to fix a Google+ photo -- or break it, some would argue -- the Android and iOS updates are rolling out today.
Shine for Mac OS adds very realistic lighting effects to your images
Shine (US$9.99 in the Mac App Store) is not the first app we've seen that allows you to add realistic lighting effects to your images, but it is very capable and easy to use. To start, drag and drop an image into the Shine palette, and place a light source. Drag it and rotate it where you want, then adjust size, intensity and color, and you'll have an enhanced image. The app includes undo, auto-saving and restoring. The lighting effects are realistic and natural looking. The danger is that, like any app that modifies an image, you can get carried away. I prefer a subtle hand. My favorite place for photography is Antelope Canyon near Page, Ariz. It's a slot canyon, and you have to be there at just the right time and season to see the light rays come in from above. I always seem to be at the right place at the wrong time, so I was able to add the light rays to my photos after the fact. I liked the results. I've previously reviewed LensFlare studio ($19.99) for the Mac, and also found it excellent. It's twice as much to buy as Shine, and has more effects, but it terms of quality and flexibility Shine is first rate. Shine responds in nearly real time, and was very stable. I like the ability to show the edited and original photo on the same screen. My only complaint is that the app opens to a very small window on my 30-inch monitor, and even though you can enlarge it, the size isn't remembered as you go to work on a new image. That's an easy fix, and I hope it gets made. %Gallery-183346% Adding lens flares is something you won't do on every picture, but it can be very powerful when used appropriately. Shine does what it advertises, and does it well. I've added it to my small collection of permanent apps for post-processing images after they have been sharpened and color balanced in Photoshop. Shine requires OS X 10.6.6 or later. It's well worth the asking price.
Panasonic shows off Touch Pen for annotating images on Smart TVs
During the Panasonic press event at CES 2013, Toshi Hiramatsu showed off the new Touch Pen for use with compatible Smart TVs. After flicking a picture from an iPad to a TV screen, he used the stylus to annotate the image right on the display. A mention in the official PR for Panasonic's 2013 Smart VIERA Plasma lineup adds a little more information -- using Swipe & Share 2.0 software for Android and iOS, you can push photos to the new displays, modify them using the Touch Pen, then send the changes straight back to the source device. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Google makes Snapseed for iOS free
Google bought Nik Software and took them over on September 12th. Today, Snapseed, arguably one of the finest image editors for iOS, just went free, dropped from the US$4.99 previous price. Other changes include built in Google+ sharing, of course, and some new filters and updated photographic frames. Those frames can be colorized to match the colors in your image. I've always liked Snapseed, and at free it's a must grab. Sadly, the OS X version of Snapseed remains at $19.99, but it's worth it. Google also today released Snapseed for Android phones, where it is also free. No surprise there. Google = Android.
Alt Photo provides a solid approach to image filtering for iPhone
There are so many photo filter apps for the iPhone, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Among the crowd, Alt Photo from Alien Skin Software stands out as worthy of a second look. This US $0.99 app emulates the style of several different film stocks, from Kodachrome to old aged black and white film. Some filter apps are all-or-nothing affairs, but Alt Photo lets you play with the intensity of each effect so you can adjust it to your liking. When editing images, subtlety can be a good thing, and the range of effects with this app leaves you free to experiment and not overdo it. Alt Photo also lets you use shoot with the iPhone camera from within the app, and it has the usual image sharing options like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and email. Beyond the film styles, the app offers a selection of frames for your photos, and the usual ability to adjust brightness. There is no overall contrast adjustment, however; contrast is controlled by the individual filters. Images are not reduced in resolution after they are edited, which is a plus. I also like the ability to add a caption to an image when you send it, along with location information. Any of your last 50 images can be re-edited, which could prove to be very handy. Alt Photo has an original GUI that takes a moment to learn, but it then is very intuitive. It lacks any kind of built-in help, and I think apps should always include that. Overall, I put this app in the same category as Snapseed, which is also excellent. Alt Photo is not just another 'me too' app, but an original approach at a reasonable price. Alien Skin software is well known to pro and semi-pro photographers who use its filters in Photoshop, so it's nice to see some of that expertise passed along to the iPhone. The app requires iOS 5, and is not universal, which I hope will be remedied soon. It is optimized for the iPhone 5 Check the gallery for some screen grabs. %Gallery-170620%
ColorStrokes for iPhone updated for iPhone 5 and speed
ColorStrokes is a cool little US$0.99 app for the iPhone that lets you selectively add or subtract color from an image. Like most image editors and filters, ColorStorkes can tempt you to go too far and overuse the effect. But in the right hands, an image can become striking and artistic. It's not the software alone, it's the user that makes the image a memorable one. ColorStrokes gives you a very nice set of tools for manipulating an image. Because the editing is done with your finger, and because your finger would cover the area where you are trying to do delicate work, the app helpfully provides a new window that lets you see what your brush is doing. It works really well, and along with a zoom and pan tool, you can really work in very small areas. %Gallery-169417% In addition to the color addition and subtraction, the app gives you control of gamma, contrast, hue and exposure, so you can pretty much modify your image completely in ColorStrokes. There is even a minimal cropping tool, but it only allows you to square off a wide aspect ratio image. I'd prefer more cropping control, but, of course, when you finish an image you can open it in the native iOS image editor and crop there. The app lets you save your image to your camera roll, and you can export to Instagram and other social networks. You can print directly from the app, as well as email the image. There is also an option to have the photo printed on postcard stock and sent anywhere in the world. Obviously, that is not a free service. This latest version of ColorStrokes, released a couple of days ago, fully supports the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, and performance has been increased. The authors are quite active in soliciting user opinions for new features, and I expect the app will continue to grow and improve. The app requires iOS 4.3 or later, and is not universal. I think ColorStrokes is something I'll want in my collection of photo editors. You'll probably like it too. I've included a sample image in the gallery from a recent trip to Death Valley. There are many ways to use the app, so consider this just one possible application.
Snapheal for OS X improves content-aware heal for the Photoshop-phobic
Snapheal is a cool, inexpensive (US$7.99) photo editor for the Mac with one very high-end feature. It mimics the Photoshop content-aware fill feature that was introduced in Photoshop CS5. This little digital trick allows you to remove unwanted objects or people from an image. Using a series of algorithms to determine what should be filled in where the object you removed was, it smartly and quickly repairs the photo with intelligent guesses about what to fill in. We reviewed version one of this app about a year ago. This version is faster and offers Lightroom and iCloud support. Plus, it works smoothly with Mountain Lion. The GUI has been streamlined and the eraser tools now work with higher precision. %Gallery-168790% In my testing, the app was intuitive and speedy. I think it is best at removing objects from photos, but it does have a variety of other image editing tools like crop, saturation, sharpening and the usual array of editing features. The app has a very nice split-screen mode so you can see the original photo and the edited version. If the content-aware features of the newest Photoshop are something you want, but you don't want to pay the high Adobe tariff, Snapheal will give you that feature at a low price. It has generally received good reviews at the Mac App Store, although a few have complained that Snapheal frequently crashes. I did not see that happen in a couple hours of use on my Mac Pro. There are a few things to watch out for. If your target object is too large, Snapheal might not have enough surrounding textures to make good guesses. Sometimes you'll have to do the removal in stages. Still, the app does work as advertised, and I think most people will find it meets their needs. The price has also been lowered from the initial $19.95, making it even more desirable. Snapheal requires OS X 10.6 or later. I have some step-by-step examples in the gallery.
