Pick of the week: Pixelmator

Oct 04

davidolrikCreativity, Photography, Pick of the week, Productivity, Technology , , , 1 Comment

PixelmatorThis weeks pick is a mac app called Pixelmator. Pixelmator is a lightning fast image editor for the mac – kinda like a Photoshop lite but unlike Photoshop1, Pixelmator really feels like it was build for the mac. Pixelmators feature set is some what smaller than its big brother but most2 of the time it will get the job done.

I have been using Pixelmator for a litter over a year now3, and Pixelmator just keeps getting better and better with each new release. The latest release brought the long waited slice tool which is of great use when creating graphics for the web.

Another great thing about Pixelmator is their tutorial section on their website. There the creators of Pixelmator shows you how to use it to create all kinds cool effects.

Pixelmator costs just $594 and is truly “Image editing for the rest of us”.

  1. With each new version of Photoshop it seems to move further away from being a true mac app. [↩]
  2. Unless you are need an image editor for professional reasons, it will get the job done every time! [↩]
  3. I got it as part of the second MacHeist bundle. [↩]
  4. Which is approximately 43.19 EUR, and is way less than any version of Photoshop costs. [↩]

Pick of the week: Autodesk SketchBook Mobile

Sep 20

davidolrikCreativity, Pick of the week, Productivity, Technology , , No Comments

Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile
A recent tweet by @drwave from Pixar prompted me to check out SketchBook Mobile from Autodesk, and boy am I glad I did!

I have always wanted to get better at drawing, but I have never set aside the time it takes to master this creative skill. As with all creative disciplines the winning formula for getting better is 10% talent and 90% effort1 and with this little app I always have my drawing tools with me, so I can doodle away anytime2 I’m in the mood for it.

SketchBook Mobile is loaded with features, and still manages to have a very non intrusive user interface, it just stays out of your way so you can concentrate on sketching.

SketchBook Mobile makes really good use of Apples Multi-touch technology both for drawing and for zooming and panning around your sketch – Oh, and it has undo too!3

SketchBook Mobile is available in the App Store for just $2.99

  1. Anyone who tells you different should go listen to a couple of talks from Merlin Mann: Toward Patterns for Creativity and Doing Creative Work – Seriously, go! now! – And then go make stuff! [↩]
  2. This is the effort part, the more you do it the better you get. [↩]
  3. A much needed feature that my analog drawing tools is sadly missing. [↩]