Photo editing software

unxrules wrote:

I'm NOT .. I say again >> NOT << a Winblows fan, but there are several things it has that come embedded in the OS which are better than the Apple equivalent. If I have a picture opened in Paint and I want to select part of it and blur it, it's very simple, I use the selection tool and I change the focus. If I want to select and copy part of the picture to paste over another part, same thing. Adding text of different sizes and colors, very easy. I hate to say it but the Paint program is very efficient AND EASY AND SIMPLE TO USE compared to the Apple photo editor. Does anyone know of an equivalent program for Apple, preferably free?

I have both GIMP https://www.gimp.org/

and Graphic Converter https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/

I am sure there are others.

You can submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

PicsArt is a versatile and popular photo editing software that offers a wide range of editing tools and features. It allows users to enhance photos, create collages, add filters, apply effects, and more. With PicsArt, you can download in this url

1. Edit Photos: Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and apply various filters to enhance your images.
2. Create Collages: Combine multiple photos into creative collages using customizable templates.
3. Add Effects and Filters: Apply artistic effects, filters, masks, and overlays to give your photos a unique look.
4. Draw and Add Text: Use drawing tools to sketch, add shapes, and write text on your images.
5. Remix Images: Utilize the Remix feature to collaborate with other users and create unique artworks by combining images.
6. Social Sharing: Share your edited photos directly on social media platforms from within the app.

PicsArt is available on various platforms, including mobile devices (iOS and Android) and as a web application, providing flexibility for users to edit their photos on different devices.

It's known for its user-friendly interface and a wide array of creative options, making it a popular choice for both beginners and advanced users in the realm of photo editing and creativity.

[Edited by Moderator]

I use several tools depending on the task at hand.

The first that comes to mind and is free with every Mac is Preview.

Annotating an image with some text: Preview does it.

Copying a selection of the image, and pasting it elsewhere in the same (or other) image: Preview again does it.

Not sure about the blurring, but here is one thing that Preview can do that I doubt Paint can: Remove an image background with a single command.

I use Preview for most quick image fixes, and Pixelmator Pro (not free, but incredibly inexpensive for the power it provides) for more detailed image work. For a single purchase $40 (not a subscription), it can give Photoshop a run for its money. Of course that is in a totally different league.

If I want to select and copy part of the picture to paste over another part, same thing. Adding text of different sizes and colors, very easy.

The Photos.app and also its predecessor iPhoto are programs to develope a photo and make it look better - improve the colors, the lighting, the contrast, noise reduction, minimal retouching, perspective correction. Make the photo look better, but keep it a natural photo, as taken by a camera. Basically, Photos is correcting, what the camera should have done.

What you are looking for are tools that combine parts of photo to a new photo by graphics composition. For this you need a different kind of program - Photoshop, Pixelmator, Affinity Photos, Graphic Converter, etc. These programs have been designed to combine different layers of graphics to create new photos. But the price to pay is a cluttered user interface with lots of extra tools for Graphics.

When I want to develope a photo I prefer a photo centric user interface with only the tools needed to touch up my photo. It would be graet, if Apple would bring back the editing brushes we had once in iPhoto, even on the iPad to add local adjustments - dodge and burn, blurring, sharpening. I amusing Luminar Noe, when I need local adjustments.

To combine two photos or to add text and other graphics I do not mind to have to switch to a different editing extension.

Another potential app is Photoshop Elements 2023. Although more costly than GraphicConverter it is a very powerful image editor.

To illustrate some of what léonie mentioned these are a couple of edits one can do with PSE:

Do an online search for "free painting programs mac". There are several.

I'll suggest any one of these 3: (1 pay, 2 open source and free)

Pixelmator Pro ($50) Photo Editing

GIMP (Free) Photo editing

Inkscape (Free) Digital Illustrations