Finding the finest picture editing software for Mac in 2023 might be a challenging endeavor due to the ever evolving nature of the technology industry. Because there are so many alternatives available, it can be challenging to choose which one is the best for your MAC. There are a few from Apple itself, some others from Adobe, and many more from 3rd part developers.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom
Corel PaintShop Pro
CyberLink PhotoDirector
Skylum Luminar Neo
In this tutorial, we'll look at them all!
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is the topdog when it comes to creative photo editing. It’s user-friendly and perfect for Mac users who are looking to create stunning visuals with their photographs. For all its features and capabilities, Adobe Lightroom has been praised as one of the most efficient photo editors available on the market. That's also been my experience in our past decade of photo editing career.
As someone who takes hundreds of pictures with my Canon 80D, the ability to import my RAW footage into Lightroom is priceless without having to deal with the SD card and Mac connectors. I simply drop the pictures on my phone using NFC and Lightroom automatically syncs them. Now I can edit and access those pictures on any device and location I wish.
Adobe Photoshop
When it comes to altering/editing/retouching photos, Photoshop is such a household brand that many people use the phrases "photoshopping" and "photo editing" interchangeably. We "Photoshop" photos, much like you might Google anything.
Integration with other Apple tools such as Photos or iCloud, which may help speed up photo editing across many devices while remaining seamless, is one of the primary advantages of using Photoshop on a device that runs on the Mac operating system. This enables you to begin working on your project on one device and then continue editing it on another device without experiencing any disruptions or losing any data in the process. In addition, the capability to synchronize several Adobe products enables you to easily exchange data across a variety of apps, which is quite convenient.
While it comes to special effects, you have literally hundreds at your disposal, such as lightning strikes, explosions, snowflakes, rainfall, and so on. This makes it much simpler than ever for you to artistically express yourself when you are dealing with images. In this regard as well, having support from Apple products such as Final Cut Pro X helps to further accelerate workflow by eliminating tasks that are redundant, such as the exporting of files into various formats prior to the application of special effects, which would otherwise take significantly more time to complete manually.
Apple Photos
What software could be better for photo editing on a Mac other than another Apple product honed and perfected to run perfectly on the latest Apple hardware? That's where Apple Photos comes in.
First of all, it's completely free, in fact, comes pre installed on all Apple devices these days. So you don't even have to install it yourself.
Now, don't expect the same level of sophistication and professional features from other specialized programs like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, Apple Photos still offers plenty of tools to enhance photos and make them look their best. With simple sliders, you can quickly adjust color saturation and contrast levels. You can also sharpen detail and add filters for dramatic effects.
One of the key features of Apple Photos is its ability to save edited photos in both JPEG and HEIF formats - this ensures that all your edits are stored in high quality while being as low in size as possible. However, you also have PNG and Webp options for saving things without a background in 8-bit and 16-bit channels, without taking up too much space on your device. You can also easily share the edited images with friends online through the ‘Share’ options available within the app.
DxO PhotoLab
DxO PhotoLab is an excellent photo editing software that excels at giving your photos a professional look. It's perfect for both hobbyists and professionals alike, providing powerful yet easy-to-use tools for making radical adjustments to your photos or subtle tweaks for fine tuning them. DxO PhotoLab is an ideal choice for Mac users as the software seamlessly integrates with iPhoto, Aperture, and Photos.
What makes DxO PhotoLab so great is its U Point technology, which allows you to make precise changes to sections of photos that are accurate down to the pixel level, by their definition, it literally lets you 'point' to the part of the image you want to edit. This means that you can easily brighten up dark areas while leaving other parts of the photo untouched, or you can add saturation only to certain parts of a photo. You also have access to more than 50 preset styles and filters which will instantly refresh any photograph.
DxO PhotoLab also offers advanced noise reduction capabilities which work magically on night shots taken with digital cameras; it eliminates image artifacts while preserving detail in low light environments like never before. Moreover, it comes with a comprehensive set of advanced lens correction tools so you can easily fix common aberrations such as vignetting, distortion, and chromatic aberration without putting too much effort into it.
Another feature worth mentioning is its local adjustment tools which allow you to modify specific areas of an image using intuitive brush strokes - this is especially helpful when working on portraits as it gives you more control over how adjustments are applied selectively to skin tones or background details in the same shot. All in all, DxO PhotoLab provides Mac users with an array of powerful tools that surpass their expectations every single time!
CyberLink PhotoDirector
Users of Macs who are interested in editing images in a quick and simple manner will find that CyberLink PhotoDirector is a fantastic solution. The software is loaded with robust capabilities that enable the user to change many factors like as exposure, white balance, and saturation in an easy and straightforward manner.
Using the guided edits tool, you are able to make alterations to individual layers, create masks, adjust the kerning of text, and apply creative effects. You may also mix colors in interesting ways by using the color mixer, while the presets provide you with easy access to styles that are already popular. All of these tools provide a wide variety of editing possibilities, giving you the freedom to genuinely express who you are via the photographs you take.
In addition to this, it features an intuitive graphical user interface that makes it simple for even inexperienced users to produce spectacular photographs. In addition, there are a number of useful options, such as batch processing and one-click modifications, that are included in the software, which makes it very easy to edit photos.
Mac users who are just starting out in the realm of picture editing or who need to make quick and easy edits to their images will find that CyberLink PhotoDirector is an excellent alternative to consider.
FAQ
What is the best program to edit photos on a Mac?
You only need to find the perfect app to make editing photos on a Mac a breeze. You aren't limited by subpar equipment because you have access to state-of-the-art tools.
You can simply edit your images to perfection with apps like Adobe Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro, and Affinity Photo, all of which have robust editing capabilities with fine-grained control over color correction, image retouching, and more. They also let users apply unique effects to their photos, such blur or distortion, which elevates the process as a whole. Last but not least, these applications include a user-friendly design and comprehensive documentation, making them ideal for novice digital photographers.
Is there a free photo editor for Mac?
Absolutely. Many excellent free photo editors exist for Mac, including GIMP and Pixlr. Cropping, resizing, enhancing colors, applying filters, adjusting lighting, and many other editing operations can all be performed with ease and at no cost in both of these intuitive and potent apps. If you're looking for an Apple product, go no further than Apple Photos. These free photo editors make it simple to tweak photographs fast and efficiently, whether you're a professional photographer or just want to spice up your selfies with funky filters.
Can you edit RAW files on Mac?
Yes, you can edit RAW files on Mac with the help of powerful photo editing software. With programs such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture One Pro and DxO PhotoLab, you can easily edit and enhance your RAW photos in a breeze. Furthermore, using applications like Preview or GIMP on Mac will also allow you to make adjustments to RAW images quickly and efficiently. All applications we listed here can edit RAW photos and render them in any other format you like including JPEG, PNG, as well as Webp for publishing on the web.
Does Mac have a program like Photoshop?
An application comparable to Photoshop is available for Macs. The program is called Pixelmator Pro, and it's a great substitute for Adobe Photoshop on Macs. Lithuanian siblings Saulius and Aidas Dailide created Pixelmator Pro for Apple. Create stunning photographs without leaving your Mac with its extensive set of editing tools, stunning effects, and intuitive UI.
Additional benefits include the ability to make changes to colors in real time, use non-destructive layer styles, perform tasks in bulk, and more. For those searching for an alternative to Adobe Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro is a great option.
Is Apple Photos as good as Lightroom?
Absolutely not! Apple Photos is no match for the sophisticated photo editing capabilities of Adobe Lightroom. While Apple Photos may be easier to use with its simpler interface, it lacks the comprehensive array of features that Lightroom offers. If you want granular control over your image quality and unlimited creative potential, then Lightroom is undoubtedly the superior choice.
Is Lightroom free on Mac?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. However, as we have shown, there are some excellent, cost-free options. In addition, for individuals just getting started with digital photography, Adobe does sell a stripped-down version of Lightroom. It's called Lightroom Classic. Since there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to picture editing programs, it all boils down to personal preference.