Apple today announced that it would acquire Pixelmator, a powerful photo editing app with open-source software. Pixelmator (which currently runs on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) will also be brought into Apple’s fold to provide a full-blown image-editing experience that will supplement Apple’s own native photo-editing features.
Strengthening Apple’s Photo-Editing Suite
Pixelmator is a well-known alternative to specialized programs such as Adobe Photoshop that can be used for photo retouching, graphic design, and digital painting. The app is highly praised for its user-friendly interface and cutting-edge editing features such as AI-powered background removal and color adjustments. By purchasing Pixelmator, Apple will potentially incorporate some of these capabilities into its own Photos app, making editing easier for users.
Although Pixelmator has said it’ll make “no material changes” to Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator products in the short term, Apple’s acquisition track record hints that these may be combined or rebranded under Apple’s own software portfolio.
A Strategic Move Aligned with Apple’s Vision
Pixelmator’s acquisition fits with Apple’s recent moves to ramp up AI-driven photo editing. Apple recently announced “Clean Up” — an AI-powered tool to scrub unneeded content from photos — as part of an iOS update — a direct competitor to Google’s Magic Eraser. Pixelmator’s AI-powered editing knowledge will presumably contribute to Apple’s mission to make photo-editing easier and more productive across all its products.
No Plans for Android Integration
Pixelmator currently works only on Apple’s platforms, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. The deal probably seals Pixelmator’s place in the Apple family as any move to Android now seems more implausible. This exclusivity also reinforces the ecosystem’s appeal to Apple users by enabling tools and integrations perfectly aligned with Apple’s hardware and software platform.
Looking Back at Pixelmator’s Journey
Pixelmator was founded in 2007 in Vilnius, Lithuania and has evolved from a fledgling company to a leading brand in digital editing. The company thanked its loyal customers in their acquisition announcement and is excited to partner with Apple to appeal to a larger audience. “You can see in hindsight, it’s insane what just a few passionate individuals have done over the years,” Pixelmator wrote. ‘Now, we can go out and do even more to enrich the lives of creative people across the globe.
Pending Regulatory Approval
This acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval, with final terms not yet available. Apple isn’t sharing much more about the acquisition or what it will be doing with Pixelmator going forward, so updates and integrations may come down to luck.Pixelmator’s acquisition represents an expansion of Apple’s creative suite, which fits with the company’s insistence on bringing intuitive tools to creators. The acquisition will continue, and we’ll have to wait and see how Apple brings Pixelmator’s capabilities and experience into its own ecosystem.