There are many people who are habituated to editing their photos on Windows-based computers and they usually are not aware that photo editing can be done on Mac systems too. Yes, it’s true and there are many photo editing programs available for editing pictures on Mac machines. People who have gotten used to photo editing on Windows systems do not usually know how the replicate the same effects on Mac. So, you have to ensure that you choose the best photo editing software for Mac in order to get the desired results. There are several aspects that need to be considered before choosing a good program for the purpose. This guide will help you in choosing the right photo editing programs.
Knowing Your Needs
Before choosing the software, you first have to determine the kind of editing you would be doing. Then, you will have to understand your skill level in photo editing so that you can choose a program accordingly. Finally, you have to consider the amount of money you are ready to spend on the software since this makes a huge difference in your choice.
Getting into the details, there may be several people who just do photo editing as a hobby or pastime activity, so they may not be interested in investing money to buy a photo editing program for Mac. The good news is that there are several free software programs available for Mac that can do just about everything that the premium programs do.
Top Rated Free Photo Editing Programs
Free programs with some of the best feedbacks are GIMP 2.6 and Google Picasa. Though GIMP 2.6 was originally designed for Linux users, it is compatible with other operating systems also, and happens to be terrific open source software.
As for Picasa, it offers most of the features of the same for Windows systems, including sharing, editing, and converting to other formats. However, since the Mac edition is stillin beta stages, there could be few limitations.
For Photographers and Professional Users
For professionals and other serious photographers who don’t mind investing in a good photo editing software for Mac, one of the most popular choices that have received good response from many users is ArcSoft PhotoStudio 6. It can do all kinds of picture editing right from making blurry photos clear to removing blemishes and marks from the subject’s face. This Mac photo editor is an easy-to-use and powerful photo editor for Mac OS, offering the user everything to improve, manage, and print out their digital photos, thus bringing out the creativity in you!
If you are a beginner, it is strongly recommended that you opt for a freeware program till the time you learn things, or try your hand at the free trial of a premium program like PhotoStudio 6. For learning the basics of Mac photo editing, the free versions are more than enough. Later on, based upon your editing needs, you can purchase the premium version.
You can also discuss your needs with an expert photographer and get suggestions for the program that would best suit your requirements. Their experience can go a long way in guiding you through the right path.
Jenny McAllen is the author of this post, who has got great experience in photography and photo editing. She personally recommends PhotoStudio 6 to the entire beginner as well as advanced users alike.