Macs and MacBooks are very nice computers to look at even if they are sometimes underestimated, because there is still the belief that not all the programs that users are used to having on Windows are available. Nothing is more wrong: there are a large number of programs identical to those visible on the Microsoft platform, plus other original programs available exclusively on Apple computers. If we want to edit the photographs taken with the reflex, with the compact digital camera or with the smartphone, we have a wide choice of programs to choose from: in this guide we will show you the best photo editing programs for Mac and MacBook, available both free and payment (the latter always the best from a qualitative, quantitative and support point of view).
Free programs are great for anyone who wants to edit photos at an amateur level or add some elementary effects and modifications, while paid programs are normally reserved for professionals in the sector or for experts in graphics and photography.
READ ALSO: Top 100 Free Programs for Mac
Article Index
- Photos (free)
- GIMP (free)
- Adobe Photoshop CC
- Pixelmator Pro
- Snapheal
- Conclusions
Photos (free)
The dedicated photo app included in OS X, Photos, allows you to perform simple photo editing operations on all photos saved in the Mac memory or stored on iCloud.
In order to edit a photo, we double-click on one of the images in the gallery offered to the app, then click on the Edit button at the top right of the window (be careful not to press the Edit menu, present instead in the top bar of OS X).
A new section of the program will open, with which we will be able to perform some elementary photo editing operations, using the three menus at the top Adjust, Filters and Crop . With this app we will be able to change the values of brightness, contrast, correct color, exposure and light errors, add new filters and cut out the parts of the photo that do not interest us, while still keeping a copy of the original photo (a modified copy will be generated, so you can see the changes made in action).
If we have no particular claims in terms of photo editing, this app (free and already available in OS X) is for you!
GIMP (free)
If we are looking for a complete photo editing program, suitable for both beginners and experts but completely free, we can focus on GIMP, also available for Mac.
To install it, download the DMG file, start it and confirm the warning window that will appear (since the program is taken from the Internet, OS X will ask for a security confirmation in order to continue the installation). Once installation is complete, the classic dark interface of GIMP will open, with all the most common tools in the left part of the window, the various modifiers and options in the right part and the various menus integrated in the upper bar of OS X. With GIMP we will have a powerful photo editing, with which to apply simple changes to photos or, for those who are experts and know how to use certain tools, apply very varied and difficult to make photo retouches. The number of filters and editing plugins is good, even if this program requires a small training phase in order to be used at its best (even if it remembers it vaguely, it is profoundly different from Photoshop, therefore it requires a minimum of adaptation to the Start).
Currently the only complete photo editing program available for free on Mac.
Adobe Photoshop CC
By hanging up on the lack of programs on Mac, Adobe can immediately disprove this rumor: all Adobe programs are perfectly compatible and downloadable on Mac, including the famous Photoshop.
The program interface is completely identical to the Windows counterpart: those who already used this tool on Microsoft platforms will find themselves with the same program on the new Mac or MacBook. The number of filters and options available is impressive: it is no coincidence that this program has in some ways become synonymous with photo editing, since it allows you to really do "everything". If we do not do professional photo editing or do not work in the sector, using Photoshop could become a business, especially for those approaching such a complex program for the first time; it is no coincidence that the price of the Mac license (about € 300 per year by subscription) is out of the reach of those who do not use it professionally.
In any case, we can download the free trial version valid for 7 days, so you can enjoy the potential of this great program.
Pixelmator Pro
If you think only Photoshop for Mac is available, we are wrong! Another very complete program to carry out advanced photo editing is Pixelmator Pro.
This program offers an advanced set of easy-to-manage tools so you can edit your photos as if you were on Photoshop! The peculiarity of this program is to be really powerful but "cheap": if our need is to buy a photo editing program complete with filters, effects and advanced tools (including those for vector graphics), we can buy this program for "only "€ 32, directly from the App Store for Mac. Immediately after purchase, the program will be downloaded to our Mac and we can start editing photos and images like real professionals. If you are interested, the iPhone or iPad version is also available, downloadable from here.
Snapheal
If we are looking for a simple but more powerful photo editing program than the integrated Photo tool, we can buy the Snapheal app at a very low price (compared to Photoshop), available for only € 17.
This program offers many of the tools also seen on the other free programs, to which it adds support for immediate sharing on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter or emailing, an advanced tool for removing images or superfluous objects (via intelligent highlighting of borders) and tools to automatically edit the most problematic photos. It is not comparable to Photoshop and Pixelmator, but it can become an excellent alternative to Photo and GIMP to edit photos in a simple way, without having to take a degree or take a digital photography course! Recommended for beginners and occasional users.
Conclusions
The ones we have listed are undoubtedly the best photo editing programs for Mac. If we look for alternatives, we can also evaluate the use of websites specialized in offering photo editing tools (also working on Mac), such as those listed in this guide below.READ ALSO -> 18 web photo editing applications to make changes to photos
