Technology
Apple to buy Pixelmator, maker of popular photo-editing apps
Apple customers are expected to get access to a high-end photo editing app for the first time since the company shut down Aperture a decade ago.
Apple Inc. has agreed to buy software maker Pixelmator, adding a popular high-end photo-editing app to its lineup. Pixelmator announced the acquisition on its blog on Friday, saying its Lithuania-based team would join Apple. The 17-year-old company — founded by brothers Saulius Dailide and Aidas Dailide — makes apps for the Mac, iPad and iPhone.
The two companies already have a close relationship: Apple has frequently promoted Pixelmator software in its marketing — including at the iPad event last month — and the apps use a similar interface to the iPhone maker’s own applications.
“We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one,” Pixelmator said in a blog post. “Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even broader audience.”
The business’s main app, Pixelmator Pro, includes advanced editing tools reminiscent of features within Adobe Inc.’s Photoshop, Illustrator and other programs, such as layers and vectors. The software also uses a range of Apple-specific technologies, including iCloud, Shortcuts and the iPad’s Pencil.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, confirmed the transaction on Friday. Terms were not disclosed.
For Apple, the acquisition gives customers a high-end photo editing app for the first time since the company discontinued Aperture, an alternative to Photoshop, nearly a decade ago. More recently, the company has been releasing pro-level apps, including Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, on the iPad through subscriptions.
Pixelmator Pro costs $50 on the Mac, while the standard version for the iPad and iPhone costs $10. The company also offers the Photomator editing app on Apple devices. The company said there would be no immediate significant changes to the programs, but that it would announce further updates later.
Apple hasn’t announced many acquisitions recently, although it did buy DarwinAI earlier this year to help with manufacturing, Bloomberg News reports. The company’s biggest purchase to date was its $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014.
