Our Verdict
I ’ve loved Nik Software’sSnapseed iOS photo - redaction appsince its release last year , and it ’s clear that others shared the sentiment — Apple award Snapseed an iPad - app - of - the - year award for 2011 . So when Nik Softwareannounced Snapseed for Mac , I was eager to test it out . What I discovered was a Mac app with feature that are almost identical to those of its iOS opposite number , but with quite a few advantages thanks to the Mac weapons platform .
The freehanded difference between the newSnapseed for Mac(Mac App Store connection ) and its iOS sib is the employment of image - editing sliders in the desktop version . And that ’s a upright thing . The Mac ’s mouse - pointer - focused interface is substantially different from work on a touchscreen , and Nik Software has adjusted Snapseed for Mac consequently .
Still , Snapseed on the desktop sports the same simple interface as its iOS reading . When you launch the app , you ’ll find all of the editing tools in the tool bar to the left wing . To the rightfulness is a large place that instructs you to “ Drag a photo here to get started . ” you’re able to drag out and strike down from the Finder or even straight from iPhoto . It ’s also potential to open a photo using the data file - menu command and navigating to the trust range of a function .
Once you ’ve get your photo in the app , you have entree to all of Snapseed ’s basic editing tool , filter , and more . The editing features are divided into Basic Adjustments , which include the app ’s Tune Image , Crow & Straighten , and Details tools ; and Creative Adjustments , which includes various filters , physique , and special event .
The editing features are organized in an intuitive order that ’s broadly how you ’d approach editing an image . You initiate with Tune Image , where you ’ll encounter sliders for luminance , contrast , saturation , phantom , ambiance , and affectionateness . you may also prefer from six presets : reflex , Neutral , Dark , Bright , Balanced , and Moody — each give the simulacrum a slightly different tone or coloring , and when you click one , you ’ll see the slider move accordingly . ( you may still tweak the luger manually to make adjustments . ) This is also where you ’ll find Nik Software ’s signature Control Point feature article , which lets you make selective edits to your exposure . Once you ’re done with the introductory edits , you may crop and straighten out your photo , as well as use the Details tools , which let in Sharpness and Structure . After that , it ’s all about the filters and particular effects . ( Of naturally , you are n’t restricted to edit your photos in this order . )
Snapseed ’s forte is those filters and special effect . The app ’s Creative Adjustments are direct into seven family : Black & White , Drama , Grunge , Vintage , Frames , Center Focus , and Tilt - Shift . You ’ll find filters in the first four categories ; each has at least six preset filter options . The options in Vintage and Grunge are most similar to options available in other photo - filter apps such asFlareandAnalog . But Snapseed establish you the power to make fine accommodation to each filter , so you wo n’t get that cookie - cutter feel . For example , you may alter the grain of the filter and align grain potency , saturation , brightness , vignette , and filter military strength . The filter names are more punch-drunk than descriptive — for instance , my favorite Vintage filter is Dexter , which gives a light fleeceable / gray tincture to an image .
The Black & White editing tool lets you choose between five unlike colour filter that alter the way the black and white simulacrum is fork out . But what I really get laid about Snapseed is its Center Focus and Tilt - Shift features . you could adapt for the transition , blur , light , dividing line , and chroma , so you could ensure that the focus appear more natural than jarring . These filter are very prosperous to use , and once you ’ve added one filter , you’re able to always add another for an innumerous phone number of results .
A useful addition to the desktop variation of Snapseed is the capability to zoom in and out while you ’re edit . This may not be the flashy or most unique lineament , but it was miss from the iOS app , and it certainly assist when you desire to make more - detailed edits . Snapseed for Mac is also incredibly speedy — it take the app only seconds to apply edits , filters , and special effects to an image . In my examination , the Mac version is about doubly as fast as the iOS app .
When you ’re done editing , you could share your last prototype via email , Facebook , or Flickr ; save it ; or print it .
One defect of Snapseed for Mac is that once you get across the Apply clitoris to nail down a filter or impression , you ca n’t undo it . you may undo and redo edits only while in one of the editing modes — for instance , if you ’re add a frame and you desire to undo a size adaption you just made . As shortly as you dawn Apply , there ’s no going back . Your only pick is to discardallof your changes , restore the original image , by clicking Revert on the program ’s dwelling screen .
aside from this shortcoming , Snapseed for Mac is an impressive photo - editing program that stays truthful to its successful iOS forerunner . The Mac interpretation certainly wo n’t replace Photoshop , or even more - affordable option such asPixelmator , but Snapseed is a strong rival to filter - base editing apps such as the aforesaid Flare and Analog , along withFX Photo Studio Proand Photo Effect Studio . I ’m especially partial to Snapseed because of the options it supply for finer - tune registration and its systematically high - character resultant role .
