Archive for imm.io

OSXcellence – Pixlr-o-matic

For some time now, I have admired and used Pixlr-o-matic for adding style to my images. Only now, however, can I feature it in this column, as a Mac version has recently been released.

Pixlr-o-matic doesn’t have the largest range of styles; in fact, it has very few in comparison to other more popular filter apps. The reason I believe Pixlr-o-matic stands out from the crowd is due to the attractiveness, and careful selection, of the filters installed. As a result, when I want one-click stylising of an image, I rarely need to venture further than this app.

Pixlr-o-matic’s interface is very simple, with a live preview illustrating the current effects applied. Filters come on a “film-strip” which is dragged sideways to scroll through the options. The simplicity of this app’s system is refreshing, with a maximum of three effects applicable on any single image – a colour/exposure/sharpness layer, a texture/damage/artistic layer, and a frame layer. None is obligatory, and that’s a good thing, considering that most of the middle stage’s filters range from bizarre to ugly to pointless. The other two layers by themselves, however, provide truly stunning results which replicate great film effects of the past.

Read More→