Apple Inc. has announced the acquisition of Pixelmator, the well-known photo-editing software company from Lithuania, adding a powerful set of high-end photo-editing tools to its lineup. Pixelmator, founded in 2007 by brothers Saulius and Aidas Dailide, confirmed the acquisition in a blog post on Friday, sharing that its team will join Apple. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A Strong Partnership Goes Further
The relationship between Apple and Pixelmator has been close over the years, with Apple frequently spotlighting Pixelmator’s software in its own marketing campaigns. At a recent iPad event, Apple showcased Pixelmator’s capabilities, aligning the software’s user-friendly yet professional interface with Apple’s ecosystem.
“We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one,” Pixelmator’s team wrote in its announcement. “Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience.” This acquisition promises Pixelmator more resources and a larger audience, allowing it to push its technology even further within Apple’s ecosystem.
High-End Tools for Apple Users
Pixelmator Pro, the flagship app of the company, is a comprehensive editing software packed with tools akin to those in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, including advanced layering, vector manipulation, and color correction features. The app also integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem, taking full advantage of iCloud, Apple Pencil, and iPadOS capabilities like Shortcuts. The acquisition gives Apple a native, high-quality photo-editing app for the first time since it phased out Aperture, its own photography software, nearly a decade ago.
For Apple, this move further bolsters its lineup of professional apps. Recent years have seen the introduction of pro-level tools like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on the iPad, available via subscription. By adding Pixelmator Pro, Apple can now offer a sophisticated photo-editing solution across its devices, likely encouraging more users to stay within the Apple ecosystem.
Pricing and Future Updates
Pixelmator Pro currently sells for $50 on Mac, while a standard version is available on iPad and iPhone for $10. The company also offers Photomatora popular app for on-the-go editing across Apple devices. Pixelmator assured customers that no immediate changes will be made to the app lineup but mentioned that more updates would be announced in the future.
A Rare Move by Apple in M&A
Apple has kept acquisitions to a minimum in recent years, making this purchase notable. Earlier in 2023, Apple acquired DarwinAI to support manufacturing processes, while its largest acquisition remains the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014. This latest acquisition reflects Apple’s commitment to adding valuable tools that enhance the Apple user experience, particularly for creators and photographers.
With Pixelmator now under Apple’s umbrella, users can anticipate a more seamless, powerful photo-editing experience on Apple devices, further cementing the tech giant’s appeal in the creative industry.
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