Top 7 Beginner Photo Editors for Mac

Macintosh photo editing software that's easy to learn

1. Adobe Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements is Adobe's photo-editing software for amateur photographers, digital imaging enthusiasts, and small business users. As the name implies, Photoshop Elements is built around core elements of Adobe Photoshop, but excludes some of the more advanced, professional-level features. Photoshop Elements for Mac comes bundles with Adobe Bridge CS3, the same robust photo organizer that comes with Adobe's Create Suite 3.

2. PhotoLine 32

Photoline 32 is a shareware image editor for both Macintosh and Windows. Offers tools and features for pixel- and vector-based editing, flexible text editing, batch processing, filters, layers, and transparency. Other notable features include support for CMYK color, pressure-sensitive tablets, and third-party plug-ins. Highly versatile for both experienced and inexperienced users.

3. MicroFrontier ColorIt!

For a decade, ColorIt has been been winning awards as a full-featured and easy-to-use image editor. It offers powerful features, yet has modest system requirements. It offers features for working with existing images, importing images from scanners and digital cameras, or creating original art work from scratch. ColorIt 4.5 is now OS X native.

4. ArcSoft PhotoStudio X

Offers photo editing, retouching, enhancement, and special effects with features including multiple undo/redo, layers, editable text, and batch processing. Also includes an image organizer and integrated access to PhotoIsland.com photo-sharing Web site. For Macintosh OS 9/X. A more advanced version with RAW file support and non-destructive editing is also available under the title ArcSoft PhotoStudio Darkroom.

5. PhotoComplete

PhotoComplete offers no tools or complex menus, instead it utilizes Actions that enable you to perform various photo-editing functions. As you work, the actions you apply are stacked alongside the image and can be adjusted at any time. While I admire PhotoComplete's innovative and non-destructive approach to photo editing, this software falls a bit short in features and could benefit from on-screen guided help for new users. If your editing requirements are fairly simple, PhotoComplete is worth checking out and its future does look promising.

6. Acorn

Acorn is a simple, and easy-to-use basic image editor which offers some nice features in a lovely, intuitive and uncluttered interface. Acorn offers your standard drawing, selecting, and editing tools, pressure sensitivity for graphics tablets, layers and blending modes, vector shapes, plus a number of effects and adjustments. Most of the tools are straightforward enough that I didn't need to consult the documentation. Acorn lacks some common photo editing tools, like red-eye removal, cloning, and tonal corrections, which is why it's not ranked very highly for this category.

7. MicroSpot PhotoFix

PhotoFix is an entry-level photo editing and retouching software with minimal system requirements. The Publisher says, "Designed for novices as well as professionals, PhotoFix is the affordable, easy-to-use alternative to today's complex photo retouching applications for the Macintosh. PhotoFix offers all the tools you need to enhance digital photos or scanned images and produce artwork with professional results." Microspot PhotoFix is only sold in the UK and Europe.