Software:Acorn

From HandWiki
Short description: Raster graphic editor for macOS
Acorn
Developer(s)Flying Meat Inc.
Initial releaseSeptember 10, 2007; 16 years ago (2007-09-10)
Stable release
Operating systemmacOS
TypeRaster graphics editor
LicenseProprietary
Websiteflyingmeat.com/acorn/

Acorn is a raster graphic editor for macOS developed by August Mueller of Flying Meat Inc, based out of Mukilteo, Washington, United States. Acorn was first released on September 10, 2007[1] and was built upon the framework of a previous image editing application of Flying Meat Inc., FlySketch.[2]

Acorn makes extensive use of Apple's Core Image framework for its image processing.[3][4] The native file format of Acorn is .acorn. Acorn combines vector drawing with bitmap editing,[5] and has been described as an alternative to Photoshop.[6] Key features of Acorn include image filters, a custom color picker, a brush designer, and image editing tools such as crop, erase, paint, select, pan, zoom, move, clone, smudge, dodge, and burn.[7]

Major Features

  • Layers-based editing
  • Layer masks and blending modes
  • Multi-layer screenshots[8]
  • Nondestructive stackable filters[9]
  • Curves and levels
  • Multi-stop live gradients
  • Scriptable[10]
  • Automator support[10]
  • Built in brush designer to create custom brushes
  • Photoshop brush import
  • Vector shapes, Bézier pen tool, and text tools
  • Shape processor
  • Circle text tool
  • RAW image import
  • Multiple selection tools including quick mask and magic wand
  • Smart layer export
  • Web export
  • Guides, grids, rulers, and snapping
  • Native support for Apple’s retina displays
  • Color profile management
  • Deep color image support
  • Documentation online and in ePub format
  • Runs on Metal 2[11]

Version history

Version Initial Release Date OS Compatibility Notable Features
1.0 - 1.5.5[12][13] September 10, 2007 10.4 - 10.10[14] Initial release;[15] brush designer,[13] fancy crop, open and save JPEG 2000 images
2.0 - 2.6.5[12] September 13, 2009 10.6 - 10.10 [14] Layered screenshots, rulers, RAW image support, 64 bit support, touchup tools, JSTalk scripting support, AppleScript support, layer groups, guides and snapping, layer masks, WebP
3.0 - 3.5.2[12] April 12, 2011 10.6 - 10.10 [14] Layer styles,[16] quick mask, instant alpha,[8] live multi-stop gradients, new filters, add/subtract points on Bézier curves, full screen support, autosave and versions, retina canvas support,[17] smart layer export, web export scaling, new blending modes [18]
4.0 - 4.5.7[12] May 2, 2013 10.8 - 10.12 [14] Nondestructive stackable filters,[6] curves adjustment,[10] vector line join style, multi-layer selection,[9] save selection with file, CMYK support when saving as JPEG and TIFF, editable image depth, sharing support, soft eraser, live font updates, live blending updates, share extension for Photos
5.0 - 5.6[12] August 20, 2015 10.10+ [14] Shape processor, nondestructive curves and levels, improved PDF import, Photoshop brush import, image metadata editing, basic SVG support, deep color image support, circle text tool, new color picker, improved color management[19]
6.0 - 6.3.3[12] July 10, 2017 10.11+ [14] Text on a path, clone tool works across layers and images, new Web Export features, smart layer export settings palette, new Bézier tools, color profiles, make shape from selection [20]
7.0[12] March 17, 2021 10.14+ [14] Support for Mac computers with Apple silicon, tabbed document interface, new Export window, animated GIF export, perspective fix and crop tool, new color picker, Spotlight-like command bar[21]

Reviews and awards

  • Houston Chronicle Acorn 4 review[22]
  • The 25 Best Alternatives to Photoshop[23]
  • Macworld Editor's Choice Award 2009[24]
  • Mac App Store Best Apps of 2013[25]
  • Mac App Store Best Apps of 2015
  • 50 Mac Essentials #46[5]
  • Acorn 5: Tom's Mac Software Pick[26]
  • Clash of the Image Editors: Acorn vs Pixelmator[27]
  • Acorn 4 Macworld Review[6]
  • Acorn 4 The Verge Review[10]
  • 16 Essential Photo Editor Apps[28]

See also

References

  1. Kim, Arnold (September 10, 2007). "New Mac Image Editor Acorn". http://www.macrumors.com/2007/09/10/new-mac-image-editor-acorn-1-0. 
  2. Viticci, Frederico (December 18, 2012). "Mac Stories Interviews Gus Mueller". https://www.macstories.net/msinterviews/macstories-interviews-gus-mueller. 
  3. Lee, Mike; Meyers, Scott (2009). Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard. New York, NY: Apress. p. 572. ISBN 978-1-4302-1947-7. 
  4. Mueller, August (August 21, 2015). "Acorn, OS 10.11 El Capitan and You". http://www.flyingmeat.com/blog/. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Turbell, Giles (February 21, 2012). "Acorn is a Fine Image Editor for Everyone". http://www.cultofmac.com/147639/acorn-is-a-fine-image-editor-for-everyone-50-mac-essentials-46//. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Friedman, Lex (May 1, 2013). "Review: Acorn 4 adds impressive features and a smart new look". http://www.macworld.com/article/2036992/review-acorn-4-adds-impressive-features-and-a-smart-new-look.html/. 
  7. "Best Mac Photo Editing Software". http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/multimedia/best-mac-photo-editing-software/. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Girard, David (October 30, 2011). "The seed of something great: Acorn 3.1 reviewed". https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/10/the-seed-of-something-great-ars-reviews-acorn-31/3/. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sumra, Husain (May 2, 2013). "Acorn 4 image editor adds improved speed, enhanced user interface, and more". http://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/02/acorn-4-image-editor-adds-improved-speed-enhanced-user-interface-and-more/. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Blagdon, Jeff (May 2, 2013). "Review: Acorn 4 flies through image editing with new filter UI, improved speed, and curves". https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/2/4292166/acorn-4-mac-image-editor-launched-speed-new-ui-curves. 
  11. "Acorn Feature List". http://www.flyingmeat.com/acorn/. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 "Acorn Release Notes". https://secure.flyingmeat.com/acorn/releasenotes.html. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 Berka, Justin (January 5, 2009). "Mac-based image editor Acorn bumped to version 1.5". https://arstechnica.com/apple/2009/01/mac-based-image-editor-acorn-bumped-to-version-1-5/. 
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 "Acorn FAQ". http://www.flyingmeat.com/acorn/docs/faq.html. 
  15. Chartier, David (September 10, 2007). "Acorn? The OS X image editor we've been waiting for". https://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/09/first-look-acornthe-image-editor-weve-been-waiting-for/. 
  16. Turnbull, Giles (April 20, 2011). "Acorn image editor updated with new features, special price". https://www.cultofmac.com/91208/acorn-image-editor-updated-with-new-features-special-price//. 
  17. Sorrel, Charlie (June 22, 2012). "Acorn 3.3 to get awesome 'retina canvas'". http://www.cultofmac.com/175179/acorn-3-3-to-get-awesome-retina-canvas/. 
  18. Smith, Barrie. "Acorn Version 3.5.1 Image Editing Software". http://digital-photography-school.com/acorn-version-3-5-1-image-editing-software/. 
  19. Keller, Joseph (August 20, 2015). "Acorn 5 for Mac arrives to let you take control of shapes". http://www.imore.com/acorn-5-mac-arrives-let-you-master-your-shapes. 
  20. "Acorn 6". July 10, 2015. https://secure.flyingmeat.com/blog/archives/2017/7/acorn_6.html. 
  21. Mueller, August (March 19, 2021). "Acorn 7". https://shapeof.com/archives/2021/3/acorn_7.html. 
  22. "Acorn image editor worth scooping up". February 19, 2015. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/drmac/article/Acorn-image-editor-worth-scooping-up-4493361.php?t=3341fe3803b05374ef. 
  23. Gibbs, Samuel (May 6, 2013). "The 25 Best Alternatives to Photoshop". https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/19/25-alternatives-to-photoshop-image-editing. 
  24. "25th Annual Editor's Choice". December 10, 2009. http://www.macworld.com/article/1144949/editorschoice2009.html?page=2. 
  25. Viticci, Frederico (December 17, 2013). "Apple Posts "Best of 2013" iTunes Lists". https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-posts-best-of-2013-itunes-lists/. 
  26. Nelson, Tom (August 29, 2016). "Acorn 5: Tom's Mac Software Pick". https://www.lifewire.com/acorn-5-toms-mac-software-2259815/. 
  27. Lobo, Pedro (July 5, 2013). "Clash of the Image Editors: Acorn vs Pixelmator". http://mac.appstorm.net/general/clash-of-the-image-editors-acorn-vs-pixelmator/. 
  28. Stewart, Craig (August 4, 2016). "16 essential photo editor apps". http://www.creativebloq.com/software/best-photo-editor-51411752/. 

External links