Usually, we come up with editing software for Windows and Mac. But, why should LINUX users feel left out? So here is a review of Pixeluvo Photo Editing Software for LINUX. Check this out!
When it comes to photo retouching and image editing, GIMP is probably the most popular choice among Linux users. After all, it’s a mature and powerful application available in the software repositories of many Linux distributions. You can find plenty of GIMP tutorials on the web. And due to the application’s popularity, finding answers to your GIMP-related questions is relatively easy. Better still, GIMP is free in every sense of the word.
So, why then would you opt for something like Pixeluvo, a closed-source image and photo editing tool that costs money? For a number of reasons, actually. GIMP’s interface is an acquired taste with its fair share of shortcomings (e.g., take a look at how the save and export features work).
The application is loaded with features, and as such, it’s not the easiest tool to master. And in most cases, you won’t even need all the functionality GIMP has to offer. In short, if you are looking for an image editing application that offers just the right amount of functionality wrapped into a polished and user-friendly interface, then Pixeluvo is worth the money.
Overview
The Linux version of Pixeluvo is available as DEB and RPM packages for the 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. Download the appropriate package, and install it using the default package manager.
To start working on an existing image, choose File | Open and select the desired file. You can also open an image or a photo by dragging it onto Pixeluvo’s working area. Additionally, you can push images from other applications to Pixeluvo via the Open With context menu command.
Pixeluvo puts essential tools at your fingertips and neatly tucks the rest under various menus. As a result, the application features an unobtrusive interface that makes it easy to perform basic actions. The main toolbar on the left side of the main window gives you access to standard tools such as Crop, Straighten, Red Eye Removal, Dodge/Burn, and others. The palette in the upper-right corner displays a thumbnail of the currently opened image, while the slider underneath it can be used to zoom in and out (you can also do this using the mouse scroll wheel while holding down the Ctrl key). When you zoom in on the image, drag a rectangle area in the palette to quickly move around it. However the mouse over the palette, and you can use the buttons in the sliding drawer to switch between the thumbnail, histogram, and info views.
Features
The toolbar gives you access to several advanced yet easy-to-use tools. The Spot Heal tool, for example, lets you effortlessly remove specks and small blemishes on the image. Select the tool, point the mouse to the spot you want to remove, draw over it while holding down the right mouse button, and watch the spot magically disappear. Although the Spot Heal feature can be useful for fixing small blemishes, the Clone tool is suitable for removing large unwanted objects by painting them out using other parts of the image. Select an area of the image to clone by holding down the Alt key and clicking at the desired position. Then use the mouse to paint out the specific part of the image.
Magic Wand can come in rather useful when you need to quickly select regions of similar color. Click and hold down the right mouse button to start the selection, and then drag the mouse to specify the color matching tolerance (i.e., the size of the selection). Click on the appropriate icon in the options bar to extend the current selection or subtract from it (or use the Shift and Alt keys while making a selection).
In addition to an assortment of color adjustment tools, Pixeluvo features a handful of ready-made filters that let you quickly apply a specific effect to the image. Choose Color | Quick Color (or press Ctrl+R), and click on the desired filter. Use the Blend and Vignette slider to adjust the effect’s strength and vignetting. And then press OK to apply the filter. The options under the Effects menu give you access to various effects: from Tilt-Shift and Local Contrast to Film Grain and Light Leaks.
Although some effects are more useful than others, there are a couple of entries in the list that can come in handy in many situations. The Soften Skin effect, for example, offers an easy way to make portraits more pleasing, whereas the Reduce Noise, Sharpen, Boost Detail, and Enhance Clarity effects can improve the overall image quality with a minimum of effort. Need to convert a photo to black and white or duotone? Pixeluvo has several ready-made filters for that. Choose Color | Monochrome, pick the filter you like in the Monochrome palette. Adjust the Blend and Vignette parameters if needed, and hit OK.
If you find the default monochrome filter selection limited, the Threshold tool gives you more control over black-and-white conversion. This tool converts an image to black and white based on the brightness of each pixel. The threshold value controls which pixels are converted to black and which are converted to white. Pixels that are brighter than the threshold value become white, while all other pixels become black.
Conclusion
It is difficult to judge software by just reading a review. So it is recommended to try this software at least once and then give your own review.
Share your experience in the comment section!
Happy Editing!