Acorn (software)

Raster graphic editor for macOS

For software arm of Acorn Computers, see Acornsoft.

Acorn

Developer(s)| Flying Meat Inc.
Initial release| September 10, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-09-10)
Stable release| 8.1.1[1]  (25 April 2025; 2 months ago (25 April 2025)) [±]

Operating system| macOS
Type| Raster graphics editor
License| Proprietary
Website| flyingmeat.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[2] and was built upon the framework of a previous image editing application of Flying Meat Inc., FlySketch.[3]

Acorn makes extensive use of Apple's Core Image framework for its image processing.[4][5] The native file format of Acorn is .acorn. Acorn combines vector drawing with bitmap editing,[6] and has been described as an alternative to Photoshop.[7] 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.[8]

## Major Features

[edit]

* Layers-based editing
* Layer masks and blending modes
* Multi-layer screenshots[9]
* Nondestructive stackable filters[10]
* Curves and levels
* Multi-stop live gradients
* Scriptable[11]
* Automator support[11]
* 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[12]

## Version history

[edit]

Version  | Initial Release Date  | OS Compatibility  | Notable Features

|
|
|

1.0 - 1.5.5[13][14] | September 10, 2007  | 10.4 - 10.10[15] | Initial release;[16] brush designer,[14] fancy crop, open and save JPEG 2000 images
2.0 - 2.6.5[13] | September 13, 2009  | 10.6 - 10.10 [15] | 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[13] | April 12, 2011  | 10.6 - 10.10 [15] | Layer styles,[17] quick mask, instant alpha,[9] live multi-stop gradients, new filters, add/subtract points on Bézier curves, full screen support, autosave and versions, retina canvas support,[18] smart layer export, web export scaling, new blending modes [19]
4.0 - 4.5.7[13] | May 2, 2013  | 10.8 - 10.12 [15] | Nondestructive stackable filters,[7] curves adjustment,[11] vector line join style, multi-layer selection,[10] 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[13] | August 20, 2015  | 10.10+ [15] | 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[20]
6.0 - 6.3.3[13] | July 10, 2017  | 10.11+ [15] | 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 [21]
7.0[13] | March 17, 2021  | 10.14+ [15] | 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[22]
8.0[13] | December 16, 2024  | 14+ [15] |

## Reviews and awards

[edit]

The relevance of particular information in (or previously in) this article or section is disputed. The information may have been removed or included by an editor as a result. Please see discussion on the talk page considering whether its inclusion is warranted. (June 2023)

|

* Houston Chronicle Acorn 4 review[23]
* The 25 Best Alternatives to Photoshop[24]
* Macworld Editor's Choice Award 2009[25]
* Mac App Store Best Apps of 2013[26]
* Mac App Store Best Apps of 2015
* 50 Mac Essentials #46[6]
* Acorn 5: Tom's Mac Software Pick[27]
* Clash of the Image Editors: Acorn vs Pixelmator[28]
* Acorn 4 Macworld Review[7]
* Acorn 4 The Verge Review[11]
* 16 Essential Photo Editor Apps[29]

## See also

[edit]

* Comparison of raster graphics editors
* Image editing

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Acorn Release Notes".
2. ^ Kim, Arnold (September 10, 2007). "New Mac Image Editor Acorn". MacRumors. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
3. ^ Viticci, Frederico (December 18, 2012). "Mac Stories Interviews Gus Mueller". MacStories. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
4. ^ Lee, Mike; Meyers, Scott (2009). Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard. New York, NY: Apress. p. 572\. ISBN 978-1-4302-1947-7.
5. ^ Mueller, August (August 21, 2015). "Acorn, OS 10.11 El Capitan and You". FlyingMeatBlog. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
6. ^ a b Turbell, Giles (February 21, 2012). "Acorn is a Fine Image Editor for Everyone". CultofMac. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
7. ^ a b c Friedman, Lex (May 1, 2013). "Review: Acorn 4 adds impressive features and a smart new look". MacWorld. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
8. ^ Chadwick, Danny. "Best Mac Photo Editing Software". TopTenReviews. Archived from the original on 2025-02-20. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
9. ^ a b Girard, David (October 30, 2011). "The seed of something great: Acorn 3.1 reviewed". ArsTechnica. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
10. ^ a b Sumra, Husain (May 2, 2013). "Acorn 4 image editor adds improved speed, enhanced user interface, and more". MacRumors. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
11. ^ a b c d Blagdon, Jeff (May 2, 2013). "Review: Acorn 4 flies through image editing with new filter UI, improved speed, and curves". TheVerge. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
12. ^ "Acorn Feature List". Flying Meat Inc. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Acorn Release Notes". Flying Meat Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
14. ^ a b Berka, Justin (January 5, 2009). "Mac-based image editor Acorn bumped to version 1.5". ArsTechnica. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
15. ^ a b c d e f g h "Acorn FAQ". Flying Meat Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
16. ^ Chartier, David (September 10, 2007). "Acorn? The OS X image editor we've been waiting for". ArsTechnica. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
17. ^ Turnbull, Giles (April 20, 2011). "Acorn image editor updated with new features, special price". CultofMac. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
18. ^ Sorrel, Charlie (June 22, 2012). "Acorn 3.3 to get awesome 'retina canvas'". CultofMac. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
19. ^ Smith, Barrie. "Acorn Version 3.5.1 Image Editing Software". DigitalPhotographySchool. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
20. ^ Keller, Joseph (August 20, 2015). "Acorn 5 for Mac arrives to let you take control of shapes". iMore. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
21. ^ "Acorn 6". July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
22. ^ Mueller, August (March 19, 2021). "Acorn 7". The Shape of Everything. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
23. ^ "Acorn image editor worth scooping up". The Houston Chronicle. February 19, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
24. ^ Gibbs, Samuel (May 6, 2013). "The 25 Best Alternatives to Photoshop". The Guardian. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
25. ^ "25th Annual Editor's Choice". MacWorld. December 10, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
26. ^ Viticci, Frederico (December 17, 2013). "Apple Posts "Best of 2013" iTunes Lists". MacStories. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
27. ^ Nelson, Tom (August 29, 2016). "Acorn 5: Tom's Mac Software Pick". LifeWire. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
28. ^ Lobo, Pedro (July 5, 2013). "Clash of the Image Editors: Acorn vs Pixelmator". MacAppstorm. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
29. ^ Stewart, Craig (August 4, 2016). "16 essential photo editor apps". CreativeBloq. Retrieved January 9, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Webpage

* v
* t
* e

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Proprietary|

| Freeware|

* Adobe Photoshop Express
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* Artweaver
* Brush Strokes Image Editor
* Chasys Draw IES
* Fatpaint
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* Microsoft Photos
* FastStone Image Viewer
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* Photopea
* PhotoScape
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Commercial|

* ACD Canvas
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* Acorn
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* Adobe Photoshop Album
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* Affinity Photo
* Aldus PhotoStyler
* Aperture
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* LView Pro
* MacPaint
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Bundled|

* Ability Photopaint
* Microsoft Photo Editor
* Microsoft Office Picture Manager
* Microsoft Paint
* Photos (Windows)

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