Freeware

Seashore: Native GIMP for the Mac?

By EAN ⋅ August 17, 2007 ⋅  Email this Post ⋅  Print this Post ⋅ Post a Comment

Developer: Mark Pazolli
Version: 0.1.9 (Beta)
Price: Free (Open Source)
Download Seashore Here.

You may recall that in my review of the GIMP, I mentioned that one of its big problems was that the Mac version required that I install X11. Well, it turns out that there is a version of GIMP that was developed in Cocoa especially for Apple’s OSX - Seashore. However, when I finally sat down to give Seashore a thorough test run, I found that Seashore is really nothing like the GIMP at all. Yes, they both use the GIMP’s technology, and both are able to open the GIMP’s file type - but both image editors are really as different as can be.

According to the Seashore website, the program is designed to serve the basic image editing needs of most computer users. I can’t help but wonder if the development team made Seashore a bit too basic though. While there are several tools here, including a clone stamp, a smudge, and a lot of the other basic stuff that you would see on a program like Microsoft Paint, there are no tools available for moderate image editing. Where are the burn and dodge tools? Where is the ability to adjust the brightness and contrast of an image? Although you can achieve the same effect by other means, a quick and easy selection of these tools would have been wonderful.

With those tools absent, I really can’t recommend Seashore as a good program for people, like myself, who do even part time photograph editing. There is no RAW support and no PSD support - but there is read and write ability for a lot of other common image types, which is always nice to see.

Although the photo modifying features are strangely absent from Seashore’s option list, there are quite a few features that would greatly appeal to those of you out there who are interested in making their own graphic designs. Once again, while the Seashore platform is not especially powerful, it does work well, and it is free. Furthermore, there are quite a few blending options (possibly even more than Photoshop) and the support for modifying channels is especially good for a basic image editor.

Unfortunately, when it comes down to it, I really can’t give Seashore a fully positive review. I see what they’re trying to accomplish, but it just feels far too basic for a photographer’s needs. But if you’re into graphic design - Seashore is a different story. The power really comes out when you start creating your own images. As an amateur photographer though, there just weren’t enough tools for me and what was there seemed to be eclipsed by the lack of some really necessary features. As long as development continues as it has been, I do look for Seashore to be an impressive free image editor in the future. Give Seashore a try for yourself and see if it meets your needs.

Try Seashore for Yourself.

- Eric Norton

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