Released on February 13, 2023, represented a pivotal update for the Pixea image editor and media viewer on macOS. This specific version transition moved the application from being a simple, lightweight alternative to Apple's Preview into a more sophisticated, AI-enhanced tool designed for professional photographers and media managers. Core Architectural Enhancements in Version 3.1
While the base Pixea app is free, many of the advanced features showcased in the 3.1 cycle are part of the upgrade. Users can access these through various pricing tiers on the Mac App Store, including lifetime, annual, and monthly subscriptions. Key "Plus" features include:
: Comprehensive support for camera-specific RAW formats from manufacturers like Leica, Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm. Pixea Plus 3.1
: Support for LUT filters (over 30 built-in), color curves, and per-channel HSL adjustments.
The Evolution of macOS Media Viewing: Analyzing Pixea Plus 3.1 Released on February 13, 2023, represented a pivotal
: One of the most significant changes was a complete rebuild of the zooming engine. This update addressed a long-standing user complaint regarding "unwanted window centering". In previous versions, the window would snap back to the center of the screen when jumping between images; version 3.1 provided a more seamless transition that maintained user-defined window positions during browsing.
: Utilizing ML functionality (requires macOS 13+), users can remove unwanted objects or defects with high-resolution reconstruction. Users can access these through various pricing tiers
: The ability to play video formats (MP4, MKV) and browse images directly inside ZIP and CBZ archives without extraction. User Reception and Market Positioning Pixea - Ratings & Reviews - App Store