Apple Inc. agreed to buy software maker Pixelmator, adding a popular high-end photo-editing app to its lineup. Pixelmator announced the acquisition on its blog Friday, saying its Lithuania-based team would join Apple. The 17-year-old company — founded by brothers Saulius Dailide and Aidas Dailide — makes Mac, iPad and iPhone apps.
The two companies already have a close relationship: Apple has frequently touted Pixelmator software in its marketing — including an iPad event last month — and the apps use an interface akin to the iPhone maker’s applications.
“We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one,” Pixelmator said in the blog post. “Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience.”
The business’s main app, Pixelmator Pro, includes advanced editing tools that are reminiscent of features within Adobe Inc.’s Photoshop, Illustrator and other programs, such as layers and vectors. The software also taps into a series of Apple-specific technologies, including iCloud, Shortcuts and the iPad’s Pencil.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, confirmed the transaction on Friday. Terms weren’t disclosed.
For Apple, the acquisition gives customers a high-end photo editing app for the first time since the company discontinued Aperture, its Photoshop alternative, about a decade ago. Recently, the company has been releasing pro-level apps, including Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, on the iPad via subscriptions.
Pixelmator Pro costs $50 on the Mac, while a standard version for the iPad and iPhone is priced at $10. The company also offers a Photomator editing app across Apple devices. The company said there wouldn’t be immediate material changes to the programs, but that it will announce further updates later.
Apple hasn’t announced many acquisitions lately, though it did buy DarwinAI to assist with manufacturing earlier this year, Bloomberg News reported. The company’s largest purchase to date was the $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014.
