Most bloggers, and lots of others, spend a lot of time manipulating images for posts, sharing, etc. Personally, I use Photoshop, which is way more horsepower than I need since I generally just grab, mashup and resize images. But it still works far better, and far faster, than any of the online image editing tools we’ve reviewed.
Today I tested a new desktop application, called Skitch, that works far better than Photoshop for basic grabbing and editing of images. And it also has an associated online account for storage and sharing with others. For now, it only works with Mac (and is still in private beta), but a Windows version is in development. All of the images included in this post were grabbed and edited using Skitch, and it saved me a ton of time v. Photoshop.
The desktop application is a small, resizable window. Drag an image into it from the desktop, another application (like iPhoto) or from a web page and it presents it for editing. Alternatively, Skitch include an excellent screen grabbing tool that also automatically pulls it into the window for editing, or it will access the built in camera and snap an image. Most file formats are accepted (jpg, gif, tiff, png, etc.).
The editing tools include adding lines, free drawing, arrows, and text. Images can also be cropped and resized by dragging and dropping. Once complete, the image can be named and saved as a jpg, png, pdf, svg or proprietary format (no gif or tiff for now), uploaded to your Skitch page or dragged to the desktop or other application. Skitch also keeps a history of all files edited.
Images that are uploaded to your personal Skitch page (called “MySkitch”) can be commented by other users, and there are a number of options to embedded that image in other websites. See the screen shot above and to the right for an example. MySkitch also allows hotlinking of images, subject only to restrictions on “excess use.”
See the demo video to get a better idea:
1,000 Accounts Available To TechCrunch Readers
Skitch is still in private beta, but they have agreed to give the first 1,000 TechCrunch readers an account. They say they won’t be ready to give the accounts out until next week, but send your email now if you are interested to techcrunch@plasq.com. Remember that it works only on Macs for now. You can also sign up for an invite on the Skitch website.
Skitch was created by the startup Plasq (with employees in USA, France, Norway, and Australia) which is known for making incredible Mac software. They are also the creators of the hugely popular ComicLife, which is a built-in application on all Macs, and Apple pays them a license fee for every Mac sold.
The company has not raised any capital - Plasq’s founder and CEO Cris Pearson told me today that “bundling of ComicLife with Apple was a big help. almost like raising venture capital without the dilution.” Given how many Macs have been sold lately, I’m in agreement. And something tells me he has another winner on his hands.
See CenterNetworks for more.
I think we’ve all been waiting for a more user-friendly alternative to Photoshop, which can get to be a bit tedious for basic editing. I look forward to testing out the Windows version when it becomes available…or maybe I’ll just have to buy a Mac soon.
Allen Vartazarian
Famesource.com - Claim your fame!
http://www.famesource.com
That looks really neat, easy-to-use and a big time saver! Congrats. I hope they will have no problem with people using their brand as a verb!
How do they plan to generate revenue with this? Sell it as an application?
They must be from New Zealand with a name like that
I’ve sent through my request, this will hopefully save me having to buy Photoshop for my shiny new Mac Pro that is being delivered shortly.
Thats great tool with lot of features can able to edit anywhere.
Way to go Cris — I can attest that Skitch rocks…another great product from Aussie.
Methinks we’re going to have to rename Atherton one of these days!
You should really try IrfanView, it totally rocks for simple tasks like cropping. Although what would REALLY rule is a firefox plugin which would allow you to edit images in-place somehow =)
Using online applications I can reduce hard disk and back up and maintenence problems.
http://www.tekno-world.blogspot.com
WOW!! Being a visual artist and content provider http://www.abstract10.com, this is another dream come true! We have a library of over 2000 avatars created from original paintings, so to be able to “quickly” create marketing statements on my artwork should help generate more traffic to my work. Good lookin out Skitch! We are going hook you guys up with some really nice images.
thx
Jason Jenkins Live!
The Abstract Surrealist
http://www.abstract10.com
great app, great help for those who are addicted to screenshooting.
works great.
It’s a desktop app, but I use SnagIt. I’ve found it’s tons quicker than Photoshop, and its tools are a lot more conducive to grabbing and manipulating images quickly and easily.
I do wish it integrates more easily with photo sharing apps, though.
http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.asp
Sweet deal TC. I’ve wanted a beta spot for this for a couple of weeks. TC comes thru again with the good stuff. Thanks guys and gals.
- Yeah looks great -
- Sounds like a /maybe/ competitor to picaso -
Generally I use Picasa for basic editing and there is even a Flickr Plugin (http://picasa2flickr.sourceforge.net/ )for Picasa by using which you can upload pics directly to it.
Or if you are using Flock then its more easy to upload pics to flickr and post the blog too, since both the features are integrated in flock.
How do we request one of the accounts for techcrunch readers?
Apple is well known for its graphic capabilities but strangely enough Macs are not shipped with easy-to-use graphic tools for the average people. In search for the equivalent of a MS Paint, I’ve used Seashore for a while.
But Skitch definitely seems cool.
Skitch is the most well thought out screen capture tool ever. I am so happy with it and am using it hourly, along with myskitch.com.
I use Snag-it at the moment on my PC which is quick and easy, however the minute Skitch is available for PC, I will be dumping it immediately.
@Rand - I think you’re right, Atherton should possibly start to think about changing its name
I told everyone in the forums about this a couple of weeks ago.
http://forums.techcrunch.com/f.....amp;#14766
I have been using skitch for several months and honestly once you get your hands on the software you’ll see exactly why this is so revolutionary- It takes all of 10 mins to learn and lets the regular casual user add text, doodles, etc. in a way that is “EXTREMELY” easy.
This looks like a great app! It appears to be easier to use than Photoshop for basic image editing (I really like their cropping feature!) but I’m betting it’s going to cost a lot less.
You should try Snipshot, Mike — there’s a Firefox extension, and you can right-click and edit images in a flash. It’s awesome, and it’s a Y Combinator startup (run by Canadians).
Looks like there’s only one thing left to say; when can I get the Facebook application?
YAY! This will be very helpful for my site, StyleDiary.net, because I always have to edit photos and since getting a new laptop (without all the software i had on it), it’s been a huge pain to work on them.
Very cool.
Skitch is awesome and Plasq are a great company that deserve more coverage and credit. I think that Skitch should be included in Mac’s as well - it is an application that everyone has a use for, and it is simple enough for almost any PC or Mac user to be able to use
Congrats Cris and the Plasq team!
I’ve been using Skitch for a couple of months now and couldn’t live without it. Drag and drop images from desktop, iphoto, web -> mess with them, resize them, etc -> then drag them to the desktop, email, skype or upload them to myskitch or flickr.
I’m a big fan boy but it’s seriously useful.
Nice one.
Just been using it. Wow. Colour me impressed
Great!
Did you see the post Brazilian Business Blogger Cris Zimermann Refuses $30,000 To Go Naked For Men’s Magazine in http://www.reporternet.jor.br/?page_id=371.
Read it, pls, and give your opinion.
Regards
A nice video to describe the use of Skitch….seems to be a really cool image tool…I am looking forward to their Windows release.