Photography software for Mac OS X just got a new variation on the theme. Macphun developers of the popular Snapheal and FX Photo Studio recently debuted Intensify, a photo editor that specializes in enhancing image details.
Intensify, whiche works on 64-bit Macs running OS X 10.7 and above, comes in two versions. The $40 standalone program is available on the Mac App Store now for an introductory price of $30. The Pro version, which features plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Elements, Aperture, and Lightroom, costs $60 and is available on the Macphun website or loaded on 4GB SD cards for retail sale. The plug-in works with Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS6, and CC; Photoshop Elements 10 or later; Lightroom 4.0 or later, Apple Aperture 3.3, and iPhoto. We tested the Pro version.
Anyone accustomed to Mac image-editing software won’t need to consult the manual to get started with Intensify. Some presets have clothing catalog-style names such as Good Cityscape, Calm Day, Spicy, and Autumn Morning, whose meanings may vary. Other preset names, such as Strong Details, HDR Vivid, and Crisp are easier to decipher.
You can set up the app to show a simultaneous before and after comparison to keep track of your changes to an image, and you can use the Eye icon to preview changes. The interface performed smoothly for enlarging and navigating around images.
The program sits in a convenient application window with top and righthand toolbars featuring the controls and presets. Image layers let you edit easily and nondestructively.
Without using a manual, we tend to get lost. But with Intensify, which has may favorite feature the before and after comparisons. Because who wants to keep going back and forth between separate windows just to see what you've just edited? Right, no one. And this app is cheaper than your standard issue, especially coming from the Mac App Store.