Pixelmator, a Lithuanian company that produces Mac-based photo editing tools, announces its acquisition by Apple. The company is most known for its online photo editor of the same name and is likely being acquired by Apple in its bid to infringe on Adobe’s dominance in the design software market.

Pixelmator, Adobe Killer?

Pixelmator says the deal is currently awaiting regulatory approval, but assures users that there will be “no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time.” How this will change over time is anyone’s guess, but they promise “exciting updates to come.” Fans of the app will hope with clenched cheeks and crossed fingers that it isn’t eventually cannibalised into a generic Apple product, with the Pixelmator brand and apps vanishing.

Regulatory approval will be a tall order. UK and European Union regulators refused Adobe’s proposed acquisition of popular design software competitor Figma. Similar roadblocks were encountered by Amazon’s attempted takeover of robot vacuum maker iRobot. On the other hand, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, its largest purchase to date at $69 billion, pulled through.

Pixelmator Pro has recently pushed regular updates, accelerating the platform’s improvement. New features include AI and ML tools for adjusting photos and creating masks, and vector tools, with added support for more RAW photo formats and other design tool files.

Apple’s purchase record is hit or miss. Weather app Dark Sky was acquired in early 2020. It is now gone as a standalone platform after its absorption into the iOS Weather app. Automation app Workflow was bought in 2017, and while it also disappeared, it evolved into the Shortcuts function which is still available. Final Cut for screenwriting and Logic Pro for music production have remained largely independent and profitable several years into their acquisitions.

“We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance,” Pixelmator writes, “And looking back, it’s crazy what a small group of dedicated people have been able to achieve over the years from all the way in Vilnius, Lithuania.” The deliberate adjacency to Apple has paid off for the group and, “Now, [they] have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world.”