Naked Light : Photoshop killer or one more mid-level image editor?
Filed under Software on November 8th, 2007
Wow! Is this new imaging application, Naked Light, for real?
If yes, it packs some pretty interesting new ideas, like dispensing with layers altogether in favor of lightweight image elements called nodes that can contain filters, text, brush strokes and more and be arranged horizontally or vertically (stacked).
It also promises “Infinite Resolution”. My guess is that it is based upon Apple’s work on Resolution Independence, which, although not on by default on Leopard, it can be enabled on a per-application basis. The fact that the application requires Leopard hints further to that. This actually means that all dimensions in your application are virtualized to abstract units (kinda like in a vector drawing application). It sounds like a nice touch. Just don’t expect this to work with bitmap images included in a composition (hint: it cant).
The filters sound like the usual Core Image stuff with a bias towards photographers (Monochrome mixer, white balance, exposure, …), and they are touted as achieving “unprecedented speed” by using your graphics card. Expect them to be just are fast (or as slow) as of all those other Core Image applications.
The Ph… word
Will it be a Photoshop killer. Er, no. What were you thinking? Photoshop has 20 years of accumulated software magic (and cruft, alas) and a boatload of unique patents. Not to mention some of the brightest minds in imaging. I just don’t see a random company with a new app largely building upon Core Image can top that. After all, Core Image is fast and nice but it’s neither all-encompassing nor is it groundbreaking. And not all of the filters are top-notch.
In my opinion it won’t be the filters included or the version 1.0 feature set that will make or break this app. What will matter is how all those interesting new ideas about nodes and all are put together, both conceptually and UI-wise. If it provides a convenient working environment that makes certain kinds of image editing tasks easier it can be a contender. For the alternative image editor crown, that is, not for Photoshop’s place. Not yet, anyway.
Read more about Naked Light.
