Ease of use. It is intuitive and has a user-freindly user interface. When I started using Pixelmator years ago I can recall picking it up very quickly and feeling comfortable with the software much faster than when learning Photoshop. Also, if I start a design in Pixelmator and need to work on it in Photoshop later, I can just export as a PSD. I find that most layers tend to convert exactly, but not 100% of everything. Still a great feature.

I love how intuitive and easy Pixelmator is to use. I can create quality graphics for visual aids for my classes quickly and easily. I know exactly what each tool does because the buttons are intuitive and I don't have to look through the help section to complete simple tasks. I love how easy it is to manipulate layers to group, order, rename, and organize. This is important to me as I need to work efficiently and often use the same image with minor adjustments such as coloring.

Despite using Photoshop over the years, I never really mastered its more advanced features, and when Adobe switched to a subscription-only model for Adobe CC, I decided it was time to find a replacement. I tried several and settled on Pixelmator for its modest price, feature set, and ease of use. My favourite feature is its smart healing brush, which can quickly repair blemishes with one stroke. For quick image editing and retouching, I find it more approachable than Photoshop. Pixelmator's layers features may not be as complete, but for my needs, and I suspect for many other photographers, it's more than adequate. If you find Pixelmator too limiting, now there's an even more capable version: Pixelmator Pro.