Something interesting about Mac apps is that there always seem to be simple versions of more complex apps handy. In this case, a lot of simple image editors have been seen, as of late. And why not? Complex image editors are hardly user-friendly for people who need an image with some quality to it — and quick. Now enter Gluestick, a layer-based image editor, which looks like it has some interesting things to offer. Keep on reading for more on this interesting application.
Design. The application’s window is very simple and easy to work with. Once you open it for the first time, you’ll get the impression as if you’re physically working over a wooden desk where you’re “glueing” your pictures together. But if the app’s unique appearance isn’t satisfactory, you can change the background to a tiled pattern, or blank. Gluestick is consistent with the simplicity and eye-catching appearance of recent Leopard apps with Core Animation.
Functionality. Gluestick isn’t a sophisticated image editor like, say, Pixelmator or Photoshop. The idea behind the app is that it should be used for quick and easy image pasting and resizing — in a few words, it’s an image layer editor. It allows for you to take as many images as you like, resize them accordingly, and “glue” them together. The results are pretty good for the small time invested in creating such an image. But the most interesting feature it has is the ability to export your creations as an .icns file — a system icon. For an example in the app’s icon creation abilities, check out this past guide in how to design and implement them.
Limitations. As a task-specialized image editor, there are no considerable limitations that lessens on the app’s functionality. Also, I was told that the upcoming 1.1 update to the app will include new features.
Final thoughts. Gluestick is designed for one job only: layer-based image editing. Nothing more, and nothing less. If you’re looking for something more complex, you’d better look somewhere else or stick with one of the more advanced (and expensive) image editors. But if you want to create quick images that are based off other existing images, Gluestick is up to the job. The best part overall, though, would have to be the option to export your work as system icons. While $24.99 may seem a bit on the expensive side for a simple image editor like Gluestick, there is a demo available for anyone interested to try it out before buying it.
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