ImageWell by Xtralean Software is a light and handy image editor which is surprisingly robust in its features. I had first used this program when it was freeware for the basic function and shareware for the extra add-ons. With this new release, ImageWell is completely shareware for the fully featured program at a price point of $19.95. A completely functional trial version can be downloaded for seven days. ImageWell is universal binary with OSX 10.3.9 or greater required.

Dear Leader in the Well

The program launches into a compact “well.” Images can be dragged from nearly any application into the well for fast and easy resizing and transmission to an idisk or server. In fact, any file can be dropped into the sender to be transmitted to the web. I read a review of this product where it was called “the blogger’s friend” and that certainly has been my experience. Oftentimes on my blog, I will have a large image of, say, Steve Jobs and need to resize it quickly. ImageWell is perfect for that task. Yes, there are other programs that can perform this function, but I have found that ImageWell is quick, light, and unobtrusive with a lot of functions packed into the compact well. There are many options to perform some quick and dirty edits such as resize/offset, rename, and send to folder/web.

Other features:

Locations: Save folders (such as the desktop) and ftp locations can be configured for use with the “send” function on the well window. ImageWell also supports file transfer to Flickr, SmugMug, or ImageShack accounts as well as batch transfers. Once a file is transferred to the web, the url is copied to the clipboard for easy pasting into a browser. This option is configurable with alternative options to copy formatted image/bulletin board tags ([img] or [image]) or html image tags to the clipboard. The history of links or tags created is retrievable and can be changed to other options via a pull-down menu.

Live Preview: The live preview window is accessed by clicking on the well, and a larger canvas will appear showing how the image will appear on a website.

Some Edit Options

Editing: While obviously this application is not going to replace a heavy-duty image editor such as PhotoShop, I have found that its editor is capable of handling my needs 90% of the time. Its features include non-destructive cropping, shapes, overlay with transparency, draw objects, caption balloons, borders, drop shadows, and opacity.

Watermarking: Images can be very easily watermarked with text or another image with ample editing controls.

Templates: Multiple customized templates can be created for repetitive workflow actions.

Batch Mode: A group of images can be batch-processed to apply resizing, shapes, and watermarks at one time which can then be sent to a folder or the web at one time.

Screen Grabs: Under the “more” option in the main well window, there are options to take screen grabs of the whole screen, selected portions of the screen, or a specific application window which is then sent to the well and can be manipulated like any other image.

In the interest of Disclosure, I have been an ImageWell user for nearly one year when the basic features were free. The shareware version was given to me gratis from the vendor upon my request for a review copy. However, I would have purchased and reviewed this product in any event as it has been one of my favourites since switching from the PC. It will have special appeal to former XP users who were frequent users of the image resizer powertoy.

Pros: Good online how-to manual with video tutorials (the vendor is working on making videos for each feature with about 50% done thus far, and there is a good off-site tutorial as well); compact and intuitive; perfect for bloggers and bulletin board participants; eliminates the need to fire up a heavyweight editor for the majority of typical user image editing tasks.

Cons: Price (I believe a $14.95 price point would make this irresistible; however, it is well worth the $19.95 price point); accidental overwrites are too easy (no warning screen pops up if the original is about to be overwritten); no print function.

Giveaway: One person commenting to this review will be randomly chosen to receive a free license to ImageWell. I thank the developer for offering this to World of Apple readers. The Mac development community rocks! (Winner will be announced 28th May 2008)

Update: The giveaway winner has been announced - - congratulations to Jamie McFarlane! You will be hearing from us soon regarding your free license.