Syeda Bushra Taimur·

How Long Does Image Editing Take On Mac?

If you’ve ever worked with photos on a Mac, you might have wondered, how long does image editing take? The answer isn’t the same for everyone, as it depends on several factors like the complexity of the edits, the software you’re using, and the speed of your Mac.

Simple adjustments like cropping, brightness, or color correction can take just a few minutes, while detailed work, such as retouching or creating composite images, may take hours. Understanding these factors can help you plan your workflow better and get the most out of your editing sessions.

What Is Image Editing?

Image editing is the process of enhancing or modifying photos to achieve a desired look. It can range from basic adjustments like cropping, brightness, and color correction to advanced creative composites where multiple images or effects are combined for a professional result.

For Mac users, image editing is especially important. Photographers rely on it to perfect their shots, designers use it to create striking visuals, and e-commerce sellers need polished product images to attract buyers. High-quality editing can make a significant difference in how content is perceived.

Traditional editing methods, however, can be time-consuming and complex, prompting many users to explore how to edit images with AI for faster, smarter results.

Factors That Affect How Long Image Editing Takes

The time it takes to edit an image on a Mac depends on the type of photo and how detailed the edits are.

Photo Type:

  • Landscape: These images are usually quicker to edit, often taking 10–20 minutes. Adjustments like brightness, contrast, and color balance are simple.
  • Portraits: Editing portraits takes more time, sometimes 30 minutes to over 2 hours, especially when smoothing skin or refining small details.
  • Product & Real Estate: These images can take 10–30 minutes each, though more complicated setups with lots of items or rooms can take longer.
  • Weddings & Events: With hundreds of photos to process, each image can take 1–2 hours, making this type of editing the most time-consuming.

Editing Complexity:

  • Basic Adjustments: Simple edits like cropping, resizing, or color correction usually take only a few minutes.
  • Advanced Retouching: Tasks such as removing objects, smoothing skin, or precision edits take significantly longer.
  • Creative Composites: Combining multiple elements or adding effects can take hours, sometimes up to 12 hours for a single image.

For anyone looking to speed up the process, a great solution is to edit images with AI. AI tools can handle repetitive tasks, enhance details automatically, and reduce hours of manual work into just a few minutes, helping Mac users save time without compromising quality.

Average Editing Time: Traditional vs AI

When it comes to image editing on a Mac, the time required can vary a lot depending on the method used.

Traditional Editing

Using manual tools, even simple tasks can take several minutes, while complex edits like advanced retouching or creative composites can take hours per image. Editing dozens of photos in one session can quickly become exhausting.

AI Editing

On the other hand, AI-powered tools are designed to save time and effort.

  • Basic Tasks: Simple adjustments like cropping or color correction can be done in seconds to minutes using AI image editing software.
  • Intermediate Tasks: Retouching portraits, removing objects, or enhancing details usually takes just 1–5 minutes per image, showing how to edit images with AI effectively.
  • Bulk Editing: Dozens of images can be processed in a matter of minutes, making large projects much more manageable.

One tool that Mac users are finding particularly helpful is Edimakor. This AI image editing software streamlines repetitive tasks, automatically enhances photos, and allows users to edit images with AI to complete complex edits in a fraction of the usual time. For creatives looking for the best free image editing software for Mac, Edimakor is a strong choice. It’s no wonder more creatives are turning to AI solutions like Edimakor to improve workflow and maintain high-quality results.

How AI Image Editing Save Time

After seeing how time-consuming traditional editing can be, AI tools make a huge difference for Mac users. Advanced AI image editing software like Edimakor, even complex tasks can be completed in minutes rather than hours.

Edimakor Key Features:

  • Text to Image: Simply describe your idea, and the AI generates the image instantly.

  • Reference Image: Upload up to three reference photos and specify changes. For example:
    1. Upload a landscape photo and reference a sunset image. Ask Edimakor to adjust the sky to warm orange and pink tones, enhancing the mountains’ contrast.
    2. Upload a portrait and reference a professionally lit headshot. Instruct Edimakor to smooth skin naturally, brighten eyes, and match the lighting style.
    3. Upload a product photo and reference a clean e-commerce background. Request removal of reflections, adjust colors to true white, and set a pure studio background.

  • Image Restyler: Transform an existing photo’s style instantly with AI for a creative or professional look.

Time Advantage:

  • Wedding and event images: Editing that once took an hour can now take just 5–10 minutes.
  • Product photos: 10–30 minutes reduced to 1–2 minutes.
  • Landscapes and portraits: Automatic AI enhancements save at least 50% of editing time.

Unique Edge:
Edimakor now integrates Nano Banana, a feature that boosts AI processing speed and produces even more realistic results. It’s fully optimized for Mac users, offering a smooth, all-in-one AI image editing experience.

For anyone wondering how to edit images with AI, tools like Edimakor are game-changers, making the entire process faster, easier, and highly efficient without compromising quality.

Best Free Image Editing Software for Mac

If you’re looking for free options to edit images on a Mac, these tools are popular and widely used:

GIMP

GIMP is a powerful, open-source image editor that rivals many paid programs. It’s ideal for users who want full control over editing, from layers and masks to advanced filters.

Pros:

  • Completely free and open-source
  • Powerful editing tools comparable to paid software
  • Supports layers, masks, and advanced filters

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • Interface can feel outdated
  • Slower performance on large files

Photoscape X

Photoscape X is a beginner-friendly tool that makes basic and creative edits easy. It’s great for quick adjustments and batch editing.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface, easy for beginners
  • Offers batch editing and various creative filters
  • Lightweight and fast for most tasks

Cons:

  • Some advanced features are limited in the free version
  • Not as powerful for professional retouching
  • Lacks some AI-driven automation

Darktable

Darktable is perfect for photographers who need professional RAW editing tools. It focuses on non-destructive edits to preserve original photos.

Pros:

  • Free and open-source, excellent for RAW image editing
  • Non-destructive workflow preserves original photos
  • Great for photographers who need advanced color correction

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve for new users
  • Can feel overwhelming for casual editing
  • Slower when handling large batches of images

Edimakor

Edimakor is an AI-powered image editing software for Mac that helps users save time and streamline their workflow. Unlike traditional free tools, it leverages AI to automate repetitive tasks, enhance photos, and perform complex edits quickly. It’s ideal for creatives who want professional-quality results with minimal effort.

With Edimakor, users can transform text prompts into stunning visuals using its Text-to-Image feature, generate videos from images, and create talking photos that animate static images. The software also includes tools for background removal, image enhancement, and AI face swapping, providing a comprehensive suite for digital content creation.

Pros:

  • AI image editing software for faster results
  • Automates repetitive tasks and bulk edits
  • Professional-quality enhancements with minimal effort

Cons:

  • Not fully free; some features require a subscription

Choosing the Best Computer for Image Editing on Mac

When it comes to image editing, the right Mac hardware can dramatically impact both performance and workflow efficiency. Factors such as processor speed, RAM, graphics capabilities, storage type, and display quality all play a crucial role in how smoothly you can handle large files, apply complex edits, or run AI image editing software. Investing in a well-equipped Mac ensures that tasks like retouching, color grading, and bulk image processing are faster, more responsive, and less frustrating.

Below is a table recommending some of the best Mac computers for image editing based on these key hardware factors:

Mac Model Processor RAM Storage Graphics Ideal For
Mac Studio M2 Max 12-core CPU 32GB 1TB SSD 38-core GPU Professional editing, AI image editing software
MacBook Pro 16″ M2 Pro 12-core CPU 32GB 1TB SSD 19-core GPU Portability + high performance
iMac 24″ M1 8-core CPU 16GB 512GB SSD 7-core GPU Beginner to intermediate edits
Mac mini M2 8-core CPU 16GB 512GB SSD 10-core GPU Budget-friendly, AI-assisted edits

Key Hardware Factors

  • CPU: A powerful processor ensures smooth performance, especially when handling large files.
  • RAM: More memory allows multiple applications or large images to run without slowing down.
  • GPU: A strong graphics card speeds up rendering and effects processing.
  • Retina Display: High-quality screens help you see colors and details accurately for precise edits.

Final Thoughts

So, how long does image editing take? The answer depends on the type of photo and the complexity of the edits, anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Simple landscapes or basic adjustments are quick, while detailed portraits, product shots, or creative composites can take much longer.

AI image editing tools like Edimakor help Mac users work faster and smarter. With its Nano Banana integration, Edimakor enhances processing speed, improves efficiency, and delivers high-quality results without the need for top-end hardware. Try Edimakor today and experience a faster, smoother AI image editing workflow on your Mac.

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