LiveQuartz review
An inexpensive Mac editor for reversible layer-based image work, with limited PSD compatibility.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
LiveQuartz is a desktop photo editor for Mac users who want inexpensive, layered image editing without needing a full Photoshop workflow. Its tools cover image layers, selections, painting, erasing, pixel duplication, text, and simple drawing shapes. The approach suits solo users and small-scale projects where reversible edits and familiar bitmap exports matter more than advanced ecosystem or collaboration features.
The central strength is its non-destructive workflow. LiveQuartz uses filters and layers, and its native RHIF documents preserve both for continued editing. It reads supported camera RAW formats and provides rectangular, elliptical, and lasso selections, plus brush, eraser, background eraser, paint bucket, and pixel duplication tools. Text and drawing layers include line, rectangle, and oval tools. For Mac users who want to make edits in stages and keep those elements intact in a project file, these capabilities form a focused toolkit; the product details do not describe AI features.
Photoshop compatibility is the key constraint for anyone considering it as an alternative. LiveQuartz reads Photoshop documents as merged layers, rather than preserving a layered PSD for continued editing. That makes it a poor fit for workflows that depend on exchanging editable Photoshop projects. According to the vendor's listed App Store price, the starting price is $3.99 in the United States, though it may differ by region; there is no free plan. Export options include PNG, HEIC, JPEG, JPEG 2000, TIFF, TGA, GIF, BMP, and OpenEXR. Choose LiveQuartz for low-cost Mac editing with retained layers in its own format; choose another editor when full layered PSD compatibility is essential.
LiveQuartz pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Keeps layers and filters editable in native RHIF documents
- Supports camera RAW reading and multi-layer editing
- Exports to PNG, HEIC, JPEG, TIFF, GIF and other formats
- Where it doesn't
- Photoshop documents open only as merged layers
- Available for macOS, with no iPad version
- No free plan
LiveQuartz fact sheet, pricing and score →
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