Your first edit.

Photolulu 0.1.0 is a free beta for Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or later) running macOS 27 or later. It does not run on Intel Macs or earlier macOS versions. Photolulu is free forever, with no subscription.

Install the Mac beta

1. Download Photolulu for Apple Silicon and open the ZIP file.
2. Drag Photolulu.app into Applications.
3. Open Photolulu from Applications. If macOS asks, confirm that you want to open an app downloaded from the internet.

Apple explains these checks in Safely open apps on your Mac.

Edit your first photo on Mac

1. Use Open… / ⌘O or drag a photo into the editor. You can open several at once.
2. Adjust exposure, highlights and shadows. Try the color mixer and curves.
3. Compare with the original using \. Use ⌘1 for 100% and ⌘0 to fit the photo.
4. ⇧⌘S saves your edits. ⌘E exports a new photo to share.

Supported photo formats on Mac

Photolulu opens Apple ProRAW/DNG, JPEG, HEIC/HEIF and common camera RAW formats, including ARW, CR2/CR3, NEF/NRW, RAF, RW2, ORF and PEF. It uses macOS Core Image and a bundled LibRaw engine. Compatibility depends on the camera model and compression variant; not every combination is guaranteed.

Photo exports are SDR sRGB JPEGs. DNG files can preserve RAW data alongside Photolulu’s edit recipe; other editors do not interpret that recipe. In the direct-download beta, converting another RAW format to DNG requires Adobe DNG Converter to be installed. Live Photo video and auxiliary depth data are not exported.

Originals, edits and versions on Mac

Your originals are preserved. Exports create new files and avoid overwriting existing exports. Save All Edits stores adjustments locally. Checkpoints are saved versions of a photo: keep the .photolulu.json file with the original when you move your photos.

iPhone and iPad version

The mobile version is in preparation for iPhone and iPad running iOS or iPadOS 17 or later. Its App Store availability has not yet been confirmed. The Mac beta download above does not install on iPhone or iPad.

Import and edit on iPhone or iPad

1. Use Photos to choose images in the system picker, or Files to import a file. For a cloud-only original, allow its provider to finish downloading it. Cloud imports may need an internet connection even though editing happens on-device.
2. Open a photo in the library. Adjust light, white balance, color, the mixer or curves, or start with a built-in look. Compare with the original and use undo, redo or reset as needed.
3. Adjustments save with the private library copy. Return to the library to reopen it later. Your original in Photos or Files is unchanged.
4. Open Export photo. Choose JPEG quality and, optionally, limit the long edge to 2560 pixels or embed the adjustment recipe.
5. Choose Save to Photos to add a new image, or Share or save to Files for another destination. Only saving to Photos asks for add-only Photos permission. If permission is denied, use the share option or change it in Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos.

Mobile formats and storage

Raster images and RAW decoding depend on Apple’s iOS image frameworks and the particular format or camera. The mobile app does not include the Mac LibRaw fallback, Adobe DNG Converter or the desktop Detail noise-reduction model. Its available noise reduction and sharpening run on-device. A RAW file supported by the Mac app may be unsupported on your mobile device. Try a supported DNG or JPEG if an import cannot be decoded. Mobile exports are sRGB JPEG copies, not DNG conversions; Live Photo video and auxiliary depth data are not exported.

JPEG exports can retain original metadata, including location. The optional embedded adjustment recipe is separate from that source metadata; switching it off does not strip location. Check exported metadata before sharing private images.

The mobile library stores original copies, thumbnails and editing recipes inside the app’s sandbox. It does not create desktop checkpoint sidecars next to Files originals. Touch and hold a library item for Rename or Remove copy. Removing the copy deletes that imported item and its adjustments, leaving the source unchanged. Export images you want to keep before deleting the app: deleting removes its local library, while offloading retains app data. Files, Photos, shared exports and system backups are separate copies governed by their destination and backup settings.

Support and feedback

Contact Victoriano Izquierdo through his website. To report an issue, include your Photolulu version, macOS version, Mac model, camera and file format. Only send personal photos if you want to share them to help investigate.

For mobile issues, include the Photolulu version, iOS or iPadOS version, device model, camera/file format, whether the import came from Photos or Files, and the exact error. Never send private photos unless you choose to share them. Read the privacy policy for storage, metadata and deletion details.

Photo credits and editing examples

The photographs on this website are used under the Unsplash license: dunes by Dustin Commer, ocean by Guzmán Barquín, and mountains by Intricate Explorer. The interactive color and black & white examples are actual JPEG exports from Photolulu’s rendering engine, using the published mountain JPEG as their source. They demonstrate tone and color editing. The editor screenshot shows the actual Mac app.