Differences
If I had to sum it all up in one short statement, I'd say that Butcher approaches image processing from the artist's point of view, but PIXmate treats the whole process like a science.
All of Butcher's tools are up front and easily accessible. Chopping, merging, and blending colors is a simple process, as is filtering odd pixels out of a digitized image. There is even a limited DRAW mode toolbox for subtle manual retouching of details. I like it for refining video artwork because it is fast, easy, and you get quick results that are pleasing to the eye.
PIXmate, on the other hand, is loaded with options. Its IMAGE PROCESS toolbox is overwhelming at first, but its power is incredible. It can do almost anything to an image that NASA can do, but you have to take the time to learn the ropes before you begin to comprehend what PIXmate is capable of. The user interface is easy enough to use, but you have to know what the buttons do and how different combinations of buttons affect the process. It's a little like flying a plane.
But no matter what you may think about the comparative complexity of these two programs, PIXmate does have one real uncontestable edge over Butcher, its ability to operate on HAM images. Though Butcher will load and convert HAM pictures, its surgical capabilities are limited to standard 32-color-or-less IFF screens.
Butcher is more intuitive and easier to use; PIXmate is more powerful. They are both good products from good companies, and one or the other (or both!) is an absolute necessity for the serious Amiga artist.
INIE0
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