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If you’re looking for a Photoshop replacement, Acorn is one of the better choices available in the space between free, open-source solutions like Seashore ($0) and Photoshop Elements ($79). Now, from layer mask support to some nifty new Automator actions, there are even more reasons to go with the little guy.

FlyingMeat has released a major update of their insurgent image editor for the Mac. Acorn 2.5 (release notes) comes to market with dozens of fixes, as well as a few new notable features under the hood:

• Acorn now supports layer masks! To enable a mask for a layer, click on the cog widget in the layers list window and select “Add Layer Mask”, or control-click on a layer in the list, choose “Add Layer Mask”
• New Automator Actions- Layer on Images (think watermarks), Open Images in Acorn, Close Acorn Image, Change Types of Images, Crop Images, Trim Images and Do JavaScript
• Web export now has option to set matte color for transparent images
• Fixed a problem where the Clear Selection menu item was always enabled.
• Fixed a bug where flood fill wouldn’t work when you made a selection and then used it to cut out an area from a layer, and then tried to use the flood fill without clearing the selection first.
• Fixed a bug where the flood fill tool wouldn’t work on layer masks
• When adding a layer mask, it is now selected by default
• When duplicating a shape, it’ll no longer fall off the canvas
• Fixed editing bezier paths bug
• Guides now stay in correct position when using the Resize Canvas
• See release notes for full list

Get a free 30-day demo of Acorn 2.5 here (14.9MB). A full license sells for $49.95 and FlyingMeat offers a 30-day money-back guaranty.