There are plenty of choices these days for editing images on an iOS device, but GhostBird Software’s PhotoForge is an App Store favorite. Now, the company is set to expand our horizons of what can be done on a handheld device with their all-new PhotoForge 2.

GhostBird Software has announced on their website that the all-new PhotoForge 2 for iOS will be available starting Thursday, May 19. While the name indicates a new version of the existing PhotoForge app, PhotoForge 2 is a completely new version for everyone -- you’ll have to buy it again, whether you’ve owned it before or not. But if you’re quick, you won’t pay much (more on that in a moment).

PhotoForge 2 has been rewritten from the ground up with a slick new interface, adding “complete layers functionality” as well as a full mask painting editor. Judging from the company’s demo video online, the new app could very well be the most powerful image editing software we’ve seen yet on iOS (or any other mobile platform, for that matter).

Full resolution image editing is built into PhotoForge 2, including the ability to load most popular RAW formats and even edit IPTC or GPS photo data. In addition to adding frames and textures to your photos, the app has an extensive array of filters and effects, many courtesy of a Pop! Cam add-on. And yes, social media is a big part of PhotoForge 2, with an insanely wide range of ways to share your photos, including full FTP support.

PhotoForge 2 will launch on Thursday, but since the App Store doesn’t offer the ability to do paid upgrades, the company will price the new app for only 99 cents for the first 24 hours. That means that existing users -- as well as those looking to save a few bucks -- will have to move quickly before the introductory price goes to $2.99 until the end of May and finally the normal price of $4.99 come June 1.

One other small bit of bad news: While PhotoForge 2 will be a universal app (unlike the current version which is sold in separate versions for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad), native iPad support won’t be part of the initial release this week -- it’s promised as “coming very soon.”

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