Cinemagraph Pro, winner of an Apple Design Award for 2014, did so because of its seamless ability to create gorgeous flixels, which bring a sense of motion to still images.

Cinemagraph Pro works with two or more still images of the same size, or from a short video clip; it can even combine video and still images. The key to bringing images to life is to let Cinemagraph Pro overlay the images and then mask the area you wish to keep in motion.

Cinemagraph Pro will keep the rest of the image frozen on a single frame, or on the selected still image. The masked area will run as a video, or flip between multiple stills, imparting a sense of motion to your image.

Cinemagraph Pro makes the whole process simple, allowing you to create stunning effects and images that pop with motion elements. You can use the app to create subtle images, such as a woman whose hair seems radiant as light plays across it. You could also capture your daughter's first home run, with her standing at the plate and her swing in motion. The possibilities are endless.

Cinemagraph Pro's final output can be in the form of an animated GIF, an H.264 1080P video, or various Apple ProRes formats used in post-production processing.

Cinemagraph Pro is currently on special for $24.99, after winning an Apple Design Award; the normal price is $199.99. A demo is available.

See other software choices from Tom's Mac Software Picks.