Pixelmator Pro is a feature-rich, professional-grade image editing application designed exclusively for macOS. It is celebrated for its blend of powerful tools, user-friendly interface, and seamless integration with Apple technologies. Below is a detailed description of its capabilities and features:
Key Features
Image Editing and Enhancement
- Pro-Grade Adjustments: Includes advanced tools for adjusting brightness, contrast, exposure, color balance, and multi-channel curves. Many adjustments can be applied automatically using machine learning algorithms trained on millions of photos[1][2].
- AI-Powered Tools: Offers machine learning features such as background removal, ML Super Resolution (enhancing image resolution), noise reduction, and automatic photo enhancements[1][5].
- Repair Tool: Magically removes unwanted objects from images with simple brushstrokes[1][4].
- RAW Support: Supports RAW photo editing from over 750 camera models, including advanced formats like Apple ProRAW[2][8].
Design and Illustration
- Vector Graphics: Provides a full set of vector tools for creating logos, icons, and illustrations. Users can import/export vector files in formats like SVG and PDF[1][3].
- Smart Shapes and Templates: Includes customizable Smart Shapes and pre-designed templates for creating stunning designs quickly[2][10].
- Layer-Based Editing: Supports both raster (bitmap) and vector layers with blending modes and layer masks for non-destructive editing[4][5].
Painting and Drawing
- Handcrafted Brushes: Features dual-texture brushes for digital painting with support for pressure and tilt sensitivity on graphics tablets[1][3].
- Dynamic Paint Blending: Allows seamless blending of painted elements for artistic effects[10].
Ease of Use
- Intuitive Interface: Designed with a clean, macOS-native aesthetic that prioritizes ease of navigation. It integrates smoothly with Apple Photos, Final Cut Pro, and Motion[1][4].
- Customizable Workspaces: Users can personalize their workspace to suit specific workflows or tasks[10].
Video Editing
- Includes tools for video layer management and supports exporting in various formats like MP4. This makes it suitable for basic video editing tasks alongside image editing[5].
Performance
- Apple Silicon Optimization: Runs natively on Macs powered by Apple Silicon, leveraging Metal graphics technology for fast performance.
- Core ML Integration: Machine learning features are optimized using Core ML for efficient processing on macOS devices[2][5].
Advantages
- Affordable Pricing Model: Pixelmator Pro is available as a one-time purchase without requiring a subscription, making it an attractive alternative to Adobe Photoshop[4][7].
- Constant Updates: The app is frequently updated with new features, enhanced performance, and extended compatibility (e.g., new RAW formats)[8].
- Comprehensive Documentation: Supported by extensive tutorials and guides to help users master its tools quickly[1][7].
Limitations
- Some users have noted that the lack of floating adjustment layers can hinder non-destructive workflows compared to Photoshop. However, Pixelmator has indicated plans to address this in future updates[9].
- The interface may require some adjustment for users transitioning from other software like Photoshop due to differences in shortcuts and workflows[4].
Reception
Pixelmator Pro has received widespread acclaim for its innovative use of AI-powered tools, macOS-native design, and affordability. It was awarded Apple's Mac App of the Year in 2018. While it may not replicate every feature of Photoshop, it offers an efficient and streamlined alternative suitable for most professional and creative needs[5][6].
Sources [1] Pixelmator Pro on the Mac App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905?mt=12 [2] Pixelmator Pro https://www.pixelmator.com/pro/ [3] Welcome - Pixelmator Support https://support.pixelmator.com/pixelmator-pro-user-guide [4] Pixelmator Pro review: An affordable alternative for pro Photoshop ... https://www.macworld.com/article/230919/pixelmator-pro-review.html [5] Pixelmator Pro - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelmator_Pro [6] Pixelmator Team introduces Pixelmator Pro - Pixelmator Blog https://www.pixelmator.com/blog/2017/09/05/pixelmator-team-introduces-pixelmator-pro [7] Pixelmator Pro Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing - 2024 https://www.softwareadvice.com/graphic-design/pixelmator-pro-profile/ [8] What's New - Pixelmator Pro https://www.pixelmator.com/pro/updates/ [9] Fstoppers Reviews Pixelmator Pro: Not the Photoshop Alternative ... https://fstoppers.com/originals/fstoppers-reviews-pixelmator-pro-not-photoshop-alternative-youre-looking-210644 [10] Beginners Guide to Using Pixelmator Pro for Editing - Shotkit https://shotkit.com/pixelmator-pro/
Pixelmator Team
Description
Pixelmator Pro is an incredibly powerful, beautiful, and easy-to-use image editor designed exclusively for Mac.
With over 50 image editing tools, Pixelmator Pro has everything you need to create designs, edit photos, draw illustrations, paint digital paintings, and be creative in just about any way you can imagine. Designed to be the ultimate Mac app, Pixelmator Pro has won multiple awards, including the Mac App of the Year awarded by Apple, and is one of the best-rated apps on the Mac App Store.
Edit and enhance
- Adjust the colors in your photos and even videos in any way you want using a powerful collection of pro-grade color adjustments
- Use machine learning-powered tools to automatically remove image background, enhance photos and videos, increase resolution, remove compression artifacts and noise, correct white balance, and more
- Magically remove unwanted objects from images using the incredible Repair tool
- Quickly make good-looking shots spectacular with over 40 presets that create cinematic, vintage, photographic film, and many other looks
- Enjoy full support for RAW photos from over 750 most popular digital cameras, including compressed Fujifilm RAWs
- Make precise selective edits using color adjustments layers
Create stunning designs
- Create beautiful designs in moments with over 200 templates
- Find templates for a range of different formats including posters, social media posts, resumes, and more
- Effortlessly replace placeholder content in templates and mockups using Smart Replace
- Harness the full power of layer-based editing to design posters, webpages, or apps from scratch
- Easily transform the look of templates using built-in alternative elements — lighting, shapes, effects, and illustrations
- Add text and customize all its typography features, including font, size, emphasis, alignment, ligatures, spacing, indents, and much more
- Quickly and effortlessly align objects using the intelligent Arrange tool
- Combine any of over 70 versatile, nondestructive effects to develop any artistic or special effects you can imagine
- Customize the look of layers using layer styles, such as Fill, Stroke, Drop Shadow, and Inner Shadow
- Showcase your designs in stunning, fully-customizable mockups
Draw and illustrate
- Create vector designs using a full set of vector tools, including Pen and Freeform Pen tools
- Speed up creating illustrations with over 200 stylish shapes designed by the Pixelmator Team
- Add customizable Smart Shapes to quickly create your custom shapes
- Import and export vector files in SVG and PDF formats
Sketch and paint
- Paint digital or traditional paintings with a collection of beautiful, handcrafted dual-texture brushes
- Take advantage of full support for graphics tablets to paint with pressure and tilt sensitivity
- Enjoy incredibly fast and responsive painting thanks to a cutting-edge painting engine powered by Metal graphics technology
Machine learning-powered editing
- Automatically enhance images with machine learning-powered features including ML Enhance, Match Colors, Super Resolution, Denoise, Deband, and Crop
- Quickly and easily make accurate selections using the Quick Selection tool
Compatibility
- Open files in popular image and video formats, including JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PSD, HEIF, SVG, AI, Illustrator EPS, PDF, GIF, BMP, TGA, WebP, JPEG-2000, AVIF, MP4, MOV, and more
- Open and export HDR images and videos
- Open and export Adobe Photoshop images with layers
- Share your images or videos to Photos, Mail, AirDrop, and other locations
Built exclusively for Mac
- Pixelmator Pro is a Universal app that is fully optimized for Mac devices with Apple silicon
- Designed exclusively for macOS, Pixelmator Pro supports almost every major macOS feature and integrates seamlessly with macOS Sonoma
- Enjoy support for iCloud Drive, Versions, a full-featured Photos extension, Shortcuts, Light and Dark Modes, Split View, AppleScript, Apple Pencil, and more