Pixelmator Pro: Affordable Mac Image Editing

Pixelmator Pro is a Mac-native image editor built specifically for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It offers professional-grade photo editing and graphic design tools without the subscription cost of Adobe products. The app feels at home on macOS, using the same design language and technologies you’d expect from Apple’s own apps.

Key Specs

How Designers Use Pixelmator Pro

For Photo Editing and Retouching

ML Enhance uses machine learning to automatically adjust exposure, color balance, and white balance with one click. You can tweak the individual adjustments afterward if the AI gets it wrong. The repair tool removes objects and blemishes cleanly, and the Super Resolution feature upscales images without the usual blur or pixelation you’d get from basic resizing.

For UI and Icon Design

The vector tools let you create buttons, icons, and interface elements that stay sharp at any size. Auto-layout features snap elements to pixel boundaries, preventing the fuzzy edges you get when shapes land between pixels. Designers export assets at multiple resolutions (1x, 2x, 3x) for iOS and Android apps directly from Pixelmator Pro.

For Quick Mockups and Social Graphics

Start with a template or create custom canvases for Instagram posts, YouTube thumbnails, or web banners. Layer styles add shadows, strokes, and gradients non-destructively. The text engine supports advanced typography with OpenType features and variable fonts. Everything renders fast because the app is optimized for Apple’s Metal API.

Pixelmator Pro vs. Alternatives

Choose Pixelmator Pro if: You’re a Mac user who needs fast photo editing and design work for digital projects (web, apps, social media) and want to avoid subscription fees.

Choose Photoshop if: You work with print projects requiring CMYK color, need 3D tools, or collaborate with teams using Creative Cloud libraries.

Choose Affinity Photo if: You need professional print capabilities and cross-platform compatibility (Mac and Windows) at a one-time price similar to Pixelmator.

Getting Started with Pixelmator Pro

A quick 15-minute tutorial to get comfortable:

Step 1: Import and enhance a photo

Drag a photo into Pixelmator Pro or press Cmd + N to create a blank canvas. With the photo selected, go to Tools > ML Enhance (or press Cmd + L). The AI adjusts color, exposure, and white balance instantly. Open the Adjust Colors panel to fine-tune individual settings.

Step 2: Use non-destructive layer styles

Select any layer and click the FX button in the toolbar. Add a shadow, stroke, or gradient overlay. These effects are non-destructive, meaning you can edit or remove them later without affecting the original image. Save your favorite combinations as presets for future projects.

Step 3: Export for web and apps

Press Shift + Cmd + E to open the Export dialog. Choose your format (PNG for transparency, JPEG for photos, WebP for web). Enable “Export for Web” to optimize file size without visible quality loss. For app design, use the “Export Slices” feature to export multiple assets at 1x, 2x, and 3x sizes simultaneously.

Pixelmator Pro in Your Design Workflow

Pixelmator Pro works best as your primary tool for bitmap editing on Mac, connecting to other design and prototyping tools.

• Before Pixelmator: Capture photos with iPhone or download stock images from Unsplash, sketch concepts on paper or in Procreate on iPad
• During design: Edit in Pixelmator Pro, reference color palettes from Coolors or Adobe Color, pull textures and patterns from community resources
• After Pixelmator: Export assets to Figma or Sketch for UI design, share images directly via iCloud or Dropbox, optimize further with ImageOptim

Common tool pairings:

• Pixelmator Pro + Figma for creating custom illustrations and photos that you import into UI designs
• Pixelmator Pro + Procreate for starting with iPad sketches and finishing with desktop precision
• Pixelmator Pro + ImageOptim for final web optimization after exporting from Pixelmator
• Pixelmator Pro + Webflow for creating hero images and graphics that you use in website designs

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“My PSD files don’t look the same when I open them in Pixelmator Pro”

Photoshop has proprietary features like Smart Objects and certain adjustment layers that Pixelmator Pro can’t interpret. For best results, flatten complex layer effects before saving in Photoshop, or save a simplified version specifically for Pixelmator. Text layers, basic adjustments, and layer styles usually transfer cleanly.

“I need CMYK color for print but Pixelmator Pro only supports RGB”

Pixelmator Pro is designed for digital work (screens use RGB) and doesn’t support CMYK color mode. If you’re designing for professional print, use Affinity Photo or Photoshop instead. For basic printing (home printer, office documents), RGB works fine since most modern printers convert automatically.

“Pixelmator Pro is slow with large files”

Even on fast Macs, working with hundreds of layers or very large images (10,000+ pixels) can slow down. Merge layers you’re done editing, reduce canvas size if it’s larger than needed, and close other apps to free up RAM. Pixelmator Pro uses GPU acceleration, so an external GPU can help on older Macs.

“I can’t figure out how to do [specific Photoshop technique]”

Pixelmator Pro uses different terminology and workflows than Photoshop. Check the official Pixelmator Pro tutorials rather than Photoshop tutorials. The Pixelmator Community forum is active and helpful. Many tasks are simpler in Pixelmator but require learning a different approach.

“Will Apple kill Pixelmator Pro after acquiring it?”

Apple announced acquisition plans in November 2024. The Pixelmator team stated they’ll continue developing with Apple’s support. Your one-time purchase remains valid regardless of what happens. Apple has a history of continuing acquired pro apps (Logic, Final Cut) rather than killing them, so Pixelmator Pro will likely stick around.