Pixelmator for Mac

Used Pixelmator for Mac?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 27, 2019

Pixelmator provides most of the photo-editing tools you would need for personal use. Unless you require industrial-strength capabilities, Pixelmator should meet your requirements.

Pros

Wide range of effects: Pixelmator offers a broad collection of selection and effects tools, from blur and distortion to sharpening and retouching.

Painting and drawing: You have lots of control over brushes and can set size, opacity, and angle, for example. The tool also supports Adobe Photoshop brushes.

Layers: Pixelmator handles layers and lets you duplicate, delete, rename, and hide layers.

Color correction: You can choose to auto-enhance an image or fine-tune it with a collection of color-correction tools.

Companion iPad and iPhone apps: Pixelmator is available on OS X and also iOS. Through iCloud, you can edit and sync images with the OS X and iOS Pixelmator apps.

Cons

Gloomy interface: The tool's interface is dark, and while some might say it looks striking, with a similar feel to Apple's Photos app for OS X, the look can also start to feel dreary.

Bottom Line

While Pixelmator lacks Adobe Photoshop's breadth of professional-level tools, it is still a solid choice for your day-to-day image-editing tasks on the Mac.

More Resources

What’s new in version 3.8.1

This update brings a number of fixes and improvements to keep Pixelmator running smoothly.

Pixelmator for Mac

Used Pixelmator for Mac?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: February 18, 2019

Latest update: November 27, 2019

Version: 3.8.1

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Mac

Operating System: Mac OS X

Additional Requirements

macOS Mojave
macOS High Sierra
macOS Sierra

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 110,430

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.5/5

26 User Votes

My all time favorite
AJKnows7October 10, 2017
Pros
This crashed the very first time I used it and I really wanted to return it. I'm glad I didn't it. Lots of solid features, it's a really powerful tool. Very stable (has not crashed since, I don't know what happened after install).
Cons
None so far.
Summary
One serious limitation
Michael GraubartMarch 18, 2015
Pros
Simple, straightforward.
Cons
Only works in sRGB colour space, not Adobe RGB or other.
Summary
Very impressive program and getting better.
OJBMay 23, 2014
Pros
Very capable program - does most of what Photoshop can do. Nice user interface - much better than Photoshop Elements. Fast. Very reliable for me. Designed for Mac. Good price.
Cons
A few features missing (compared with Photoshop). JPEGs created for web sometimes much lower quality than Photoshop (for same file size).
Summary
I have Photoshop installed but hardly use it any more. Considering I am a web developer and photography enthusiast and had used Photoshop since version 1 that must show that Pixelmator is good!
It's OK... for a cheap product
BettyBlueEyesSeptember 2, 2012
Pros
Inexpensive, and sort of easy to figure out. It's good for snapshots. Some of the special effects are nice.
Cons
It crashes a lot. I like the apps I used on my PC a lot better, especially ACDSee. Unfortunately, ACDSee doesn't have a good Mac version. So I'm looking for something comparable. The tools are lousy in Pixelmator, especially "heal," "burn," and "dodge," which are essential! The text boxes don't have a professional look.
Summary
I got what I paid for. But I'm still looking. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and go with PhotoShop.
Thought it was fine until...
Mister-JeffJune 18, 2012
Pros
Cheapish, Simplish.
Cons
I was quite enjoying this little app until it simply disappeared a valuable image. No warning, no nothing - there one moment, gone the next. I used Pixelmator for the first time in a couple of months this morning - and the same thing happened, luckily with an easily-replaceable image.
Summary
Random image-loss is unforgivable, particularly with Lion, which purports to autosave as you go along - a trait I loathe btw, along with the incomprehensible decision to ditch 'save as' and pursuit of eye candy in place of functionality. I cannot tell whether this is a bug or not - neither does Pixelmator, apparently. All Pixelmator-users beware - use ONLY with dupe images.
Well, I am impressed
RonRonRichMarch 2, 2012
Pros
Great functionality for a low price
Cons
Nothing to me said
Summary
I don't like Photoshop as it's rather complicated. Pixelmator gives me everything I need for the photo editing without any unnecessary and complicated features
User-frindly photo editor
PopinsMaryMarch 1, 2012
Pros
I'm glad that is the price is cheaper
Cons
nothing negative for me
Summary
I'm not a great proffecional in photo design -that's why i have enough benefits of this tool. It is not a Photoshop, really - but it's a good alternative version!
Good Alternative to Photoshop
straittalker77December 19, 2011
Pros
Much less expensive than photoshop. Sufficient photo-editing software. Has most of the basic features. Fast and clean UI.
Cons
Crashes from time to time. Wish it could do vector art.
Summary
Pixelmator may not have everything that PhotoshopCS5 has, but it's still a great editing application, nonetheless. It has most of the essential features like layers, masks, paths, filter effects, etc. It's fast, simple, and has a clean user interface that is easy to navigate. It works best for small projects, but you may have a tougher time when it comes to large projects. Overall it's a pretty good alternative to Photoshop.
Too much Lion eye candy
beatrixwilliusOctober 29, 2011
Pros
Trial-Version
Cons
Am I the only one who can't read the grey on black text? Tiny, tiny icons. The animations are annoying. At first glance I wasn't able to edit png files with a mask.
Summary
Could be a good app, but there is too much eye candy. But it's good that they kept their trial version. Otherwise I would have asked for a refund.
Rubbish without a bin.
Tbanger9October 22, 2011
Pros
Does photo editing
Cons
Hard to navigate, badly laid out, tricky, have to watch videos and tutorials to figure out how to do basic things.
Summary
I have a Windows product that is 10 times easier to use and has more flexibility like photo stitching which I would consider a basic editing function. I haven't even found it on Pixelmator because I couldn't be bothered trying to find out what they call it or how they achieve it, if in fact it can be done with this software. For a Mac product it is a total let down. Imagine a Windows product out gunning a Mac one?..... If I could get a refund I would, and look for something else. But typically of these software companies making millions, it's just all too hard. I'd say this is total crap but you can do most things on it. It's just hard to use.... I use ArcSoft Photo 2000 which does everything easier. Adding txt, stamps, cropping, stitching.... is all so much easier. Pixelmator is rubbish.

Developer’s Description

By Pixelmator Team

Touch up and enhance images, draw or paint, apply effects, or create advanced compositions with ease.