Pixelmator Support

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Pixelmator Frequently Asked Questions

Basic

Pixelmator Tools

Pixelmator File Formats

Pixelmator Updates

Getting help using Pixelmator

Getting Pixelmator

Basic

What is Pixelmator?

Pixelmator is a fun, easy-to-use, fast and powerful image editor for Mac OS X. The application has everything you need to create, edit, and enhance images.

How is Pixelmator different from other image editing applications?

It’s very different from other image editing applications because it’s the first application of its kind to take full advantage of your graphics card (GPU), it supports the latest and greatest Mac OS X technologies, and it features a transparent user interface designed for work with images.

In other words, Pixelmator is an innovative, very easy-to-use, next-generation, real-Mac OS X image editing application.

GPU? Is that good?

Oh, yes. Pixelmator uses your Mac’s video card for image processing, freeing the CPU for other tasks. So if you have a high-performance card with a bunch of VRAM, you’ll find real-time responsiveness across a wide variety of Pixelmator operations. The technology that helps Pixelmator do that is called Core Image.

Pixelmator is blistering fast on the latest PowerPC and all Intel-based Macs. What’s more, Pixelmator’s future looks very bright because of the impressive rise in GPU performance.

What Mac OS X technologies does it support or use?

Pixelmator supports and uses many Mac OS X technologies, such as Core Image, Open GL, Automator, ColorSync, Dashboard, Spotlight, QuickTime, and many others. Pixelmator is built with a modern Mac OS X-only programming language called Cocoa.

Pixelmator uses open source, how is that? Why?

Pixelmator uses a very sophisticated foundation called ImageMagick to provide the most powerful image editing tools available. You can check the ImageMagick.org website for more information about what goes into Pixelmator.

What are the system requirements for Pixelmator?

Pixelmator requires any Mac with Mac OS X 10.4.9 Tiger or later. A graphics card supported by Core Image is highly recommended.

Will there be a Windows version soon?

We don’t have any plans to offer a Windows version. Pixelmator is very dependent on Mac OS X technlogies. Also, some modern technologies and features are missing in Windows. So it would be near-impossible to create something like Pixelmator for Windows. Switch to Mac?

Does Pixelmator support Automator?

Yes. By using Pixelmator actions in Automator, you can quickly enhance, resize, transform, add special effects, and even convert your images to more than 100 different file formats.

Is there any Dashboard widget available?

Yes. Pixelmator’s Dashboard widget allows you to convert images to more than 100 different file formats by simply dragging and dropping your images onto Pixelmator’s widget.

Will there be a .Mac support?

Yes. You will be able to sync your brushes, swatches, and gradients collections and your Pixelmator preferences with other Macs you have. However, .Mac support is not available in Pixelmator v1.0.

Is there any iPhoto support in Pixelmator?

Yes. You can use the Photo Browser palette in Pixelmator to quickly access your iPhoto Library, events, albums, Smart Albums, and even pictures in your Pictures folder. Just locate your picture in Photo Browser and drag-and-drop it to your Pixelmator composition. It’s that easy.

What about Aperture support?

Aperture support is in the works.

Pixelmator Tools

So what tools do I have in Pixelmator for editing my pictures?

Pixelmator has many powerful tools for creating, editing, and enhancing images, including selection, painting, retouching, navigation, transform, and color correction tools. What’s  more, Pixelmator has more than 50 filters and special effects based on Core Image.

What selection tools does Pixelmator have?

Pixelmator has Rectangular Marquee, Elliptical Marquee, Lasso, and Magic Wand. You can also use Refine Selection and Masks to edit your selections.

What painting and retouching tools does Pixelmator have?

It has Brush, Pencil, Gradient, Paint Bucket, Clone Stamp, Eraser, Blur, and Sharpen tools.

What tools could I use for measuring and navigation of Pixelmator images?

You can use Eyedropper, Hand, and Zoom for that.

Are there vector tools in Pixelmator?

No, not yet.

What color correction tools does Pixelmator have?

Pixelmator has more than 15 Core Image-based color correction tools such as Levels, Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, Auto Color, Brightness and Contrast, Hue/Saturation, Desaturate, Colorize, Replace Color, RGB Channel Mixer, Exposure, Invert, Equalize, Threshold, and Posterize.

What palettes are available in Pixelmator?

There are Tools, Tool Options, Layers, Brushes, Gradients, Swatches, Scratch, Masks, Photo Browser, Apple Color Picker, and Apple Fonts palettes available.

Layers palette? What do I do with that palette?

Pixelmator is a Layers-based image editor. You do not need to work with layers if you are doing simple adjustments or adding filters to your photo, but layers can help you create much more advanced compositions.

What blending modes are available in Pixelmator?

You can use blending modes to blend layers and paintings. Many blending modes are available in Pixelmator, including Normal, Dissolve, Multiply, Darken, Color Burn, Linear Burn, Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge, Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, Hard Mix, Difference, Exclusion, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity, Lighter Color, and Darker Color.

You can even use Behind blending mode when working with your painting tools to paint behind the layer.

Pixelmator File Formats

Does Pixelmator support Photoshop files with layers?

Yes. Pixelmator can open Photoshop images with layers. However, Photoshop layer styles, shapes, adjustment layers, and masks are not supported at this time.

Does Pixelmator handle RAW files?

No, not yet. We do have plans to support RAW, but don’t expect to see it before November.

What other file formats does Pixelmator support?

Pixelmator supports PSD, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, PICT, ART, AVI, AVS, BMP, CGM, CIN, CUR, CUT, DCM, DCX, DIB, DJVU, DNG, DOT, DPX, EMF, EPDF, EPI, EPS, EPS2, EPSF, EPSI, EPT, EXR, FAX, FIG, FITS, FPX, GPLT, GRAY, HPLG, HTML, ICO, JBIG, JNG, JP2, JPC, MAN, MAT, MIFF, MONO, MNG, MPEG, M2V, MPC, MSL, MTV, MVG, OTB, P7, PALM, PAM, PBM, PCD, PCDS, PCL, PCX, PDB, PDF, PFA, PFB, PGM, PICON, PIX, PNM, PPM, PS, PS2, PS3, PTIF, PWP, RAD, RLA, RLE, SCT, SFW, SGI, SUN, SVG, TGA, TIM, TTF, UIL, UYVY, VICAR, VIFF, WBMP, WMF, WPG, X, XBM, XCF, XPM, XWD, YUV.

What is Pixelmator’s native file format?

Pixelmator’s native file format is PXM. It is the best way to save and store Pixelmator compositions.

Pixelmator Updates

Will there be any updates to Pixelmator?

Yes, we will be constantly updating Pixelmator.

What updates can I expect to see?

You can expect Pixelmator bugs to be fixed (if any), perfomance issues addressed, and new features added. We aren’t talking much about new features that will be available in Pixelmator, because of competition and because we want to surprise you.

Will I have to pay for Pixelmator updates?

No. Pixelmator updates marked as version 1.X are free.

What about upgrades?

It’s a bit too early to talk about upgrades.

The first version of Pixelmator is called Pixelmator 1.0 Firestarter. What is Firestarter?

It’s a code name for the current version of Pixelmator. Every 1.X update will be given a name. For example, the first version of Pixelmator, codenamed Firestarter, is called Pixelmator 1.0 Firestarter. Pixelmator’s next version will be named Pixelmator 1.1 Code_name, and so on. The Code_name will give a hint about features built into Pixelmator and will be fun. Major Pixelmator 1.X updates are free for registered Pixelmator users.

What are your priorities when developing Pixelmator?

The number one priority is fixing any issues (bugs, glitches, etc); number two: improving performance, and number three: new features.

Leopard is coming. Are you ready?

Yes—in fact, Pixelmator was first developed for Leopard. So we already have some useful and fun stuff for Leopard.

Will I have to pay for the Leopard version of Pixelmator?

No. If you purchase Pixelmator for Tiger you won’t have to pay for the Leopard version of Pixelmator. The same version of the application will run on both operating systems. However, some features available in Leopard will not be available in Tiger.

Getting help using Pixelmator

OK, I’ve used Pixelmator for a while and have some feedback for you, what should I do?

Go to the Feedback page and let us know about any bugs you find, improvements we could make, or features you would like to see in future versions of Pixelmator.

Where can I learn more about using Pixelmator?

1. Use Pixelmator Help by choosing Help > Pixelmator Help when in Pixelmator application. 2. Join Pixelmator Forums to discuss any tips and tricks with other Pixelmator users. 3. Download Pixelmator manuals. 4. Visit the Pixelmator Team weblog; from time to time we will post articles about getting the most out of the app.

Where can I get support for Pixelmator?

The Pixelmator Team offers a wide range of support options for new and registered users. Please visit our Support page to find manuals, participate in Pixelmator forums, report bugs, or even contact the Pixelmator Team.

I’ve created the coolest picture in my life with Pixelmator, can I show it to you guys?

Of course! We would love to see it. Just send us it to info at pixelmator.com.

Getting Pixelmator

How much does Pixelmator cost?

Pixelmator costs $59

Are there any educational discounts available?

No, unless you need more than 200 copies of Pixelmator. We think Pixelmator is already priced fairly for everyone.