Shape layers are essentially just like other layers (images and text), so to move or resize them, you can simply use the Arrange tool.
Whenever you draw a shape in your image, Pixelmator Pro, by default, adds each shape on its own separate layer. However, there are several options for combining shapes, so instead of being on its own layer, one shape can be united, subtracted, intersected with, or excluded from another. When shapes are combined, multiple shape layers become a single shape with multiple components.
Note: By default, shape layers have blue thumbnails, while thumbnails of the shape components are gray.
It’s important to note that, when combining shapes, the selected option applies to the combination of all the shapes below. For example, if you add two shapes, the upper shape can be subtracted from the one below, but not vice versa. Then, if you add another shape and, say, exclude it from the two lower shapes in the group, the two lower shapes are combined first, then, the upper shape is excluded from the result of the two shapes below.
When you unite several shapes, multiple shape layers are united into a single shape with multiple components. A united shape looks the same, but can be easily moved as one and each individual component can be adjusted to unite, subtract, intersect, or exclude from the overall shape.
Do one of the following:
When you subtract one shape from another, any areas the selected shape overlaps are removed from the shape or shapes below (the subtracted shape is also not visible at all). For example, if you add a rectangle shape and an ellipse above it, an elliptical area will be removed from the rectangle shape.
Note: When subtracting a shape, all the shape components below it are combined first, then the selected shape is subtracted from the result.
When you intersect one shape with another, only overlapping areas are left and any others are removed. For example, if you have two overlapping ellipse shapes next to each other, only the overlapping areas in the middle will remain after intersecting the shapes.
Note: When intersecting shapes, all the shape components below the selected (or uppermost) shape are combined first, then the selected shape is subtracted from the result.
When you exclude one shape from another, any overlapping areas are removed and all others remain. For example, if you have two overlapping ellipse shapes next to each other, the overlapping areas in the middle will be removed after excluding the shapes.
Note: When excluding shapes, all the shape components below the selected (or uppermost) shape are combined first, then overlapping areas are excluded from the result.
Click the disclosure triangle next to the shape in the Layers sidebar. You can then click to select each component, move it, or adjust how it is combined with the components below.
To distinguish the different shape components easier you can also choose to display their outlines.
Merging the components of a shape can be useful when you want to make advanced edits to a shape as one path instead of adjusting its component paths individually.
To merge the components of a shape, do one of the following: