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Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad With Apple Pencil Support and More

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Apple today released Pixelmator Pro for the iPad, complete with a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version.

Pixelmator-Pro-iPad-App.jpg

Pixelmator Pro is a popular image editing app that was acquired by Apple last year. There is already a more basic Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone, but Apple says that app is "no longer being updated." To receive new features going forward, iPad users will need to move to the full-fledged Pixelmator Pro app.

Apple says Pixelmator Pro for iPad is compatible with iPad models equipped with the A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later on iPadOS 26 or later.

Here are some of the Pixelmator Pro for iPad features highlighted by Apple:
  • A full-featured Layers sidebar allows creators to use images, shapes, text, and video
  • Smart selection tools for isolating and editing specific parts of images
  • Advanced bitmap and vector masks
  • Super Resolution for intelligently upscaling photos
  • Deband for removing compression artifacts
  • Auto Crop with automatic composition suggestions
  • Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive brushing, plus hover, squeeze, and double tap
Pixelmator Pro for both iPad and Mac is available through the new Apple Creator Studio subscription bundle, which in the U.S. costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A one-time $49.99 purchase option remains available for the Mac app.

Some new "intelligent features" and "premium content" in Pixelmator Pro will only be available with an Apple Creator Studio subscription. For example, in both the iPad and Mac apps, Apple Creator Studio subscribers have access to a new Warp tool for twisting and shaping image layers. The one-time-purchase Mac app did not receive this feature.

Article Link: Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad With Apple Pencil Support and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/28/pixelmator-pro-launches-on-ipad/
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y8s said:
This is Pixelmator Pro, which was never available on iPad. Pixelmator is still available for one time purchase.
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Pixelmator pro on macOS is still available for one time purchase but they killed the app since they are not updating it... Forcing you to get creator studio if you want updates...
 
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Illustrators be aware:

The app has an issue with brush tapering on both the Mac and iPad versions.

No matter how much pressure you apply at the start of your brush stroke, it always starts out tapered like this (the thin end is where I started the stroke with full pressure applied):

IMG_0352.PNG


This has been an issue in Pixelmator Pro for years and I thought Apple might fix it, especially since they're relaunching it for iPad which is popular for illustrators.

This is the only app for the creator studio I'm interested in, so as it stands I'm probably cancelling before the free trial period runs out - unless it's fixed.
 
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Captain_Mac said:
On the Mac, I have the one time purchase version and it is stuck on version 3.7.1 from 2 months ago, it wasn't updated. The new one, version 4.0, is subscription only 😡
Click to expand...
I just checked, and same here. Version 3.7.1. I've been using PixelMator Pro for years because it's an awesome program that I gladly paid for.

Astuces iOS said:
Pixelmator pro on macOS is still available for one time purchase but they killed the app since they are not updating it... Forcing you to get creator studio if you want updates...
Click to expand...
So we're forever stuck on 3.7.1 unless we subscribe? WTF 😡😡
 
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averagenerd81 said:
I bought it last week and dropped Lightroom, this will be nice to have on travels.
Click to expand...

Pixelmator is not a Lightroom replacement. It's a Photoshop + Illustrator design compositor application.

Photomator which Apple left out of the Creator Studio suite is the Lightroom equivalent. I'm hoping Apple updates it and brings it into Creator Studio at some point.
 
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TMRJIJ said:
Was kinda hoping that they would have a one-time purchase option on iPad. I already bought it for Mac.
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UltimateSyn said:
No one-time purchase for the iPad version? Gross
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Making me less and less inclined to use an iPad (let alone purchase a “Pro-level” model) for anything related to image editing (beyond the limited capabilities that the stock photos app provides).

And embrace my MacBook even more as my go-to mobile device. (Or my Mac mini, maybe with a graphics tablet).

iPads are getting less and less interesting for serious “work”if you reject subscription hell.
 
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Doesn't look to have any new intelligence features, a shame it is not compatible with my iPad Air 4 while Affinity Suite (pre Canva) works just fine.

The bundle would've been more interesting if they included Photomator, I hope they don't just add some of its features to Photos and kill it.
 
It sucks that you can’t do à la carte app subscriptions. Or maybe an iWork Pro subscription for the AI features.

FYI Pixelmator Pro is non-functional if you don’t accept a subscription. Not cool Apple
 
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I’m in agreement that the single subscription model for this suite of apps does not make a lot of sense. I could care less about most of the apps, however there are a couple that I am quite interested in. I have a hard time with paying for a whole suite when most of the suite I could care less about.
 
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Apple Pencil Pro support is laughable.

Brushes don’t show outline on Hover. No options with squeezing other than undo.

Brush pressure sensitivity is poorly scaled. Brush angle is ignored. Brush rotation is not useable.

Pathetic of Apple to release such slop. Where is the innovation?

Procreate has much better Apple Pencil integration and Good Notes has amazing squeeze support.

I expect way better from Apple.
 
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adamlbiscuit said:
Illustrators be aware:

The app has an issue with brush tapering on both the Mac and iPad versions.

No matter how much pressure you apply at the start of your brush stroke, it always starts out tapered like this (the thin end is where I started the stroke with full pressure applied):

View attachment 2599802

This has been an issue in Pixelmator Pro for years and I thought Apple might fix it, especially since they're relaunching it for iPad which is popular for illustrators.

This is the only app for the creator studio I'm interested in, so as it stands I'm probably cancelling before the free trial period runs out - unless it's fixed.
Click to expand...
I was expecting this to be fixed with the iPad release and Apple Pencil Pro support.
 
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Over the years I have bought every Apple App as well as every Photomator and Pixelmator outright.

It was disappointing when Apple made Final Cut and Logic subscription only for iPad, but I was OK sticking with the Mac versions.

I was really quite annoyed when Apple bought the Pixelmator Team because I could see it heading in the same direction.

Luckily Affinity is still usable for now. And Darkroom.

Thanks Apple. Not.
 
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