Pixelmator Pro arrives on iPad with desktop-class image editing

iPad users will soon have access to a version of the Pixelmator Pro image editing application that previously was a Mac exclusive.

Apple promised that the upcoming tablet version of the application will be a significant step up from the features available in the current basic Pixelmator app for iPad. Plus, it will improve on the Mac version thanks to support for Apple Pencil.

iPad gets a creative boost with the launch of Pixelmator Pro

Apple shared the good news on Tuesday at the same time it announced a new Creator Studio bundle of six powerful applications.

“For the first time, Pixelmator Pro is coming to iPad with a uniquely crafted experience that is optimized for touch and Apple Pencil,” said the Mac maker.

Pixelmator Pro offers a far more advanced, professional-grade image editing experience compared to the more basic, iPad-optimized version of Pixelmator that’s been available for Apple tablets until now. While the existing Pixelmator app provides powerful layer-based editing, painting and graphic design tools, Pixelmator Pro brings the full suite of high-end desktop-class functionality: deeper layering and compositing, advanced machine-learning and automation features, broader RAW format support and a more robust professional workflow.

Apple emphasizes the ability to work between iPad and Mac so creators can use whichever tool is best suited at the time.

New tools for creators using iPad

Pixelmator Pro for iPad includes a new Layers sidebar for combining images, shapes, text and even video.

Smart selection tools allow users to quickly isolate and edit specific elements within an image, while advanced bitmap and vector masking tools make it easy to hide or reveal precise portions of a design.

Super Resolution allows photos to be intelligently upscaled, plus there’s Deband for reducing compression artifacts. Auto Crop offers automatic composition suggestions. A new Warp tool can twist layers.

Full Apple Pencil support further enhances the experience, giving digital artists a natural painting workflow with a range of pressure-sensitive brushes.

Note that Pixelmator Pro for iPad is more than a port of the Mac app. Apple says the application was built from scratch for the latest iPadOS. The image editing tool is compatible with iPad models with the A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later running iPadOS 26 or later.

Coming in late January

Pixelmator Pro for iPad is scheduled to launch Wednesday, January 28.

It will cost $49.99. Or it’s available as part of the new Creator Studio bundle for $12.99 per month.

Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.