Apple just announced a big update for creative professionals who use the iPad for work like design and illustration. The well-known image editing program Pixelmator Pro, which was previously only available on macOS, will now formally be available on the iPad, the company confirmed. This represents the initial substantial advancement since Apple acquired the Pixelmator team after 2024 and incorporated it into its broader ecosystem.
Pixelmator Pro for iPad is set to come out on January 28, the same day that Apple Creator Studio, a new suite of apps to help content creators, starts. With these updates, Apple is stepping up its efforts to make the iPad a more complete and professional creative platform.
When Pixelmator Pro is first developed for iPadOS, it will have a touch-only interface. The tech giant says that the app was made from the ground up for iPadOS, using the newest hardware and software features. The goal is to make editing photos quick, accurate, and portable without giving up the advanced tools that Mac users are used to.
The iPad version’s meticulous integration with the Apple Pencil is a critical feature that is touted as a significant advantage for digital artists and designers. Pressure-sensitive brushes, high-precision input, and iPad-specific Pencil features like hover, squeeze, and double-tap are all supported. These features are intended to allow more natural drawing and detailed editing directly on the tablet.
The app also includes a workspace that is designed to work best for creative work on the go; touch-based controls are intended to simplify desktop-level design tasks. Using a full-layer sidebar, creators can construct intricate projects with various elements, including text, shapes, images, and even video. Advanced bitmap and vector masking allow for more precise control over what is hidden or revealed in a design, while smart selection tools help isolate particular areas of an image for editing.
Apple also emphasizes the use of Apple Silicon performance to facilitate AI-supported tools, such as Super Resolution for image upscaling, Deband for compressed artifact reduction, and Auto Crop for automatic composition suggestions. These characteristics point to a heavy emphasis on automation and efficiency in professional editing tasks.
Apple has confirmed that Pixelmator Pro on Mac is available for a one-time purchase at a price of US$49.99. However, the company has not provided any information regarding whether the iPad version will follow the same model or require a subscription through Apple Creator Studio. In addition, Apple has confirmed that the new subscription service will offer exclusive tools, including an advanced Warp feature and product mockups. The same benefits will be extended to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.
For Apple Creator Studio, the subscription will be priced at US$12.99 per month or US$129 per year. For students and educators, Apple is offering a discounted plan at US$2.99 per month or US$29.99 per year, which significantly lowers the entry cost for users in education.
Apple Brings Pixelmator Pro To iPad: Powerful New Tools For Designers And Creators
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