TL;DR
Apple is bringing Pixelmator Pro to iPad on January 28, tied to the launch of a new Creator Studio offering. The iPad version is built for iPadOS with full Apple Pencil support, Apple silicon optimizations, and most features available to one-time Mac purchasers, while some tools are reserved for Creator Studio subscribers.
What happened
Apple announced that Pixelmator Pro, previously Mac-only, will debut on iPad on January 28 as part of the rollout of Apple Creator Studio. The iPad edition is described as rebuilt for the latest iPadOS and optimized for Apple silicon, with a touch-focused workspace, full Apple Pencil support, and cross‑device workflows between iPad and Mac. Core editing features include a Layers sidebar that can handle images, shapes, text and video; smart selection tools; advanced bitmap and vector masking; and machine-assisted features such as Super Resolution, Deband and Auto Crop. Apple says pressure-sensitive brushes and Pencil gestures like hover, squeeze and double-tap are supported. The company also noted that while the bulk of functionality will be available to users who bought the Mac app, at least one feature set—including a new Warp tool—will be offered to Creator Studio subscribers.
Why it matters
- Expands a pro-grade, Mac-class image editor to iPad hardware, potentially strengthening iPad as a creative platform.
- Tight integration with Apple Pencil and Apple silicon aims to deliver performance and precision on tablet hardware.
- The release shows how Apple is folding an acquired development team into its services and app ecosystem.
- Introduction of Creator Studio introduces a mix of subscription and one-time purchase access that could affect how users buy creative apps.
Key facts
- Pixelmator acquired: Apple bought the app-making team at Pixelmator in late 2024; the acquisition closed nearly a year prior to this announcement.
- Launch date: Pixelmator Pro for iPad becomes available Wednesday, January 28.
- Access options: iPad users can get Pixelmator Pro by subscribing to Apple Creator Studio or by being a one-time-purchase Mac user.
- Mac app price: The Mac version is mentioned at $49.99 for a one-time purchase.
- Built for iPadOS: The iPad app is rebuilt for the latest iPadOS and tuned for Apple silicon performance.
- Editing features: Includes a full Layers sidebar, smart selection, bitmap and vector masks, and support for images, shapes, text and video.
- Machine-assisted tools: Adds Super Resolution (upscaling), Deband (artifact removal) and Auto Crop (composition suggestions).
- Apple Pencil support: Full Apple Pencil features are supported, including pressure-sensitive brushes and gestures like hover, squeeze and double-tap.
- Subscription exclusives: At least some features, such as a new Warp tool and Warp-based mockups, are reserved for Apple Creator Studio subscribers.
What to watch next
- Details about which specific features beyond Warp will remain subscription-only vs. available to one-time purchasers — not confirmed in the source.
- Pricing and tiers for Apple Creator Studio and how that affects long-term access to Pixelmator Pro features — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether purchasing the Mac app definitively unlocks the iPad app for free or requires any additional steps — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Pixelmator Pro: A professional image-editing application originally available for Mac, now being released for iPad with a touch-optimized interface and advanced editing tools.
- Apple Creator Studio: Apple's new subscription and service bundle aimed at creators, which includes access to enhanced features in multiple Apple apps.
- Apple Pencil: Apple's stylus for iPad that supports pressure sensitivity, tilt, and additional gestures on supported iPad models.
- Apple silicon: Apple-designed processors used in recent Macs and iPads, intended to deliver improved performance and efficiency over previous architectures.
- Super Resolution: A computational photography technique that upscales images by predicting and reconstructing higher-resolution detail.
Reader FAQ
When will Pixelmator Pro be available on iPad?
The iPad version launches on January 28.
How can iPad users access Pixelmator Pro?
According to Apple's announcement, iPad users can access it by subscribing to Apple Creator Studio or by being a one-time-purchase Mac user.
Will all features be available to one-time Mac purchasers?
Apple says the majority of functionality will be available to one-time purchasers, but at least one feature set (including a new Warp tool) is reserved for Creator Studio subscribers.
Did Apple acquire Pixelmator?
Apple acquired the app-making team at Pixelmator in late 2024; the acquisition closed nearly a year prior to this announcement.
How much does the Mac app cost?
The Mac app is listed at $49.99 for a one-time purchase.
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Sources
- Apple announces Pixelmator Pro is coming to iPad
- Introducing Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of …
- Apple introduces Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring …
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