Pixelmator Updated with Speed Improvements, Background Saves - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Pixelmator Updated with Speed Improvements, Background Saves

by

pixelmator.jpgImage editing software Pixelmator was updated to version 2.21 today, adding a multitude of new enhancements that increase the overall speed of the app.

Today we are happy to release the first Pixelmator 2.2.1 update. That may sound minor in numbers, but in our little Pixelmator world, it's a major one. We've done some radical improvements behind the scenes. One of them is a new Pixelmator file format. It's still the same file format you are used to, yet it now has a completely new architecture that takes advantage of the modern OS X technologies making your image editing even faster and more enjoyable.

Pixelmator documents now open twice as fast, iCloud saves are faster, and better Quick Look support allows users to preview documents without opening them. Background saves have been added, and a progress bar shows file status when opening and saving documents.

Quite a few improvements to effects have been added as well, designed to allow users to search, preview, and apply effects faster. Multiple effects have seen speed enhancements, and bug fixes that cause crashes have been applied. The full log of changes to Pixelmator 2.21 can be found on the company's support site.

Pixelmator can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $14.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

ValSalva Avatar
163 months ago
Keep fighting the good fight against Photoshop. For most of us Pixelmator is all we'll need. Let the pros with the big budgets pay for the perpetual Adobe CC licenses.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
One of the best, most user-friendly programs for OS X with an excellent price-value ratio. I'm really just an amateur and I can't even take full advantage of what this application is capable of, but it's my favourite piece of (third-party) software.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dweezle3 Avatar
163 months ago
Background saves? Finally! I love how even little "minor" x.1 updates with Pixelmator produce such big results! Really a great product, especially for it's price.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
the8thark Avatar
163 months ago
A very nice piece of software this is. I use it as an alternative to photoshop for the little photo edits I have. I really hope this enters the big game one day then I'll be able to ditch photoshop for good.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
morespce54 Avatar
163 months ago
Can we stop fighting over this already? ;)

I think everybody who tried Pixelmator just loves it!








(NO it's not a full PS replacement....yet. But beware... it might just be what you're looking for! And it's pretty good (and pretty too) at what it does)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
Still no 16-bit TIFFs?

Now is the time to add features for those leaving Photoshop's subscription world Pixelmator! NOW IS THE TIME!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Remain 'Ready' to Launch

Sunday March 22, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Apple has unveiled nine new products this month, but the wait continues for the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been "ready" since last year, but he reiterated that Apple has held off on releasing them until the more personalized version of Siri and other...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....