pixelmator.jpgImage editing software Pixelmator was today updated to version 3.0, adding several new enhancements including OS X Mavericks support, new liquify tools, non-destructive Layer Styles, and a new image editing engine.

Pixelmator has been designed to take advantage of OS X Mavericks features like App Nap and Compressed Memory, making it more responsive and power efficient. The app’s new image editing engine is also designed to take advantage of multiple OS X technologies to make file manipulation faster than before.

Pixelmator 3.0 FX became dramatically faster and more powerful. Pixelmator’s development team took an extra step to build a truly modern and innovative image editing engine that takes advantage of the full power of OS X, by combining technologies like Core Image, OpenCL, OpenGL, 64-bit architecture, and Grand Central Dispatch, giving you the speed you need to keep pace with your creativity.

Layer Styles allow users to quickly apply shadows, gradients, outlines, and reflections to their images, while Liquify provides a new way to manipulate images. Layer Styles are non destructive, and the Liquify tools include Warp, Bump, Pinch, and Twirl.

pixelmator

Pixelmator 3.0 FX is the most advanced version of Pixelmator to date, introducing lots of new features and improvements, including the following:

- Layer Styles: Thanks to non-destructive Layer Styles, creating polished and advanced compositions is now so much simpler, faster, and more enjoyable
- Liquify Tools: Shape images in multiple ways—slightly twist an element, add an artistic detail, or completely distort an entire image
- New Image Editing Engine: The new state-of-the-art image editing engine harnesses the full power of the latest OS X technologies making Pixelmator feature rich, yet blistering fast
- OS X Mavericks support: Tags, Multiple-Displays, App Nap support and more

Pixelmator is only third-party app mentioned on Apple’s Mac Pro performance page, where it is used to demonstrate the new tower's blazingly fast performance.

Pixelmator 3.0 is a free upgrade for existing users, while new users can download the app from the Mac App Store for $29.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

macduke Avatar
160 months ago
I love getting these immediate MacRumors alerts in Mavericks!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CaptainPrice01 Avatar
160 months ago
For the price, Pixelmator is certainly one of the best image editing apps on the market. Also the new MacRumors notifications are awesome.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Old Muley Avatar
160 months ago
I've got both Pixelmator and Photoshop CS5. While PS is my go-to editing software, Pixelmator just keeps getting better and better. I foresee a day when I may even discontinue my use of Photoshop since I'm not going to pony up for the subscription.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anonymouse106 Avatar
160 months ago
Layer styles at last! Not really missing Photoshop at all.

P.S. I haven't had any problems mentioned above, except the awkward lack of a "crop to selection" feature. I use "crop off transparent pixels" to do the same thing but that does take more steps.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thejadedmonkey Avatar
160 months ago
I'm absolutely stunned at how fast the Pixelmator team is able to crank out these updates, it's really fantastic.

Now give me some useful resizing on export features so i can use it to easily create assets, and I'll switch over to it full time.

I keep getting errors trying to download the update. Apparently I'm not the only one, happening with a majority of the updates I have access to. Sucks...

For what it's worth, I updated iMovie 3 times on my computer this morning :p
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ValSalva Avatar
160 months ago
Great app. Every little improvement makes it a Photoshop replacement for more and more people.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday January 18, 2026 3:51 pm PST by
iOS 27 is still many months away, but there are already plenty of rumors about new features that will be included in the software update. The first beta of iOS 27 will be released during WWDC 2026 in June, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

MacBook Pro Buyers Now Facing Up to a Two-Month Wait Ahead of New Models

Sunday January 18, 2026 6:50 pm PST by
MacBook Pro availability is tightening on Apple's online store, with select configurations facing up to a two-month delivery timeframe in the United States. A few 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations with an M4 Pro chip are not facing any shipping delay, but estimated delivery dates for many configurations with an M4 Max chip range from February 6 to February 24 or even later. At...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...