pixelmatorPixelmator for the iPhone and iPad was today updated to version 2.0.2, adding the first major new features since the app expanded to the iPhone in May. The 2.0.2 update brings Dynamic Touch, a new feature for all of the app's Retouch tools.

With Dynamic Touch, users can adjust the stroke size of Retouch tools without needing to open up the brush settings menu for faster image corrections. Dynamic Touch detects the surface area of the finger that's in contact with the screen and changes the brush size accordingly. If you paint with just the tip of your finger, the brush will be thinner, while painting with a full finger on the screen will make the brush thicker.

Today's update brings the Pixelmator for Mac repair tool algorithm to iOS, which makes removing unwanted images from a photograph or image quicker and more precise. According to the app's release notes, the repair tool is up to five times faster.

"There are numerous ways to repair any area of an image, so we did a lot of testing on a Mac Pro to optimize the algorithm of our Repair tool," said Simonas Bastys, the lead developer of the Pixelmator Team. "We analyzed millions of possible ways to repair areas of various complexity, and then compared the speed and quality ratio of each final result. After six months of testing, we derived a repairing algorithm that gives stunning quality with incredible speed every single time. Pixelmator for iOS now takes advantage of the same algorithm."

In addition to the above mentioned features, Pixelmator is also gaining an improved Pixelmator Photo Editing extension for editing directly within Apple's Photos app, and the Pixelmator team is also introducing both an iOS Guide Book and a selection of tutorials that will help iPhone users get the most out of the photo editing app.

Pixelmator for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

flowsy Avatar
137 months ago
I just bought a Nikon Camera and decided to get pixelmator on my iMac. Still playing with the camera and have not started with photo editing, but that is coming. My big disappointment is that in order to use the software on the iPad, I need to buy the software AGAIN. I may get the iPad version since it is only USD$5.00, but I will do so begrudgingly. Would have prefered to pay a little more on the mac and have the iOS version given for free (maybe through a redeemable coupon).
I'm afraid to tell you: You will have to pay for every Nikon lens you might get in the future.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
137 months ago
I just bought a Nikon Camera and decided to get pixelmator on my iMac. Still playing with the camera and have not started with photo editing, but that is coming. My big disappointment is that in order to use the software on the iPad, I need to buy the software AGAIN. I may get the iPad version since it is only USD$5.00, but I will do so begrudgingly. Would have prefered to pay a little more on the mac and have the iOS version given for free (maybe through a redeemable coupon).
That really is not viable. Unless they started charging more for the Mac app in the first place to cover the iOS development costs. But then there would be users who only use the Mac version that are in effect paying for the iPad version that they don't use. Or conversely, users that only want the iPad version and not the Mac.

The iPad app is completely different, if it was a simple case of clicking a button and recompiling the Mac app for iPad, sure. But it's so much more involved than that. They really deserve to charge for all the platforms, the software is superb.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPark Avatar
137 months ago
I just bought a Nikon Camera and decided to get pixelmator on my iMac. Still playing with the camera and have not started with photo editing, but that is coming. My big disappointment is that in order to use the software on the iPad, I need to buy the software AGAIN. I may get the iPad version since it is only USD$5.00, but I will do so begrudgingly. Would have prefered to pay a little more on the mac and have the iOS version given for free (maybe through a redeemable coupon).
You would have preferred to pay $5 more on the mac and received the iOS version for free? I feel like I'm being trolled here...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TMRJIJ Avatar
137 months ago
I love this app. These guys know how to innovate.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
137 months ago
on my 5S using the repair function takes a good 30sec or more to process if the image is detailed (and heats it up significantly). might be different on the 6/6+ but i've yet to hear from anyone about it.
I haven't noticed any serious heating up on either my iPad Air 2 or iPhone 6. But The 6 is definitely slower than the iPad. Not much you can do. The 5s is coming up to 2 years old, the processing power of these mobile chips is still growing ridiculously, it's to be expected. You've got to remember that the repair tool is the same algorithm running on their desktop app, repackaged to run on iOS - that's got to take some grunt to drive.

The heat part should be nothing to worry about, if it was getting too hot the OS would throttle the CPU speed and if it was an issue shut down. An example, in graph form: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7460/apple-ipad-air-review/3

So now it takes 24 seconds on a 5s?
:D
6 seconds? Ha, in all seriousness it's probably "up to 5x". And even then only on the latest hardware.

I think that they should charge for the iOS version. What I was trying to say is that they should give the iOS version for free to buyers of the OSX version. That is why I stated they should include a redeemable coupon. Also, I would think that a budled package of OSX and iOS versions would not require raising the price the full $5.
I own both the OS X and iOS version. Happily paid. And will pay for future major releases if that's what they want. I hate this race to the bottom in software. Good software is worth paying for. $5 is almost nothing when you already own the OS X app, an iOS device and a Mac.

Nothing more annoying than good software dying because the devs ran out of money. Everpix still hurts.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlc1978 Avatar
137 months ago
I think that they should charge for the iOS version. What I was trying to say is that they should give the iOS version for free to buyers of the OSX version. That is why I stated they should include a redeemable coupon. Also, I would think that a budled package of OSX and iOS versions would not require raising the price the full $5.
The problem is that Apple really doesn't make it easy to do that, and would probably charge them for each redemption. In the end, it's far easier to simply charge for both, and it's not like $5 is unreasonable, compared to say, OmniGraffle...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Users Report Static Speaker Noise While Charging

Tuesday December 30, 2025 10:39 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max owners are having trouble with the speakers of their devices, and have complained about a static or hissing noise that occurs when the iPhone is charging. There are multiple discussions about the issue on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and Apple's Support Community, where affected users say there is a noticeable static noise "like an old radio." Some people report...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With a Rough iPhone Fold Mockup

Monday December 29, 2025 10:55 am PST by
Apple is rumored to be introducing a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and since it will bring the biggest form factor change since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, curiosity about the design is high. A 3D designer created an iPhone Fold design based on rumors, and we printed it out to see how it compares to Apple's current iPhones. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...
macbook air march 2020

Apple Says Final Intel MacBook Air and Apple Watch Series 5 Now 'Vintage'

Wednesday December 31, 2025 8:39 am PST by
Apple today added the final 13-inch MacBook Air powered by Intel processors, the Apple Watch Series 5, and additional products to its vintage products list. The iPhone 11 Pro was also added to the list after the iPhone 11 Pro Max was added back in September. The full list of products added to Apple's vintage and obsolete list today: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) iPhone 8 Plus 128GB ...