Pixelmator Pro Introduces Support for Portrait Mode Depth Masks for Easy Background Swapping - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Pixelmator Pro Introduces Support for Portrait Mode Depth Masks for Easy Background Swapping

by

Pixelmator Pro for Mac, Pixelmator's higher-end editing software, was today updated with support for masks from Portrait Mode photos.

When you open up a photo taken with an iPhone that offers Portrait Mode, Pixelmator Pro will open the photo itself along with a useful layer mask for doing things like swapping out the background in just a few minutes.

pixelmatorpro
The portrait mask uses the depth information from the iPhone to isolate the subject of a photo, making it easy to remove background elements with little effort.

The Portrait mask feature is limited to the Pixelmator Pro software, and it is not available on the standard version of Pixelmator or the Pixelmator app for iOS devices.


Pixelmator Pro has been around since late 2017 and it has seen several major updates since then with the Pixelmator team introducing useful new functionality on a regular basis. Pixelmator Pro can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $39.99, and there is a free trial available on the Pixelmator website. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

Kabeyun Avatar
99 months ago
Genius feature. Hope they find a way to bring it to iOS.
This is huge. Masking, at least for me, is a real pain. Many pro masking apps require lots of training and experience for any kind of decent result, and I have yet to find a single consumer solution that’s reliable. Price is right, too.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
99 months ago
Does it support raw yet?
https://www.pixelmator.com/pro/tech-specs/



Looks like it does.

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
99 months ago
Pixelmator Pro does support RAW.

https://www.pixelmator.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15057
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
99 months ago
great tool although yet again "PRO" software focusing on iToys and still missing things like colour overlay.

Don't get me wrong, this feature is cool but I would like to see other things first
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
99 months ago
Genius feature. Hope they find a way to bring it to iOS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GubbyMan Avatar
99 months ago
I use Focos on my iPhone to mask out the background and then transfer the photo to mobile Pixelmator so I can add another photo as a background.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
Mac mini vs Studio Feature Sans Text 1

Apple Caught Off Guard by AI Demand for Mac Mini and Mac Studio

Sunday August 30, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Apple's unusually timed announcement of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models this week was driven by unexpectedly strong enterprise appetite for AI hardware, according to The Information. Apple normally releases new Mac models in the autumn, closer to October or November, making this week's announcement unusually early, falling just before the anticipated arrival of new iPhone models. The...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Unveiled Four New Products This Week

Wednesday August 26, 2026 5:54 pm PDT by
Apple on Tuesday unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs. To learn more about these products, read our coverage below: Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More Apple Unveils New Mac Studio With M5 Max...