Pixelmator Pro 3.6 is released for Mac, adding new masking features including AI-powered background masks, vector mask support, and new on-canvas mask controls.
Masking in Pixelmator Pro 3.6 has been completely redesigned to give you a faster, more convenient way to add and adjust masks. For example, you can now instantly mask a layer or create a mask from a selection by simply double-clicking on the canvas with the Arrange tool. You can then easily resize and position the mask or adjust its corners, making it much faster and easier to create rounded corners in an image or crop individual layers in a multi-layer composition.
Pixelmator introduces new on-canvas controls that appear at the bottom of the screen whenever you select or create a mask, allowing for quick adjustments. Multiple masks and blend modes to combine them are also supported. New AI-powered background hiding feature allows you to non-destructively remove your background in one click. Automatically detect objects in your images using intelligent subject detection and add precise background masks to hide everything else.
Check out the full changelog below for more details…
What's new in this version:
Pixelmator Pro 3.6 introduces powerful new masking features, including double-click to add masks, AI-powered background masking, intuitive on-canvas controls, and support for vector masks.
A completely new masking experience
• Work with masks faster and easier thanks to the new and improved masking framework.
• Easily add a mask by simply double-clicking a layer or selection.
• Easily access all mask editing tools on-screen with new intuitive on-canvas controls.
• Use the power of AI to instantly hide your subject's background.
• Quickly shape layers and easily create gradient masks with new vector masks.
On-canvas mask controls
• Every time you select or create a new mask, you have direct access to all mask editing and adjustment features at the bottom of the canvas.
• Quickly perform basic mask editing tasks like inverting a mask, copying and pasting it, and adding a new mask, or use advanced features to adjust mask transparency and edge softness.
• On-canvas controls seamlessly switch between Bitmap and Vector Mask editing modes, letting you paint on a bitmap mask with a brush and quickly access the Shapes browser to switch between different vector shapes.
AI Background Masking
• Easily hide the background of objects in your images with accurate background masks using powerful AI-powered background hiding.
• Smart background hiding algorithm automatically detects your subject and hides the background, carefully preserving fine details like hair and fur.
• Turn on Hide Background from the new mask menu at the top of the layer sidebar, or choose Format > Mask > Hide Background from the menu bar.
• Show or hide additional areas of your background mask at any time using the handy paint and erase brushes at the bottom of the screen.
Vector mask support
• Enjoy the speed and flexibility of using vector masks to non-destructively hide and reveal layers using vector shapes.
• Quickly mask an image or video layer or convert a selection to a vector mask by simply selecting the placement tool and double-clicking. Hold down the Option key to add an inverted mask.
• Add a specific vector mask shape by choosing from the Mask menu, or freely draw a mask directly on the canvas using the Pen tool or Freeform Pen tool.
• To create a vector mask from an existing shape layer, hold down the Command key and drag onto the layer you want to mask. If the shape has a gradient style applied to it, a gradient mask is created.
• Quickly switch between solid color and gradient masks at any time while editing, and adjust gradient settings like type, angle, and direction in the mask settings at the bottom of the screen.
• Make a vector mask editable by double-clicking the mask or pressing Return on your keyboard.
• Adjust individual points in the vector mask by deleting points, moving them, splitting paths, merging paths, and so on, just as you would edit a regular shape.
• Export vector masks to multiple file formats including PDF, PSD, SVG, Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator EPS, and Motion while preserving vector paths.
Other Mask Improvements
• Add multiple masks to a single layer and combine them to create complex, multi-shape masks.
• Use the new Mask settings at the bottom of the screen to adjust the mask's opacity, edge softness, and transparency.
• Easily control how masks appear by combining, subtracting, or intersecting them using mask blending modes.
• New Paint and Erase brushes let you edit bitmap masks without having to switch between black and white brushes.
• When painting, use the keyboard shortcut E to switch to erase mode or B to return to painting. Hold down the Option key to temporarily toggle between drawing and erasing.
• Adjust the brush size, softness, and opacity in the brush settings at the bottom of the screen.
Pixelmator Pro is available from the App Store for $49.99.
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