Learning Pixelmator

Learn about how to edit images and create professional vector artwork with Pixelmator—the inexpensive and powerful Mac image editor that is compatible with Adobe CC files.

If you're up and running with Pixelmator, but want a more comprehensive look at its image enhancement and design tools, this is the course for you. Pixelmator is a popular and affordable Mac OS X app, which offers support for Adobe file formats. With Pixelmator you can easily collaborate with other photographers and designers using the Creative Cloud. Join Rich Harrington for a tour of the complete Pixelmator workflow, including making accurate selections, performing targeted image adjustments, designing with text and shapes, retouching, masking, and making complex designs quickly with other effects. Rich also explores Pixelmator for iOS, which allows you to share projects between iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers and continue your work on the go. Once your project is finished, you'll learn how to export files in several popular formats for sharing, posting on the web, or using in other software packages.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files

1. Work with Files

• Open or create a document
• Open an image or raw file
• Open as a Photos for OS X extension
• Create a new layer from FaceTime
• Work in Split View
• Use the Repair tool extension to fix images in apps
• When to work in 16-bits per channel mode

2. Pixelmator Controls

• Navigate the work area and zooming
• Work in full-screen mode
• Essential preferences
• Save your work and understanding file formats
• Use iCloud Drive for collaboration

3. Work with Tools

• Select and modify a tool
• Basic tools
• Selection tools
• Painting tools
• Retouching tools
• Shape tools

4. Understand Selections

• The role of selections
• Select an area based on color
• Use selection tools
• Refine a selection

5. Work with Layers

• Why use layers?
• Crop an image
• Create new and duplicate layers
• Add layer and clipping masks
• Arrange, group, or merge layers
• Transform or blend layers
• Warp or distort layers
• Lock layers

6. Work with Text

• Add and edit text
• Check for errors and dictation
• Resize and position text
• Format text
• Add texture layers

7. Work with Painting Tools

• Paint with Pencil, Brush, or Pixel tools
• Erase with the Eraser tool
• Fill with the Paint Bucket tool
• Design with the Gradient tool
• Choose colors with the Eyedropper tool
• Use custom brushes

8. Retouching Tools

• Work nondestructively
• Clone parts of photos
• Remove blemishes in a photo
• Blur or sharpen areas of an image
• Darken or lighten areas of an image
• Saturate or desaturate areas of an image
• Selectively transform an image with Liquify tools
• Remove red-eye in a photo

9. Shape Tools

• Draw with shapes
• Transform shapes
• Enhance the appearance of shapes
• Create custom shapes
• Create shapes from selections

10. Make Adjustments and Add Effects

• Blur images
• Adjust color and exposure
• Sharpen images
• Distort objects and images
• Create tiled patterns
• Stylize objects and images
• Apply half-tone effects
• Generate objects or patterns

11. Work with Pixelmator for iOS

• Access files from iCloud Drive
• User interface essentials
• Work on an iPad and iPad Pro
• Use the Apple Pencil with brushes
• Edit a photo on mobile
• Use the Photos extension

12. Output Files

• Duplicate a file
• Export common file types
• Save to iCloud Drive
• Print
• Save for the web and use slices
• Share to social media sites

Next Steps

• Conclusion