Fill a layer with a color gradient in Pixelmator Pro on Mac
Use the Gradient Fill tool to fill a layer with a gradual color transition. Pixelmator Pro includes a library of gradient presets. You can also create your own presets.
A gradient always has at least two colors. In Pixelmator Pro, each color is represented by color stops on a fill bar. You can change how the gradient looks by adding or removing color stops, adjusting their position, and setting the color and transparency of each.
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Tools > Gradient Fill (or choose the Gradient Fill tool from its tool group).
In the Gradient Fill pane, click the gradient color well to choose from the available presets.
In the Gradient Fill pane, do any of the following:
Change colors: Click any of the color stops under the gradient fill bar to open the Colors window, then choose a new color.
Add additional colors: Click in the gradient fill bar to add a new color stop.
Remove colors: Drag a color stop away from the gradient fill. (A gradient must have at least two color stops.)
Reverse colors: Click
.
Choose a gradient type: Select
to blend colors linearly between the color stops; select
to blend colors in a circular pattern; or select
to blend colors at an angle.
To customize the gradient’s properties, do any of the following in the Gradient Fill pane:
Change the blend mode: Click
next to Opacity, then choose a blend mode to set how the fill blends with the content or layers below it.
Opacity: Drag the slider to adjust the transparency of the fill.
To apply the gradient, do any of the following:
Drag in the canvas, away from the insertion point to make the gradient bigger; toward the insertion point to make the gradient smaller; or around the insertion point to rotate the gradient.
To discard all the current changes made with the Gradient Fill tool, click the Reset button at the bottom of the Gradient Fill pane.
Import, export, and manage gradients
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, choose Tools > Gradient Fill (you can also choose it from its tool group).
Click the gradient well at the top of the Gradient Fill pane, then do any of the following:
Create a gradient preset: Click
next to the gradients pop-up menu, then choose Add Preset.
The current gradient settings are saved as a new preset, in the currently selected collection.
Create a gradient preset collection: Click
Rename a gradient preset: Click
Delete a gradient preset: Control-click a gradient swatch, then choose Remove.
Delete a gradient preset collection: Click
The currently selected preset collection is deleted.
Update a gradient preset: Control-click a gradient swatch, then choose Redefine.
The gradient preset is updated to reflect the current gradient settings.
Export a gradient preset collection: Click
A .gradients file is created and saved in the location you chose.
Import a gradient preset collection: Click
Export the entire gradient preset library: Option-click
A .gradient file is created containing the entire library of gradient presets.
To learn about using presets from your Mac on your iPad see Use presets from your Mac on your iPad.