Add and edit bitmap masks in Pixelmator Pro on iPad
Bitmap masks are pixel-based layer masks used to control the visibility of different areas in a layer. When created, the mask is fully white, and the entire layer is visible in the canvas. Painting on the mask in the canvas with black hides parts of the image. Painting with gray shades provides partial transparency, and painting with white reveals hidden areas again.
Add a bitmap mask to a layer
In Pixelmator Pro on iPad, select a Layer in the Layers sidebar.
Tap
on the layer, then choose Mask > Add Mask.
A white mask thumbnail is added to the Layers sidebar. The white indicates that no areas of the layer are hidden yet. To begin hiding areas in the layer, manually edit the mask.
Mask the background of a layer
Pixelmator Pro can detect background areas in a layer and hide them with a bitmap mask.
In Pixelmator Pro on iPad, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Tap
The background is masked, rendering it transparent. To manually modify the areas of transparency, edit the mask.
Add a bitmap mask to the layer.
brushes.
Edit a bitmap mask
In Pixelmator Pro on iPad, add a bitmap mask to a layer.
Use the mask controls in the toolbar at the bottom to do any of the following:
Mask (hide) areas of the layer: Tap
, then drag in the canvas.
Restore masked (hidden) areas of the layer: Tap
, then drag in the canvas over a transparent area.
Adjust the size, softness, or opacity of the Paint or Erase tool: Tap
, then drag any of the sliders.
Invert the mask: Tap
then choose Invert Mask. Opaque areas of the layer become transparent, and vice versa.
Edit a mask using the Paint tool
In addition to using the mask controls at the bottom of the canvas, you can use the Paint tool in Tools sidebar to add or remove areas of transparency to a masked layer.
When you add a bitmap mask to a layer, the mask thumbnail in the Layers sidebar is completely white, indicating that no areas of the layer are hidden yet. Painting over the mask layer (in the canvas) with pure black creates areas of transparency (shown as black brush strokes in the layer thumbnail); painting with pure white creates areas of opacity (shown as white brush strokes in the layer thumbnail); and, painting with shades of gray creates varying levels of transparency (shown as gray brush strokes in the layer thumbnail).
In Pixelmator Pro on iPad, select a mask layer in the Layers sidebar.
Select
in the Tools sidebar.
Do any of the following:
Mask (hide) part of an image: Tap the color well in the toolbar at the bottom, select black, then drag in the canvas.
Reveal part of a masked image: Tap the color well in the toolbar at the bottom, select white, then drag in the canvas.
Make parts of an image semitransparent: Tap the color well in the toolbar at the bottom, select a gray shade, then drag in the canvas.
Automatically mask an image shot in Portrait Mode
When you open an image that was shot in Portrait Mode on iPhone or iPad, Pixelmator Pro automatically masks the background.
In Pixelmator Pro on iPad, open a photo taken with Portrait Mode.
When you open a portrait, a mask layer is included to isolate the subject. To turn on the mask, tap the visibility checkbox for the mask layer.
Important: If you drag a photo from the Photos app to Pixelmator Pro, the mask is not imported.