If HDR images don't appear as expected in Pixelmator Pro or Photomator
If HDR images in Pixelmator Pro or Photomator appear pale or desaturated, check app and device settings, hardware and software compatibility, and your source media.
Check HDR settings in Pixelmator Pro or Photomator
Depending on the app you're using, choose Pixelmator Pro or Photomator in the menu bar, then choose Settings.
Click General, then select “Load HDR content" if it's not selected.
If you are editing an image, click or tap the back button
to go back to the library, then reopen the file in the app.Click the HDR button in the toolbar:
In Pixelmator Pro, if the HDR button doesn't appear in the toolbar, then your media file is not an HDR file.
In Photomator, if the HDR button in the toolbar is dimmed, then your media file is not an HDR file.
Check that your display supports HDR
If the app detects that your display has limited or no HDR support, a notification appears below the "Load HDR content" checkbox in the settings for Pixelmator Pro or Photomator. If your display does support HDR and you've selected "Load HDR content," you might have to enable HDR on the display itself to view and edit in HDR.
Apple devices with XDR displays provide the highest performance when working with HDR content. Apple devices not equipped with XDR displays provide limited HDR support with peak brightness ranging between 300 and 600 nits.
Enable HDR on a third-party external display
If your third-party external display has setting for HDR and it's turned off, Photomator may not recognize your display as compatible with HDR content.
Check to see if your display has a built-in setting for HDR. If so, turn the setting on. Refer to the documentation included with your display or contact the manufacturer for support if you can't find the setting.
Check HDR settings on your Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays.
In Displays settings for the external display, make sure that High Dynamic Range is turned on. This setting appears only on third-party displays that support HDR10, not on built-in displays.
Check the format of your media file
Make sure that the file you're editing is in a compatible HDR format:
Open the Get Info window for the media file:
In Pixelmator Pro, open the image, then press Option-Command-Shift-I
In Photomator on Mac, select the file in the Photos Browser, then press Command-I.
In Photomator on iPhone or iPad, open the image in edit mode, tap the More button, then tap Show Info.
Note the format of the image (such as HEIF or JPEG), then check the list of compatible HDR formats for the app you're using:
If you’re using an unsupported file format, retake the image in a supported HDR format. You can still edit and export the image in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).
Check software versions on macOS
Make sure you're using the supported versions of macOS and the Pixelmator Pro or Photomator for the best performance with HDR content.
Check your version of macOS
HDR editing in Pixelmator Pro and Photomator on Mac requires macOS Sonoma or later. To check your version of macOS, click the Apple menu , then choose About This Mac. If your version is macOS Ventura or earlier, check that all third-party software installed on your Mac is compatible with the latest version of macOS, then update your macOS.
Learn more about macOS versions
Check your version of Pixelmator Pro or Photomator on Mac
To check your version of the app, open the app, then choose About > [app name]. If your version of the app is Photomator 3.1 or Pixelmator Pro 3.4 or earlier, then you should first back up your app, then update it.
Check software versions on iOS or iPadOS
Make sure you're using the supported versions of iOS or iPadOS and Photomator for best performance with HDR content.
Check your version of iOS or iPadOS
To check your version, go to Settings > General > About. If your version is earlier than iOS 17 or iPadOS 17, then you'll need to update iOS or iPadOS.
Check your version of Photomator
Open Settings.
Tap Apps. You might have to scroll down.
Locate Photomator in the list and tap it. The version of Photomator appears under Photomator Settings. If your version of the app is Photomator 3.1 or earlier, then you'll have to update your app.
Update to Photomator 3.2 or later for full HDR editing capabilities.
Check Low Power Mode on your iPhone or iPad
On iPhone and iPad, you can't edit and export HDR content if your device is in Low Power mode. Charge your device or turn off Lower Power Mode:
Open Settings.
Tap Battery.
Turn the Low Power Mode switch off.