Warp a layer in Pixelmator Pro for Mac

The Warp tool in Pixelmator Pro lets you bend and distort layers along a warp grid.

	Available with subscription: This feature comes with a subscription to the Apple Creator Studio. To learn more, see the Apple Creator Studio webpage and the support article About Apple Creator Studio.

Warp a layer using warp presets

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Edit > Warp.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas.
At the top of the Warp pane, click a warp type button.
The selected layer is added to a Warp group in the Layers sidebar, the canvas grid updates to show the applied warp’s contours, and the original layer is warped to match the grid contours.
Adjust the warp effect with the Distortion sliders:
- Vertical: Drag this slider to the left to make the top of the layer appear closer. Drag it to the right to make the bottom of the layer appear closer.
- Horizontal: Drag this slider to the left to make the left side of the layer appear closer. Drag it to the right to make the right side of the layer appear closer.
- Bend: (Not available for the Cylinder warp type.) Drag this slider to the left to bend the layer downwards. Drag it to the right to bend the layer upwards. You can also drag any of the green grid handles to adjust a warp’s bend.
In the Warp pane, select a horizontal or vertical warp orientation (not available for all warp types).
In the toolbar at the bottom, click Done.

Use controls in the canvas to customize the warp effect

After you use the Warp tool on a layer, you can modify its effects with grid handles in the canvas.

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, use the warp tool on a layer.
The selected layer is added to a Warp group in the Layers sidebar, the canvas grid updates to show the applied warp’s contours, and the original layer is warped to match the grid contours.
In the Warp pane, click Make Editable.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas with white adjustment handles.
Drag the handles in the canvas to modify the warp effect.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click Done.

Warp a layer using custom controls

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Edit > Warp.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click , choose Split into Grid, then choose a grid orientation (3 x 3 Grid, 4 x 4 Grid, or 5 x 5 Grid).
The selected layer is added to a Warp group in the Layers sidebar, and the grid overlay is split into 9 (3 x 3), 16 (4 x 4), or 25 (5 x 5) sections, with white adjustment handles where the sections meet.
Drag the handles in the canvas, or drag the sliders in the Warp pane to warp the layer.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click Done.

Add a split to adjust the warp grid in a specific location

When you use the Warp tool you can add splits—grid lines with handles that you can position in a specific area of the grid to make custom adjustments to an image.

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Edit > Warp.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas.
In the toolbar at the bottom, select a split type:
- : Adds a crosswise (intersecting horizontal and vertical lines) split to the grid with adjustable handles where then horizontal and vertical lines meet, as well as where they intersect with existing splits, and with the edges of the canvas.
- : Adds a vertical split to the grid with adjustable handles where it intersects with existing splits, and with the edges of the canvas.
- : Adds a horizontal split to the grid with adjustable handles where it intersects with existing splits, and with the edges of the canvas.
Click the area in the canvas you want to adjust.
The split is added to the grid. You can now apply a custom warp by dragging any of the split’s handles.

Crop a layer and warp it

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Edit > Warp.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas.
Warp a layer using a preset or using custom controls.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click , then choose Set Content Area.
A crop box with white handles appears on the layer.
Drag the crop handles to set the area that you want to keep, then click Done.
The layer is cropped and the remaining part of the image is fit to match the warp grid overlay.
Click Done.

Reposition the content layer in a warp group

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Choose Edit > Warp.
A grid overlay appears in the canvas.
Warp a layer using a preset or using custom controls.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click , then choose Set Content Area.
Drag the layer in the canvas.
As you drag the layer, it warps in relation to its new position within the warp grid.

Edit a layer warp

After you warp a layer using a preset or using custom controls, you can modify its form.

In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, double-click the top layer of a warp group in the Layers sidebar.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click Edit Warp.
Drag the handles in the canvas, or drag the sliders in the Warp pane to modify the warp effect.
Click Done.