Adjust tonal curves in Pixelmator Pro on Mac
Use the Curves controls in the Color Adjustments pane to modify any point along the tonal range in an image, from deep shadows to bright highlights, with smooth and natural transitions.
The curve interface in the Color Adjustments pane displays the tonal range of an image as a diagonal line on a graph, with shadows on the left and highlights on the right. You can add control points anywhere along this line and adjust them independently to create exact tonal relationships. This precision makes curves essential for advanced contrast control, color grading, and creating signature photographic looks.
Beyond basic tonal adjustments, you can use the Curves controls to color correct individual RGB channels. You can neutralize color casts, enhance specific colors, or create dramatic color effects by understanding how each channel affects the final image.
Automatically adjust curves
The Curves controls provide two options for automatically enhancing image tones.
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Select
in the Tools sidebar, then turn on Curves in the Color Adjustments pane.
Click
, then choose either of the following:
Auto Contrast: Optimizes brightness and contrast.
Auto Color: Optimizes brightness and contrast in red, green, and blue channels.
Adjust highlights, midtones, and shadows in an image
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Select
Click the pop-up menu, and choose RGB.
Adjust the different sections of the curve:
Adjust highlights: Click the top section of the curve to add a new point. Drag the point up to brighten the highlights or down to darken them.
Adjust shadows: Click the bottom section of the curve to add a new point. Drag the point up to brighten the shadows or down to darken them.
Adjust midtones: Click the middle section of the curve to add a new point. Drag the point up to brighten the midtones or down to darken them.
You can remove points by dragging them off the Curves graph.
Tip: Two of the most common Curves adjustments are the S-curve and the inverted S-curve. The S-curve (shaped like the letter S) adds more contrast to the image, while the inverted S-curve (shaped like a mirror image of the letter S) reduces it. Extremely steep or very flat curves usually aren’t recommended unless they’re used for a specific artistic effect, such as posterizing. Smooth curves usually give the best results.
Adjust individual RGB channels to change the color and tone of an image
When adjusting red, green, and blue channels individually, dragging the curve points upward adds more of that color to an image, while dragging the points down boosts its complementary color instead. The complementary color pairs are cyan for red, magenta for green, and yellow for blue. So, for instance, for an image that has too much blue in the shadows, adding a point somewhere around the bottom of the curve and dragging it down increases yellow to neutralize the blue. Conversely, you can neutralize a yellow image by dragging the blue channel curve up.
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Select
Click the pop-up menu under Curves, then choose Red, Green, or Blue.
Click the tonal curve to add a new point, then drag it to adjust the colors.
Color correct an image by choosing a neutral tone
You can use eyedroppers to set neutral black, gray, or white areas in an image. Pixelmator Pro automatically adjusts the curves in the red, green, and blue color channels based on your selection.
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a layer in the Layers sidebar.
Select
Select an eyedropper (black point, gray point, or white point).
Click in an area of your image that corresponds to the chosen eyedropper.
For example, if you chose the black point eyedropper, click in an area of the image that’s pure black. Pixelmator Pro uses your selection as a neutral reference point, and makes relative adjustments the red, green, and blue curves.