About floating palettes

Seven different floating palettes are available in Pixelmator to help you play with images. Several of the palettes are displayed by default, with more of them available under the View menu.

Tools palette

The most important palette in Pixelmator is the Tools palette. This palette allows you to choose tools with which you can select, paint, draw, retouch, add text, move, crop, zoom, slice, and navigate.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Tools.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Tools.

Layers palette

The Layers palette is used to manage layers. Pixelmator allows you to arrange, link, and blend layers, change their opacity, create clipping masks, or even add layer masks in order to hide portions of a layer.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Layers.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Layers.

Effects Browser

The Effects Browser offers dozens of effects to give your images interest, texture, or just a special touch.

question:"429":"title":"To show or hide the Effects Browser:"

Brushes palette

The Brushes palette in Pixelmator is used to select, create, edit, and manage brushes.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Brushes.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Brushes.

Gradients palette

The Gradients palette is used to select, create, edit, and manage gradients.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Gradients.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Gradients.

Photo Browser

The Photo Browser in Pixelmator offers quick access to your iPhoto and/or Aperture Libraries, Pictures folder, or any other customized folders.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Photo Browser. You can set the Photo Browser source view to display iPhoto albums, the Aperture Library, or Pictures folder in a pop-up menu or a list by dragging the split line between the source list and the photo thumbnails view up or down.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Photo Browser.

    You can set the Photo Browser source view to display iPhoto albums, the Aperture Library, or Pictures folder in a pop-up menu or a list by dragging the split line between the source list and the photo thumbnails view up or down.

Shapes palette

Use to quickly add predrawn shapes to your compositions, or store your own shapes.

question:"471":"To show or hide the Shapes palette"

Shape Style palette

Use to create more polished, advanced shapes.

question:"472":"To show or hide Shape Style palette"

Fonts palette

The Fonts palette is used to change font colors, format text, or add special effects.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Fonts.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Fonts.

Colors palette

Pixelmator takes advantage of the Apple Color Picker to select or pick colors.

* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Colors.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Colors.
* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Effects.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Effects.
* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Shapes.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Shapes.
* Choose View > Show (or Hide) Shape Style.
  • Choose View > Show (or Hide) Shape Style.