Pixelmator pxd editor

Pixelmator PXD Editor

Use this skill for any task involving editable Pixelmator Pro .pxd files.

Hard Rule

Edit PXD files only through Pixelmator Pro's official AppleScript dictionary. Use only the AppleScript commands and properties listed in this skill. If a needed action cannot be expressed with this allowed surface, stop and report the limitation instead of inventing another path.

Never use these as the production edit path:

• Unzipping or rezipping .pxd packages.
• Editing metadata.info SQLite data.
• Byte-patching layer BLOBs.
• Replacing QuickLook thumbnails.
• Replacing files under data/*OriginalContentSource.
• Recreating Apple device frames by hand when the template already contains one.
• Driving the UI with clicks, menu items, keyboard shortcuts, or clipboard state when an official AppleScript command/property exists.

Archive-level inspection is allowed only as read-only diagnostics after official AppleScript automation fails. Never ship a final PXD produced by package mutation unless the user explicitly asks for a forensic experiment.

Safety Defaults

• Never modify the user's original PXD in place.
• Copy the PXD first, then open and edit only the copy.
• Disable Pixelmator Pro autosave while the script runs, then restore the previous value.
• Close only the document opened by the script, using saving no after exporting/saving the intended output.
• If Pixelmator Pro says the copied PXD is damaged or cannot be opened, stop and report that the template is invalid.
• Export a PNG preview after editing and inspect or report it before claiming success.
• For sensitive tasks, verify the original PXD timestamp did not change.

Allowed Command Decision Table

Use this table as the main menu. Pick the row for the user's intent and use the exact command/property family named there.

Want to do	Use this official AppleScript surface	Notes
Open a copied PXD	open POSIX file ...	Always open the copy, never the original.
Create a new document/object/layer	make with new, at, with data, with properties	Use only when a blank/new layer is required.
Save edited PXD	save as new document ... in ... as Pixelmator Pro	Preferred PXD save path.
Export final file	export ... to ... as PNG/JPEG/TIFF/WebP/etc.	For App Store promo work, default to PNG.
Export compressed asset	export optimized ... to ...	Use only when the user asks for optimized export.
Export web asset	export for web ... to ... as ... with properties ...	Use for web-specific compression/scale/transparency.
Close after output	close document saving no	Close only the document this script opened.
Inspect document size	width, height, resolution, bits per channel, color profile	Read from document.
Change bit depth	change color depth ... to ... or bits per channel	Use only on the copied document.
Change color profile	change color profile ... to ... mode ...	Use when export/color profile is requested.
Find layers	name of every text layer/image layer/group layer/shape layer	Search nested groups; do not assume top-level.
Set active layer	current layer	Prefer direct layer references over current-selection workflows.
Select layers	selected layers, select, select all layers	Use only when a command requires selection.
Rename a layer	name property	Works on layer.
Show/hide a layer	visible property	Boolean.
Lock/unlock a layer	locked property	Boolean.
Set layer opacity	opacity property	Integer.
Move layer	position property or bounds property	Use exact coordinates.
Resize layer	width, height, or bounds property	Keep proportions manually if needed.
Rotate layer	rotation property	Degrees. This is 2D rotation, not true 3D perspective.
Change blend mode	blend mode property	Use official blend mode enumerators only.
Clip layer	clipping mask property	Boolean.
Replace iPhone screenshot/media	replace image imageLayer with file scale mode scale to fill/scale to fit/original/stretch	Preferred for templates because it preserves masks/effects/layout.
Add image content	make image ... from file ... or create image layer	For new assets, not placeholder replacement.
Change image layer source	file property on image layer or replace image	Prefer replace image for placeholders.
Preserve transparent pixels	preserve transparency property	Image layer property.
Keep layer proportions	constrain proportions property	Image/shape layer property.
Replace known text	replace ... text ... with ... with properties ...	Use for document-wide known placeholders.
Set headline text layer	text content on text layer	Preferred for named headline layers.
Style rich text	color, font, size on rich text/characters/words/paragraphs	Use only official text suite properties.
Align text layer	horizontal alignment, vertical alignment	Use text alignment enumerators.
Create rectangle	make rectangle width ... height ... color ...	For simple solid shape layers.
Create rounded rectangle	make rounded rectangle width ... height ... corner radius ... color ...	Use for simple UI/background shapes.
Group layers	make group from ...	Use when new generated layers need grouping.
Ungroup	ungroup	Use only on copied document/layers.
Duplicate object/layer	duplicate ... to ... with properties ...	Use for repeated decorations.
Delete copied-document layer/object	delete	Never delete from original document.
Merge specific layers	merge layers ...	Use only if user wants destructive flattening inside the copy.
Merge all layers	merge all	Avoid unless user asks for flattened output.
Merge visible layers	merge visible	Avoid unless user asks for flattened output.
Flatten document/layer stack	flatten	Avoid for editable PXD outputs; okay before raster-only export if requested.
Undo/redo script step	undo, redo	Recovery only; do not build primary workflow on undo.
Cut/copy/paste selection	cut, copy, paste	Use only when no direct layer command exists. Clipboard workflows are fallback.
Select all pixels	select all	Selection operation.
Clear selection	deselect	Selection operation.
Reselect previous selection	reselect	Selection operation.
Invert selection	invert selection	Selection operation.
Load layer/selection	load selection ... mode ...	Use official selection modes.
Select subject	select subject ... smart refine ...	ML-dependent; use only if user asks for subject selection.
Refine selection	refine selection ... roundness ... softness ... expand ...	Selection cleanup.
Smart-refine selection	smart refine selection	ML-dependent selection cleanup.
Select color range	select color range ... color ... range ... mode ... smooth edges ...	Use for color-based edits.
Draw rectangular selection	draw selection ... bounds ... mode ...	Coordinates required.
Draw elliptical selection	draw elliptical selection ... bounds ... mode ...	Coordinates required.
Convert selection to shape	convert selection into shape	Use when user asks to turn selection into editable shape.
Fill selection/layer	fill ... with color ... preserve transparency ...	Use official RGB color list.
Clear selected pixels	clear	Destructive inside copied document.
Pick pixel color	pick color ... at ...	Read diagnostic.
Crop document	crop ... bounds ... delete mode ...	Use when requested.
Resize image/document	resize image ... width ... height ... resolution ... algorithm ...	Changes image pixels.
Resize canvas	resize canvas ... width ... height ... relative ... anchor position ...	Changes canvas bounds.
Rotate canvas 180	rotate 180	Whole image/document command.
Rotate canvas right	rotate right	Whole image/document command.
Rotate canvas left	rotate left	Whole image/document command.
Flip horizontally	flip horizontally	Whole selected target.
Flip vertically	flip vertically	Whole selected target.
Super-resolution upscale	super resolution	ML-dependent; use only when requested.
Trim canvas	trim canvas ... mode ...	Trim by transparency/color mode.
Reveal canvas	reveal canvas	Expands canvas to reveal off-canvas content.
Detect face	detect face	Read/ML utility; not a layout primitive.
Detect QR code	detect QR code	Read/utility.
Auto-enhance image	enhance	ML/auto adjustment; use only when requested.
Match colors to reference	match colors ... to file ...	Use when matching a reference image.
Auto white balance	auto white balance	Auto adjustment.
Auto light	auto light	Auto adjustment.
Auto color balance	auto color balance	Auto adjustment.
Auto hue/saturation	auto hue and saturation	Auto adjustment.
Auto levels contrast	auto levels contrast	Auto adjustment.
Auto levels color	auto levels color	Auto adjustment.
Auto curves contrast	auto curves contrast	Auto adjustment.
Auto curves color	auto curves color	Auto adjustment.
Denoise	denoise ... intensity ...	Use only when requested.
Deband	deband	Use only when requested.
Add mask from image	mask ... from file ... scale mode ... mask mode ...	Use official mask/scale modes.
Remove mask	unmask	Removes mask from target.
Remove background	remove background	ML-dependent; use only when requested.
Invert colors	invert colors	Destructive adjustment on target.
Decontaminate colors	decontaminate colors	Use after selections/background removal when requested.
Convert image layer into shape	convert into shape	Use only when requested.
Rasterize/convert into pixels	convert into pixels	Destructive; avoid unless required.
Apply color preset	apply color adjustments preset name ...	Use named Pixelmator preset.
Apply effects preset	apply effects preset name ...	Use named Pixelmator preset.
Reset target adjustments/effects	reset	Use only on copied document/layer.
Export LUT	export as lut ... to file ...	Use only when user requests LUT.
Make document from clipboard	make document from clipboard	Last-resort import path, not the normal PXD workflow.

Allowed Properties And Classes

Use these official properties for direct edits. Do not set undocumented keys.

• application: autosave enabled, appearance, load hdr content, image opening workflow, sidecar enabled, sidecar location, build number.
• document: id, sidecar file, data reference, width, height, resolution, bits per channel, color profile, display hdr content, document info, current layer, selected layers, selection bounds.
• layer: id, index, data reference, name, opacity, visible, locked, selected, clipping mask, blend mode, width, height, position, bounds, rotation, color adjustments, styles, parent, layer mask.
• image layer: file, preserve transparency, constrain proportions.
• shape layer: constrain proportions.
• rounded rectangle shape layer: corner radius.
• polygon shape layer: sides.
• star shape layer: star points, star radius.
• text layer: text content, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment.
• rich text, character, word, paragraph: color, font, size.
• color adjustments: temperature, tint, hue, saturation, vibrance, exposure, highlights, shadows, brightness, contrast, black point, texture, clarity, black and white, sepia, invert, fade, vignette, vignette exposure, vignette black point, vignette softness, grain, grain size, sharpen, sharpen radius, custom lut.
• styles: fill color, fill opacity, fill blend mode, stroke width, stroke position, stroke type, stroke color, stroke opacity, shadow blur, shadow distance, shadow angle, shadow color, shadow opacity, inner shadow blur, inner shadow distance, inner shadow angle, inner shadow color, inner shadow opacity, inner shadow blend mode.
• document info: metadata properties such as author, caption, copyright notice, creation date, headline, keywords, title, location, altitude.
• effect: enabled; specific effect properties include radius, angle, position, amount, blur, transition, scale, rotation, color 1, color 2, width, sharpness, opacity, blend mode, fill color, and image fill/pattern image.

Allowed Enumerations

• Save formats for save as new document: Pixelmator Pro, HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, SVG, GIF, PSD.
• Export formats for export: PNG, TIFF, JPEG/JPG, HEIC, GIF, JPEG2000, BMP, WebP, SVG, PDF, PSD, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, MP4, QuickTime Movie, Animated GIF, Animated PNG, OpenEXR, HDR JPEG, HDR HEIC, HDR AVIF, HDR PNG.
• Export-for-web formats: PNG, JPEG, GIF, SVG, WebP.
• Scale modes: original, stretch, scale to fill, scale to fit.
• Selection modes: new selection, add selection, subtract selection, intersect selection.
• Mask modes: reveal all, hide all.
• Resize algorithms: bilinear, lanczos, nearest, ml super resolution.
• Canvas anchors: top left, top center, top right, middle left, middle center, middle right, bottom left, bottom center, bottom right.
• Trim modes: transparency, top left color, bottom right color.
• Color profile modes: assign, match.
• Text horizontal alignment: left, center, right, justify.
• Text vertical alignment: top, center, bottom.
• Stroke position: inside, center, outside.
• Stroke type: line, dash, dot.
• Blend modes: normal, darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn, darker color, lighten, screen, color dodge, linear dodge, lighter color, overlay, soft light, hard light, vivid light, linear light, pin light, hard mix, difference, exclusion, subtract, divide, hue blend mode, saturation blend mode, color blend mode, luminosity, pass through, behind blend mode.

Layer Handling

Do not assume placeholders are top-level. Many Pixelmator templates nest the device screen inside a device group.

Example verified path:

group layer "iPhone 16 Pro" -> image layer "Media Placeholder: Replace With Your Media"

Inspect first:

tell application "Pixelmator Pro"
  set d to open (POSIX file "/path/to/copied-template.pxd")
  tell d
    set reportText to "top text: " & ((name of every text layer) as text) & linefeed
    set reportText to reportText & "top images: " & ((name of every image layer) as text) & linefeed
    set reportText to reportText & "top groups: " & ((name of every group layer) as text)
    return reportText
  end tell
end tell

If nested groups are likely, inspect by known group names first, then recurse manually through group layer references. Prefer named placeholders over selected/current layers.

Safe Edit Pattern

Use this shape for normal PXD edits:

set copiedPXD to POSIX file "/path/to/copied-template.pxd"
set screenshotFile to POSIX file "/path/to/screenshot.png"
set outputPXD to POSIX file "/path/to/output/page1.pxd"
set outputPNG to POSIX file "/path/to/output/page1.png"
set headlineText to "A quiet place for memories"

tell application "Pixelmator Pro"
  activate
  set oldAutosave to autosave enabled
  set autosave enabled to false

  set demoDoc to open copiedPXD
  delay 1

  tell demoDoc
    try
      set text content of text layer "Headline" to headlineText
    end try

    set phoneGroup to group layer "iPhone 16 Pro"
    set screenLayer to image layer "Media Placeholder: Replace With Your Media" of phoneGroup
    replace image screenLayer with screenshotFile scale mode scale to fill

    save as new document it in outputPXD as Pixelmator Pro
    export it to outputPNG as PNG
  end tell

  close demoDoc saving no
  set autosave enabled to oldAutosave
end tell

If a script fails after changing autosave enabled, restore it before stopping. If the document is still open, close only the document this script opened.

Forbidden Fallbacks

Do not use these unless the user explicitly asks for an experiment and accepts that the output may not be a valid editable PXD:

• Direct package mutation.
• SQLite metadata writes.
• Binary/BLOB edits.
• QuickLook thumbnail swaps.
• Raw replacement of embedded source files.
• Manually drawn Apple device frames when a template frame exists.
• GUI automation in place of available AppleScript commands.

What To Say Back

Report:

• The edited .pxd path.
• The exported .png path.
• Whether the original PXD was left untouched.
• The AppleScript commands used.
• Any layer names or operations that could not be found/supported.