Pixelstyle is an image editing and graphic design software designed specifically for macOS. It integrates photo editing, vector drawing, layer management, and special effects processing, aiming to provide users with an integrated workspace from basic adjustments to professional design. Its interface is intuitive, and the operation logic is clear, suitable for the different needs of users from beginners to advanced users.

I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace

After launching Pixelstyle, users are presented with a carefully laid out workspace, mainly divided into the following core areas:

Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Contains all advanced menu commands of the software (File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, Filter, View, Window, Help). The toolbar below provides the most commonly used tool icons, such as selection tools, brushes, shapes, text, cropping, filling, etc., which can be customized.
Left Tool Panel: Vertically arranges the core toolset for image editing, including:
- Selection Tool Group: Rectangle/Ellipse marquee, lasso, magic wand.
- Cropping and Slicing Tools.
- Retouching and Brush Tool Group: Healing brush, clone stamp, brush, eraser.
- Vector and Text Tool Group: Shape tools (rectangle, ellipse, polygon, custom shape), text tool.
- Other Tools: Fill tool, gradient tool, eyedropper, etc.
Right Panel Group: Usually stacked as tabs, it is the key function control area.
- Layers Panel: Manages all layers in the document, supports creating, deleting, grouping, adjusting blend modes and opacity.
- Color Panel: Used to select foreground and background colors, providing multiple color picking methods such as color wheel, sliders, and swatches.
- Properties/Options Panel: Content changes dynamically, displaying detailed parameter settings for the currently selected tool or layer.
- Effects/Styles Panel: Adds layer styles such as shadows, glows, bevels, and embossing to layers.
- History Panel: Records operation steps, allowing users to undo or redo to a specific state.
Central Document Window: The main view area for image editing. Each opened document is presented as a tab and can be zoomed, panned, and otherwise manipulated. The bottom of the window displays information such as the current canvas zoom ratio and document dimensions.

II. Complete Workflow: From Creation to Export

The following is a standard workflow for creating a new project from scratch and exporting the finished product.

Step 1: Create or Open a Project

Method 1: Create a New Document

From the menu bar, go to File > New, or use the shortcut Cmd + N.
In the dialog that appears, set the document parameters: Name, Width/Height (units can be pixels, centimeters, etc.), Resolution, Color Mode (RGB/CMYK), and Background Contents (white, transparent, etc.).
Click the “Create” button to enter the editing interface.

Method 2: Open an Existing Image

From the menu bar, go to File > Open, or use the shortcut Cmd + O.
In the file browser window, select the image file you want to edit (supports formats such as JPG, PNG, PSD, TIFF, etc.).
Click “Open,” and the image will load as a new document tab.

Step 2: Basic Image Editing and Creation

This stage involves adjusting and adding content to the canvas.

Resize the image: Go to Image > Image Size and modify the dimensions in the dialog. Be sure to use the link icon to constrain the proportions.
Crop the canvas: Select the Crop tool from the left toolbar, drag on the canvas to define the crop area, and press Return to confirm.
Add and edit layers:
- Click the “+” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to create a new layer.
- Use the Brush Tool (B) or Shape Tool (U) to draw on the new layer.
- Use the Type Tool (T) to click on the canvas and enter text. The Properties panel on the right lets you adjust the font, size, and color.
Adjust color and tone: Select the target layer and use the submenus under Image > Adjustments in the menu bar (such as Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation, and Color Balance) to make non-destructive adjustments.

Step 3: Apply effects and fine-tune

Add layer styles: In the Layers panel, double-click the target layer, or click the “fx” icon at the bottom of the panel, to open the Layer Style dialog box and add effects such as drop shadow, stroke, and outer glow to the layer.
Use filters: Select the layer and choose filters such as Blur, Sharpen, and Artistic from the Filter menu in the menu bar. Some filters will open a dialog box with parameter controls.
Fine selection and masking: Use the Magic Wand Tool (W) or Lasso Tool (L) to make a selection, then choose Select > Feather from the menu bar to soften the edges. Click the “Add Layer Mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to convert the selection into a mask, which can be used to hide or reveal parts of the layer.

Step 4: Save and export your work

Method 1: Save the project file

Go to File > Save or press Cmd + S.
If this is the first time saving, choose a save location and file name. For the format, it is recommended to select Pixelstyle’s native format (such as .pxl) or .PSD to preserve all layers and editing information.

Method 2: Export as a universal image format

Go to File > Export As or press Cmd + Shift + E.
In the dialog box, select the target format (such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF).
For PNG, you can choose whether to preserve a transparent background; for JPEG, you can adjust the image quality slider.
Click “Export” and choose the save path.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

Non-destructive editing: Whenever possible, use Adjustment Layers (added via the “half-circle” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel) for color adjustments instead of directly applying “Image > Adjustments” commands. This way, you can modify or delete the adjustment effects at any time.
Smart Objects: Convert layers into Smart Objects (right-click the layer > Convert to Smart Object). Filters applied afterward will become “Smart Filters,” allowing you to repeatedly edit parameters or hide them without damaging the original image data.
Quick duplication and alignment: Hold the Option key and drag a layer to quickly duplicate it. After selecting multiple layers, use the alignment and distribution buttons in the top toolbar to precisely arrange elements.
Custom Brushes & Patterns: Draw a shape, then go to Edit > Define Brush Preset or Define Pattern to make it available in the brush or fill tools.
Batch Processing: Use File > Automate to apply the same action (such as resizing, adding a watermark, or converting format) to all images in a folder.

IV. Common Issues & Solutions

Symptom	Possible Cause	Solution
Tool cursor disappears or displays abnormally	The cursor may be set to “Precise Cursor” or the software is experiencing a temporary display glitch.	Press `Caps Lock` to toggle between the standard and precise cursors. Or try restarting the software.
Operations suddenly become laggy	The document size is too large, there are too many history states, or system memory is insufficient.	1. Reduce the document size or merge some layers. 2. Clear some history states in the History panel. 3. Check for and close other large applications that are using memory.
Cannot move/select a specific layer	The layer may be locked, hidden, or the wrong tool is currently selected.	1. Check the Layers panel to make sure the target layer is visible (eye icon) and unlocked (lock icon). 2. Confirm that the current tool is the Move tool (V).
Background turns white when saving as JPG	The JPG format does not support transparent backgrounds, so transparent areas are automatically filled with white.	If you need a transparent background, export as PNG instead. Or, before exporting as JPG, make sure the canvas background layer is the desired color.
Filter menu is grayed out and unavailable	The currently selected layer type does not support filters—for example, a text layer that has not been rasterized, or a selected Smart Object where the software version does not support applying certain filters to it.	Right-click the text layer, choose “Rasterize,” and then apply the filter. For Smart Objects, check whether the filter supports being applied as a “Smart Filter.”

V. Pixelstyle for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

Function Category	Action	Shortcut (Mac)
File Operations	New Document	Cmd + N
Open Document	Cmd + O
Save Document	Cmd + S
Save As	Cmd + Shift + S
Export As	Cmd + Shift + E
Editing Operations	Undo	Cmd + Z
Redo	Cmd + Shift + Z
Cut	Cmd + X
Paste	Cmd + V
Tool Selection	Move Tool	V
Rectangular Marquee Tool	M
Lasso Tool	L
Magic Wand Tool	W
Crop Tool	C
Brush Tool	B
Eraser Tool	E
Text Tool	T
View Controls	Zoom In	Cmd + + (plus sign)
Zoom Out	Cmd + – (minus sign)
Actual Pixels	Cmd + 1
Show/Hide Rulers	Cmd + R
Layer Operations	New Layer	Cmd + Shift + N
Merge Visible Layers	Cmd + Shift + E
Group Layers	Cmd + G
Other	Free Transform	Cmd + T

Tip: The shortcuts above are Pixelstyle’s typical default settings; some shortcuts may vary slightly depending on the software version or user-customized settings. You can view and customize all shortcuts in the menu bar under “Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts”.