Pixelmator Pro from a game controller
The Pixelmator Pro layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: Pixelmator Pro reads its painting keys from this layout, which follow the same letters as Photoshop for brush, eraser and size.
Yes, you can paint in Pixelmator Pro on a Mac from a game controller. Pixelmator's painting keys follow Photoshop's, so this is the Photoshop deck: brush and eraser on two face buttons, undo and redo on the other two, brush size on the bumpers, and the color picker on a held trigger.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Brush and eraser. Brush (B) on the bottom face button, Eraser (E) on the right.
- Undo and redo. On the left and top face buttons.
- Brush size. [ and ] on the bumpers.
- Sample a color. The left trigger holds Option, which samples a color while painting.
- Paint and save. The left stick is the pointer, the right stick scrolls, the right trigger paints, and Save is on Share or View.
The feel matches Photoshop's because the keys do. Brush, eraser and size under your thumbs, color on a held trigger.
Tune it for Pixelmator
- Fit. Put Command 0 on a stick click.
- New layer. Put its shortcut from Pixelmator's menus behind a chord.
- Brush size that keeps going. Turn on Repeat keys while held on the bumper rows.
- Drawing on an iPad. With Sidecar, Pixelmator Pro draws on the iPad screen. See the iPad as a drawing tablet page.
Photoshop, Affinity Photo and Acorn have their own entries. Hold a bumper to keep resizing the brush, the way a held key would.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Pixelmator Pro and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Cursor left |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Cursor right |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Cursor up |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Cursor down |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll up |
| Right trigger | Left click | Paint / click |
| LB / L1 | [ | Smaller brush ([) |
| RB / R1 | ] | Larger brush (]) |
| A / Cross | B | Brush tool (B) |
| B / Circle | E | Eraser (E) |
| X / Square | Command (Left), Z | Undo |
| Y / Triangle | Command (Left), Shift (Left), Z | Redo (Cmd+Shift+Z) |
| Left trigger | Alt / Option (Left) | Hold to color-pick (Alt) |
| Back / Share / Select | Command (Left), S | Save |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Does this match Photoshop?
The painting keys do, so the layout feels the same.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated