PNG layer question

Talk about Pixelmator Pro, share tips & tricks, tutorials, and other resources.
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2018-06-13 16:13:02

Does Pixelmator Pro open layered png files and retain the layers? I work with a lot of layered png images... But Pixelmator would flatten the image upon opening it.
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2018-06-13 17:47:18

Hi Stevie.

I'd never heard of layered PNG files so I had to google them. What I found suggests that they are non-standard PNG files created by Adobe Fireworks. Is this correct?

If that is the case, I doubt that Pixelmator Pro supports them but, if you can give me the URL to one or upload one on the unofficial Pixelmator discord site (https://discord.gg/wsJukbr), I'll happily load the file into Pixelmator Pro and let you know what result I get.

I found some information here (https://superuser.com/questions/50044/h ... -fireworks) that might also be useful.

- Stef.
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2018-06-13 17:58:10

Yes... I have been using Adobe Fireworks for years just for this feature. I'd love to move away from it... But I have an entire library of images that rely on this feature. The attached icon is a two-layer image...

Image
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2018-06-13 18:22:25

I'm sorry to say that the image just loaded into Pixelmator Pro as a single layer:
Image
If you want to convert your library I think you're faced with the option of loading each image into Fireworks and exporting in another format that supports layers (I think Fireworks supports .psd) or finding an app that can do a batch conversion. The internet tells me that the wonderfully named XnViewMP (https://www.xnview.com) can do batch conversions and can import layered PNG files. Don't get your hopes up yet, though. The internet frequently lies.

(edit: re-reading the comment I think that XnViewMP is flattening PNGs on conversion. It might be worth checking out, though, just in case it isn't.)

All the best.

- Stef.
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2018-06-14 07:00:55

To be honest, I don't think any app other than Fireworks can open the layers in Fireworks PNGs — not even Photoshop. As an aside, the whole layered PNG thing is a fairly weird invention because it's a proprietary feature stuffed into an open format.