Support

Prose & Pigment is a reader for Markdown, text and code files on iPhone and iPad. It shows a file as a typeset page. It reads files; it does not edit them.

Questions, bugs and suggestions go to hello@crossedkeys.co. One person reads that address, and it is me.

Opening a file

From the Files app

1. Find a Markdown, plain-text or source-code file.
2. Use Share or Open With, and choose Prose & Pigment.

iOS lists every app that can read text, so Prose & Pigment may not be the default. Look for it in the list.

From inside the app

1. Open the app and tap Open a file.
2. Pick a file.

The back button at the top left closes a document. The home screen also has a welcome document that shows everything the app can display.

The app opens files. It does not take pasted or shared text yet.

What it shows

• Headings, lists, quotes, links and emphasis
• Code blocks in colour, in 19 languages: Bash, C, C++, CSS, diff, Go, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Kotlin, Markdown, Python, Ruby, Rust, SQL, Swift, TypeScript, XML and YAML
• Source files on their own, such as a .py or .swift file, shown highlighted
• Tables and callouts

The app hides front matter, the block between --- lines at the top of a note.

Links to web pages open in Safari. The app does not load pictures from the internet, so an image that points to a web address will not appear.

Files must be text in UTF-8. If a file is not, the app says so rather than show garbled characters.

Themes and appearance

Tap the gear, on the home screen or while reading, to open Settings.

• Appearance: Light, Dark, or System, which follows your device.
• Themes: choose one light theme and one dark theme. In System appearance the page switches with your device.
• Each theme pairs a reading font with a code font. All fonts are built in and work offline.
• Acknowledgements in Settings lists the fonts and themes and their licences.

Files in iCloud Drive

If a file is in iCloud Drive but not yet on your device, the app asks iOS to download it and tells you it is downloading.

If the download is slow or fails, the app shows a message with Retry and Close. Check your connection and that you are signed in to iCloud, then tap Retry.

Privacy

The app collects no data. It reads your files on your device and never uploads them. The privacy policy has the detail.

Requirements

iOS 18 or later, on iPhone or iPad.