Pixeluvo is a Windows‑only photo editor that can be run on Ubuntu 20.04 by using Wine, so the article begins by explaining how to add 32‑bit support and install the necessary Wine packages. The guide then walks through creating a clean wine prefix, installing missing Microsoft runtimes with winetricks, downloading the Pixeluvo installer, and launching it under Wine while noting where to find the executable afterward. An optional section shows how to create a desktop shortcut so that the program appears alongside native apps, and it gives practical tips for adjusting UI scaling on HiDPI screens. Finally, the article lists common pitfalls such as missing architecture settings or shared‑object errors, offers quick fixes, and reminds readers that performance may lag behind the Windows version, suggesting lighter alternatives like GIMP or Darktable if needed.

How To Install Pixeluvo on Ubuntu 20.04

Pixeluvo is a Windows‑only photo editor that looks pretty slick, but if you’re running Ubuntu 20.04 you’ll have to do the “wine thing” to get it working. Below are the exact steps I use every time, plus a couple of hacks for those snags that pop up.

Step 1: Install Wine and Enable 32‑bit Support

Ubuntu ships with a pretty recent Wine build, but you’ll need to add the 32‑bit architecture first so that Windows programs can run. Open a terminal and paste:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine64 wine32 winetricks -y

The dpkg line lets your system understand both 64‑bit and 32‑bit packages, which is essential because Pixeluvo is a 32‑bit application. I’ve seen this exact error pop up on other laptops after a kernel upgrade: “cannot open shared object file”. That’s why the architecture tweak comes first.

Step 2: Create a Clean Wine Prefix

Pixeluvo doesn’t play well with leftovers from other Windows installs, so it pays to start fresh. Pick a folder in your home directory:

mkdir -p ~/wine-pixeluvo
export WINEPREFIX=~/wine-pixeluvo

Now you’re telling Wine to use this new prefix instead of the default one. It’s like giving Pixeluvo its own sandbox.

Step 3: Install Required Windows Libraries with Winetricks

Pixeluvo depends on some old Microsoft runtime DLLs. The easiest way to get them is via winetricks:

winetricks corefonts vcrun2015

• corefonts gives the fonts Pixeluvo expects.
• vcrun2015 pulls in Visual C++ 2015, which covers most of the DLLs needed.

If you run into a “missing MSVCR120.dll” error later, that’s exactly what this step solves.

Step 4: Download the Pixeluvo Installer

Head over to the official Pixeluvo download page and grab the latest Windows installer. Save it somewhere handy, e.g.:

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://www.pixeluvo.com/downloads/PixeluvoSetup.exe

Step 5: Run the Installer with Wine

Now launch the installer:

wine PixeluvoSetup.exe

Follow the on‑screen prompts like you would on a Windows PC. When asked for a license key, type in your activation code. After installation finishes, you’ll find Pixeluvo.exe inside the new prefix:

ls ~/wine-pixeluvo/drive_c/Pixeluvo/

Step 6: Create a Desktop Shortcut (Optional but Handy)

If you want to launch Pixeluvo from the Activities overview, create a .desktop file:

cat <<EOF > ~/.local/share/applications/pixeluvo.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Pixeluvo
Exec=wine /home/$(whoami)/wine-pixeluvo/drive_c/Pixeluvo/Pixeluvo.exe
Icon=/home/$(whoami)/wine-pixeluvo/drive_c/Pixeluvo/icon.png
Type=Application
Categories=Graphics;Photography;
EOF

Reload your menu or log out and back in, then you can find Pixeluvo just like any native app.

Common Pitfalls & Quick Fixes

• “Cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory” – Usually means the 32‑bit architecture line was missed. Re‑run the sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 command.
• UI scaling issues on HiDPI displays – Add this to your .desktop file:

Exec=wine /home/$(whoami)/wine-pixeluvo/drive_c/Pixeluvo/Pixeluvo.exe --scale=1.5

• Performance hiccups – Pixeluvo is a heavy program; running it inside Wine will inevitably be slower than on Windows. If you’re only doing basic edits, consider GIMP or Darktable instead.

That’s the whole shebang. Install, tweak, and enjoy your favorite photo editor on Ubuntu 20.04 without having to jailbreak Windows.