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Course on creating Pixel Art: A Practical Guide
Learn MoreCreating pixel art is possible in a variety of graphic editors, including Photoshop. However, it should be noted that many of these programs can be excessive due to the presence of too many additional features or their cost can be quite high.
For artists creating pixel art and using only certain software features, specialized pixel graphics editors are the optimal solution. These tools are designed with pixel art in mind and offer features that make the drawing process much easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
In this article, we present the best programs for creating pixel art and animation.
Aseprite
The Aseprite platform is available on Steam, and there is also a free open-source version called LibreSprite.
The cost is $19.99 or 435 rubles. You can also get the program for free if you create it yourself using open source code.
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Aseprite is considered one of the most sought-after tools for creating pixel art and animation, and knowledge of it is often indicated in the requirements for candidates for pixel artist positions. This editor has an intuitive interface and a set of convenient tools. For example, it provides pre-configured color palettes and a special mode designed for drawing shadows. The tilemap feature significantly speeds up the process, and various "onion peel" modes allow you to simultaneously view the current, previous, and next frames while creating an animation. Additionally, the program offers a real-time animation preview and automatically removes unnecessary pixels to achieve clean lines.
Aseprite is a feature-rich and customizable graphics editor that allows users to create their own brushes, scripts, and extensions. It is also possible to download ready-made resources from the itch.io platform, both paid and free. This editor supports indexed images, meaning that the pixel colors in the image are linked to a specific palette in memory. Changing the color in the palette will change all the pixels linked to it. The program interface is in English, but localization is available.
The editor is an excellent choice for both experienced users and beginners, as it has an intuitive interface and has gained great popularity, which contributes to the abundance of available training materials. Additionally, Aseprite can be obtained for free by building the program from open source code. Detailed compilation instructions are available on Reddit (in English).
Pixelorama
Pixelorama is available on both GitHub and Steam.
Price: Available free of charge on the official website and GitHub, on Steam the price is $10.
Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
This free, open-source software provides full access to all updates. One of the convenient aspects is the availability of a web version that can be used directly in the browser without downloading it to your computer. Pixelorama is similar to Aseprite: in this application, you can draw during animation playback, create perfect lines in a specialized mode, and apply preset color palettes and various processing effects.
Pixelorama has the ability to integrate 3D models, which allows you to add volumetric elements to two-dimensional images. The program automatically converts the added 3D shapes into pixels. Don't worry about unexpected app crashes, as Pixelorama offers a data recovery feature that will work if the program terminates abnormally.
Pyxel Edit
Website: Pyxeledit
Price: Free version with limited features or $9 for the full version.
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux using Wine.
First of all, it's worth noting that this is an excellent tile editing tool that also supports animation creation. Pyxel Edit allows you to edit tiles directly in an existing image, allowing you to observe their interaction. After completing your work, you can export the tileset and directly load it into your project, which is especially convenient when developing games with repeating environmental elements.
The animation tool is implemented in tile format, which allows you to conveniently customize each frame separately. Animations created with it can be saved as sprite sheets or in GIF format. In addition, the program provides ready-made color palettes and many useful functions for working with color.
The editor is distinguished by its simplicity and clarity. It's easy to learn just by experimenting with the different buttons and functions.
Piskel
Piskel is a project available on GitHub.
Price: Free
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Another open-source program offers many conveniences. One of its main advantages is the availability of a web version, which eliminates the need for users to install the application – they can draw directly in the browser. Piskel's interface is simple and intuitive, but its functionality is somewhat limited compared to Aseprite. Therefore, this application is primarily suitable for creating simple artwork, uncomplicated sprites, and basic animation. Users can also draw while the animation is playing, making changes to frames on the fly, and finished animations can be exported in various formats.
Thanks to its accessibility and simplicity, Piskel is an excellent choice for those new to the world of pixel art. It allows you to start your creative journey without any expenses, and as you gain skills, you can move on to more complex and professional tools.
Pixel Studio
Platform: Pixel Studio on Steam
Price: Free
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
An easy-to-use editor for creating frame-by-frame drawings and animations that will be useful for both beginners and experienced users. The program offers the ability to draw on both a computer and mobile devices, with the ability to sync projects via Google Drive across different platforms. It also supports both portrait and landscape orientations.
Pixel Studio provides users with a variety of tools for convenient color management, including built-in palettes, the ability to draw gradients, and the ability to capture palettes from images. The editor can be customized to suit individual preferences: it is possible to customize the toolbar and create custom brushes. Additionally, the program offers a sprite library, a unique pencil for drawing shadows and highlights, a special mode for creating seamless textures, and many other useful features.
Pixel Studio features auto-save and backup features. You can export your animation as a GIF, sprite sheet, or regular image sequence and share it with others on the Pixel Network.
GameMaker
Website: GameMaker
The cost of use is: zero dollars - for non-commercial projects and educational purposes; one-time $99.99 - for commercial development, if you intend to launch the game on PC and mobile devices; $79.99 monthly (or $799.99 if paid once a year) - for commercial projects if the game will also be available on consoles.
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Ubuntu
This game engine is designed for developing 2D games and provides the ability to draw and edit sprites. It is ideal for those who want to create pixel games, rather than just pixel art. However, it is worth noting that GameMaker has a limited number of drawing tools compared to graphics programs designed specifically for working with art. At the same time, images created in this engine can be instantly used in a project, eliminating the need to export them from other editors.
This engine can load sprites, animations, tilesets, and backgrounds. It provides the ability to create cutscenes and automatically generate tiles. In addition, it has a debugger that helps quickly identify and fix errors.
GameMaker has been used in the development environment for games such as Undertale, Peace, Death! and Loretta.
Pro Motion NG
Platform: Pro Motion NG and its Steam version
Price: Free version with limited features; $19 or 699 rubles - full version with access to all tools.
Platforms: Windows
The program has a wide range of features that are not available in Aseprite, such as color cycling and animated tiles. One of the main advantages of Pro Motion NG is the ease of integrating assets into game engines such as Unity.
This program was modeled after the famous Amiga Deluxe Paint, which in the 80s and 90s was the benchmark for pixel game development. Pro Motion NG continued this tradition and has remained a standard in the gaming industry for the past twenty years. This editor is actively used by companies such as Ubisoft, Glu Mobile, Halfbrick, WayForward, Gameloft, Digital Eclipse, and others.
Pro Motion NG offers advanced layer management capabilities, including grouping, adjusting transparency, locking, and applying various effects. The program includes a tilemap editor that automatically optimizes, mirrors, and modifies tiles. Additionally, it offers a line straightener for creating neat outlines, over 25 coloring modes, as well as filters, fills, gradients, and indexed color palettes.
Pro Motion NG requires a deeper learning curve than some other applications, and mastering it can be more challenging than many expect. However, the editor offers a wide range of tools ideal for developing traditional retro pixel art for video games.
GraphicsGale
Website: GraphicsGale
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows
Great for animating sprites. Provides the ability to preview the animation in real time while editing, which helps avoid unnecessary interruptions.
When creating frame-by-frame animation, all frames are arranged in a single row at the bottom of the workspace. The user can manually rearrange them, copy each frame, and adjust various parameters, including transparency level and on-screen display duration. There are also effects that can be applied to all frames at once, such as canvas rotation or changing brightness and saturation. Completed frames can be exported as a single image, a collection of individual images, or an animated GIF.
A new animation can be created from scratch, and it is also possible to load an image obtained from a scanner or camera into the editor. GraphicsGale offers a wide range of features focused on pixel art. These include palette management, the ability to selectively remove colors, replace them, and combine similar shades.
This editor has a more complex structure compared to several other programs, but it offers a wide range of useful functions and is also actively used in game development.
GrafX2
Website: GrafX2
Price: free
Operating systems: Ubuntu, Android, Haiku, macOS, Windows, Linux and others.
Like Pro Motion NG, this editor continues the tradition of the Deluxe Paint program, developed for Amiga systems. GrafX2 is focused on creating images with 256 colors using an indexed color palette. The program's arsenal includes both familiar tools for working with pixel graphics and more innovative tools, such as an airbrush, shapes with a gradient fill, and various effects, including blurring and anti-aliasing.
GrafX2 features a convenient dual-view mode, allowing you to simultaneously view a magnified version of an image and its original size. All changes made to your work are reflected in both windows. The program offers extensive customization options, including the ability to create your own hotkeys, allowing you to hide the toolbar and rely solely on mouse and keyboard interaction. In addition, GrafX2 can be modified independently by adding updates using lua scripts.
PyxleOS
The PyxleOS project can be found on GitHub and SourceForge.
Price: Free
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, and any other platforms that provide JVM support.
Open source software. Since PyxleOS is developed in Java, it can run on any platform that provides support for this language.
In PyxleOS, users can create icons, sprites, tiles, and animations. This program is distinguished by its simplicity and accessibility, however, it is worth noting that this approach leads to a lack of many interesting features available in other applications. This editor is unlikely to be the right tool for complex and detailed work; Rather, it is intended for initial mastery of pixel art before moving on to more professional programs.
Professional tools for digital art: Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, and Clip Studio Paint
Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, and Clip Studio Paint are programs that are widely used for editing images and creating digital art. Each of these applications has its own unique features and capabilities, which makes them popular among artists and designers.
Photoshop, developed by Adobe, offers powerful tools for working with graphics and photos, including advanced image editing and processing features. This software is often used by professionals in various fields, such as graphic design and photography.
GIMP, a free alternative to Photoshop, provides many features for editing images. Although less well-known among professionals, its open source nature and flexibility make it an excellent choice for those who want to work with a powerful tool without spending money.
Krita, in turn, is focused on digital painting and illustration. This program attracts artists thanks to its intuitive interface and a set of brushes that allow you to create unique works of art. Krita is often chosen by animators and illustrators for its functionality and ease of use.
Originally created for comics and manga, Clip Studio Paint offers powerful drawing and animation tools. This program is popular among artists working in the comic genre due to its specialized features, such as support for layers and templates.
Each of these applications has its own strengths, allowing the user to choose the right solution depending on their needs and skill level.
The pricing of the software is as follows: Photoshop is available for a price of $19.99 per month, while GIMP and Krita are completely free to use. As for Clip Studio Paint, its price starts at $54 for a one-time purchase.
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, and some versions also run on Android and iOS.
Pixel art can be created using well-known traditional graphic editors. While this approach may be less convenient than using specialized programs, it offers significantly more tools and capabilities for image editing.
To create pixel art in such editors, it's important to set a low canvas resolution to ensure individual pixels are clearly visible. Using simple tools, such as the pencil or a basic brush, is the optimal approach. While this process can be somewhat tedious, especially for animation, it's suitable for those already familiar with the program and its interface. In addition, you can find many tutorials on pixel art for Photoshop online, for example, this video tutorial on YouTube.
