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How to use the Pixel Art editor

Pixel Art creates images on a visible pixel grid. It is useful for game sprites, icons, objects, small characters, tiles, and animations with limited colors. Zoom in to place each pixel precisely, then zoom out to evaluate the whole silhouette.

Drawing and color

• Pencil. Places pixels in the active color. Use it for outlines, small details, and crisp lines.
• Eraser. Removes pixels from the selected layer. Use it to clean edges or correct details without painting over them.
• Dithering. Alternates pixel patterns to suggest shade, volume, or texture when you want to avoid a smooth gradient.
• Bucket fill. Fills a connected area of similar color. Make sure the outline is closed so the fill does not spill out.
• Color picker. Samples a pixel color from the active layer so you can reuse it and keep the palette consistent.
• Blur. Softens transitions and small pixel clusters. Use it sparingly when a color edge feels too harsh.
• Color mixing. Blends or drags nearby tones to integrate colored areas. In Pixel Art, a small brush and short strokes usually work best.

Geometric shapes

• Line. Draws a straight line between two points for edges, diagonals, and technical details.
• Rectangle. Draws a rectangle outline without filling its interior.
• Filled rectangle. Creates a solid rectangular block for buildings, panels, platforms, or simple objects.
• Circle. Draws an ellipse outline, useful for rings, eyes, and rounded contours.
• Filled circle. Creates a solid ellipse for heads, lights, buttons, and other rounded areas.
• Triangle. Draws a triangle outline for roofs, points, or angular elements.
• Filled triangle. Draws a filled triangle when you need a compact silhouette.

Selection and canvas navigation

• Rectangle selection. Defines a rectangular area so you can edit part of the image without changing the rest.
• Elliptical selection. Selects an oval or circular area for rounded shapes.
• Lasso. Draws a freehand border around an irregular object.
• Magic selection. Selects a connected region based on pixel color, useful for separating similarly colored areas.
• Pan view. Moves the canvas view to another area without modifying the drawing pixels.

Layers, color, and animation

Layers separate parts of an illustration so you can hide, lock, or edit them without redoing the whole drawing. The palette helps reuse colors; hue, saturation, and brightness controls let you create variations. Mirroring makes symmetrical designs easier, such as faces or front-facing objects.

For animation, each frame represents a moment in the action. Duplicate a frame to preserve the base and change only what is needed in the next one. Onion skin displays nearby frames as colored references, helping compare positions and create smoother movement. When finished, export an image or sprite sheet for another project.

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How to use the drawing and animation editor

This editor is designed for illustrations with different stroke styles, color, characters, manga or webcomic pages, and animated sequences. Choose a brush for the look you want, then adjust its size, color, and softness for the area you are drawing.

Brushes and strokes

• G Pen. Creates a clean, controlled stroke suitable for inking outlines, eyelashes, hair, and final linework.
• Pencil. Useful for sketches, constructing shapes, and lighter lines than final ink.
• Marker. Creates a wider, even stroke for accents, graphic silhouettes, and blocks of color.
• Dry ink. Adds irregularity and texture, ideal for rough outlines or a traditional look.
• Soft brush. Softens the edge of the stroke and helps build gentle shading, highlights, and transitions.
• Charcoal. Imitates a grainy, expressive mark for studies, sketches, and rough-looking shadows.
• Neon. Adds a glowing effect for lights, signs, energy, or stylized details.
• Custom stamp. Repeats a user-defined image as a stamp, useful for decorative motifs or recurring marks.
• Eraser. Erases strokes from the active layer; use it to clean a sketch before inking or to correct a line.

Color and effects

• Bucket fill. Fills a region to apply base color to a closed shape.
• Eyedropper. Samples a visible color to reuse for shadows, clothing, skin, backgrounds, or details.
• Airbrush. Applies color in a soft spray, useful for blush, ambient light, and gradual shadows.
• Blur. Softens color or stroke edges when areas look too harsh.
• Color smudge. Smears colors together like a finger, for painterly transitions and local blending.
• Sharpen. Strengthens details that have become too soft; apply selectively so the whole image does not become harsh.
• Texture. Adds grain and variation to surfaces, backgrounds, or uniform strokes.
• Gradient. Transitions between colors across an area, useful for backgrounds, lighting, or base colors.

Selection and movement

• Rectangular selection. Isolates a rectangular part of the drawing for moving or editing.
• Elliptical selection. Defines rounded areas such as a face, lens, or circular element.
• Lasso selection. Outlines an irregular silhouette freehand while including less background.
• Magic selection. Selects a region by color, useful for separating flat-color areas in an illustration.
• Pan view. Repositions the canvas view. It is not a brush; use it to navigate while drawing on a zoomed-in area.

Text, comics and shapes

• Text. Inserts lettering into an illustration, title, or panel; check the position before confirming.
• Line. Draws a straight segment for technical details, edges, or simple action lines.
• Panel frame. Draws a frame to organize a comic page or separate scenes.
• Speech bubble. Adds a dialogue or thought bubble for characters.
• Triangle. Creates an angular shape for compositions, icons, or geometric details.
• Star. Adds a decorative star or emphasis symbol.
• Heart. Draws a heart motif for icons, expressions, and decorations.
• Arrow. Indicates a direction or highlights an element of the composition.
• Diamond. Creates a diamond-shaped figure for decorations, gems, and patterns.
• Hexagon. Draws a six-sided shape for technical designs, geometric motifs, or icons.

Layers and animation

A simple setup may use separate layers for the sketch, ink, color, and background. Changing opacity can soften a sketch; locking a layer helps prevent accidental changes while coloring. Reference images can stay visible as a guide without necessarily becoming part of the final artwork.

In a sequence, each frame contains a pose or movement change. Use onion skin to compare the current drawing with nearby frames. Play the sequence to spot jumps, then export an image or the available video format when it is ready.

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Frequently asked questions