Pixel Art Editor: Draw and Animate Sprites Online
This pixel art editor is a browser-based drawing tool for making pixel art, sprites, and small animations. Pick a canvas size, choose a color, and draw pixel by pixel with a pen, fill, line, and shape tools — no software to install and no sign-up.
Beyond single images, you can build frame-by-frame animations, mirror your strokes for instant symmetry, and pull colors from classic palettes like PICO-8 and Game Boy. When you are done, export a crisp PNG at up to 32x scale or an animated GIF. It is well suited to game developers prototyping sprites, digital artists, designers making pixel-perfect icons, and hobbyists exploring 8-bit art.
How to Use the Pixel Art Editor
Choose a canvas size
Use the size dropdown to pick 8 x 8, 16 x 16, 32 x 32, or 64 x 64 pixels. The 16 x 16 grid is selected by default and works well for most game sprites and small icons.
Pick a color
Click a swatch from a preset palette, type any 6-digit hex code, or open the color picker for a custom color. Colors you use are saved to the Recent Colors row for quick reuse.
Draw with the tools
The Pen is selected by default — click or drag on the canvas to draw. Switch to Eraser, Fill, Eyedropper, Line, or Rectangle as you go. Toggle the grid and zoom in for precise, pixel-level work.
Add animation frames (optional)
Add a frame, draw the next pose, and turn on Onion Skin to see the previous frame in red and the next in blue. Press Play and adjust the FPS to preview the motion.
Export your work
Choose an export scale from 1x to 32x to download a PNG, or export an animated GIF when you have more than one frame. Transparency is preserved in both formats.
Features
Six Drawing Tools
Pen for freehand strokes, Eraser, Fill for flood-filling areas, Eyedropper for sampling, Line, and Rectangle outlines.
Four Canvas Sizes
Switch between 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, and 64x64 grids to match icons, sprites, or larger artwork.
Six Preset Palettes
Draw with PICO-8, Sweetie 16, Game Boy, NES, Endesga 32, and Lospec 500 — palettes used by pixel artists worldwide.
Custom Colors
Type any hex value or use the native color picker, and reuse colors from the Recent Colors row.
Mirror Mode
Enable horizontal, vertical, or both mirrors to draw symmetrical sprites, faces, and patterns in one pass.
Frame Animation
Add, duplicate, and delete frames, then play the sequence at an adjustable FPS to preview your animation.
Onion Skin
See the previous frame in red and the next in blue as faint overlays to align movement smoothly.
Zoom, Pan & Grid
Scroll to zoom toward the cursor, middle-click drag to pan, toggle grid lines, and watch a 1x preview of the real result.
PNG & GIF Export
Export PNG at 1x to 32x scale or an animated GIF, with transparency kept intact in both formats.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Switch tools with B, E, G, I, L, R, undo and redo with Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y, and right-click for an instant eyedropper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pixel art editor free, and do I need to sign up or install anything?
It is free and runs entirely in your web browser. There is nothing to download and no account to create — open the page and start drawing right away.
What canvas sizes are supported?
You can choose 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, or 64x64 pixels from the size dropdown. The 16x16 grid is selected by default and is ideal for most game sprites and small icons.
Can I export my pixel art as a PNG and at a larger scale?
Yes. Export as a PNG at 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, or 32x scale. For example, a 16x16 canvas at 8x produces a crisp 128x128 image, and untouched pixels stay transparent.
How do I create an animated sprite?
Add frames in the Frames panel and draw each pose. Click Play to preview, adjust the FPS to set the speed, and click Export GIF to save the finished animation.
How do the fill, mirror, and grid tools work?
Fill flood-fills a connected area with the current color. Mirror Mode copies each stroke across the canvas — horizontal, vertical, or both for four-way symmetry. The grid toggle shows or hides pixel grid lines for cleaner viewing.
What is Onion Skin?
Onion Skin is an animation aid that shows the previous frame in red and the next frame in blue as faint overlays on your current frame, so you can align movement and create smoother motion.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. Touch is supported — draw with one finger, and use two fingers to pinch-zoom and pan around the canvas.
Is my artwork saved automatically?
No. The editor works within your current browser session and does not save automatically, so export your work as PNG or GIF before closing the page.
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