What is Pixel Art Editor?
Pixel Art Editor is a browser-based drawing tool designed for creating pixel art and sprite animations. Whether you're designing retro game characters, icons, or animated sprites, this editor provides all the essential tools you need without installing any software.
Who Is This For?
- Game developers — quickly prototype character sprites and tiles
- Digital artists — create pixel art with classic palettes like PICO-8 and Game Boy
- Hobbyists — explore pixel art with an intuitive, easy-to-use editor
- Designers — make pixel-perfect icons and small graphics
Your Data Stays Private
All drawing and processing happens entirely in your browser:
- No uploads — your artwork never leaves your device
- No accounts — start drawing immediately, no sign-up needed
- No tracking — we don't collect any usage data
How to Use Pixel Art Editor
Getting Started
Choose a Canvas Size
Select from 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, or 64x64 pixels using the dropdown in the top bar. The 16x16 size is ideal for most game sprites and icons.
Pick a Color
Click a color from the palette on the right panel, or use the color picker for custom colors. Recent colors are automatically saved for quick access.
Select a Tool
The Pen tool is selected by default. Click or drag on the canvas to start drawing. Use keyboard shortcuts for faster tool switching.
Export Your Art
Click "Export PNG" and choose a scale (1x to 32x) to download your creation with transparency preserved.
Drawing Tools
Pen B
Draw individual pixels or freehand strokes with precision control.
Eraser E
Remove pixels to make them transparent, perfect for cleanup work.
Fill G
Flood-fill a connected area with the current color instantly.
Eyedropper I
Click any pixel to pick its color. Right-click anywhere as a quick shortcut.
Line L
Click and drag to draw a straight line between two points.
Rectangle R
Click and drag to draw a rectangle outline for frames and borders.
Navigation
Zoom
Pan
Grid
Creating Animations
Add Frames
Click the + button in the Frames section to add a new frame to your animation sequence.
Draw Each Frame
Draw on each frame to create your animation sequence. You can duplicate frames to speed up the process.
Enable Onion Skin
Enable Onion Skin to see previous/next frames as semi-transparent overlays for smoother transitions.
Preview & Export
Click Play to preview your animation, adjust the FPS to control speed, then click Export GIF to save.
Features
Drawing Tools
Six essential pixel art tools with keyboard shortcuts for fast workflow:
- Pen for freehand drawing
- Eraser for removing pixels
- Fill for flood-filling areas
- Eyedropper for color sampling
- Line for straight lines
- Rectangle for outlines
Color Palettes
Choose from 6 carefully curated preset palettes used by pixel artists worldwide:
- PICO-8 — iconic 16-color fantasy console palette
- Sweetie 16 — modern, versatile 16-color palette
- Game Boy — classic 4-color green palette
- NES — full Nintendo Entertainment System colors
- Endesga 32 — popular 32-color palette for detailed sprites
- Lospec 500 — vibrant 34-color community palette
Mirror Mode
Draw symmetrical art effortlessly with automatic mirroring:
- Horizontal mirror for left-right symmetry
- Vertical mirror for top-bottom symmetry
- Both modes for four-way symmetry
- Perfect for character sprites, icons, and patterns
Animation Support
Create frame-by-frame animations with professional tools:
- Multiple frames with duplicate and delete options
- Preview animation at adjustable FPS
- Onion Skin mode for alignment
- Export as GIF with chosen frame rate
Flexible Export
Export your pixel art in multiple formats and scales:
- PNG export at 1x to 32x scale
- GIF export for animations
- Transparent pixels preserved
- High-resolution output for any use case
Keyboard Shortcuts
Speed up your workflow with intuitive shortcuts:
- Single-key tool shortcuts (B, E, G, I, L, R)
- Standard Ctrl+Z/Y for undo/redo
- Right-click for instant eyedropper
- Rapid color picking while drawing
Frequently Asked Questions
What canvas sizes are available?
You can choose from 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, or 64x64 pixels. The 16x16 size is selected by default, which is ideal for most game sprites and small icons. Larger sizes like 32x32 and 64x64 are perfect for more detailed character sprites or tile sets.
Can I use my own custom colors?
Yes. While 6 preset palettes are provided, you can click the color swatch to open a full color picker or type any hex color code directly into the hex input field. This gives you unlimited color options beyond the preset palettes.
How does Mirror Mode work?
When you enable horizontal mirror, everything you draw on one side of the canvas is automatically mirrored to the other side. Vertical mirror does the same top-to-bottom. Enable both for four-way symmetry, which is especially useful for character faces, shields, and decorative patterns.
How do I create an animated sprite?
Click the "+" button in the Frames section to add frames. Draw each frame of your animation, then click Play to preview it. You can adjust the FPS (frames per second) to control the animation speed. When satisfied, click "Export GIF" to download the animation.
What is Onion Skin?
Onion Skin is an animation aid that shows the previous frame in red and the next frame in blue as semi-transparent overlays on your current frame. This helps you see how your frames align and create smoother animations with better motion flow.
What export scales are available?
You can export at 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, or 32x scale. For example, a 16x16 canvas exported at 8x produces a 128x128 pixel image. The exported PNG preserves transparency for pixels you haven't drawn on, making it perfect for game sprites and icons.
Is my artwork saved?
Can I zoom in for detailed work?
Yes. Use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out. The zoom centers on your cursor position. You can also hold the middle mouse button to pan around the canvas when zoomed in. A small 1x preview in the corner shows you the actual-size result as you work.
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