If you are a fan of the gaming world, with these programs to make pixel art you will feel part of the classic video games with which you used to entertain yourself in your childhood.
Pixel art is a graphic design style that is inspired by some video games that were very popular in the 80’s, known as arcade games. Translated textually, pixel art means “the art of pixels” or “art with pixels”.
“Pixel art is the rock art of computing. The first method used in a rudimentary way to capture an artistic expression or iconography on a screen. Today it has evolved into digital illustration. It evokes the retro, entertaining and playful“.
The free programs for pixel art are very varied, and choosing the right one will depend on many factors, although the main thing is the ease of use, the tools available and the price of the software. To help you decide, in this article we have created a list of the best programs to make pixel art.
In addition, we will give you some tips on how to design with the pixel art program of your choice and use this retro graphic design technique in a professional way. So if you want to learn more about the use of pixel art in video games or in your creative projects, give play to this article.
1. Aseprite
This pixel art program has a simple interface with intuitive and easy-to-use tools and you can make animations and symmetrical pixel drawings. Moreover, you will achieve great pixel art designs with this software.
2. Piskel
Another pixel art software that allows you to create animated pixel images. You only have to create a new layer (frame) and draw your character in another position. This way, you will be able to make a sequence with your creations.
have you already decided to use one of the best programs to make pixel art? In fact, it is quite intuitive and easy to use. When you enter the website, you just have to create an account and select the “Create sprite” option.
> Piskel
3. Gimp
This is a program to make pixel art that has similar functionalities to Photoshop, with the difference that Gimp is free. In short, it is a good tool to retouch and make photomontages of your pixel art drawings .
> Gimp
Source: YouTube
4. Krita
This program to make pixel art on PC is free and you can use it on Windows, Mac and Linux. It is quite intuitive, as it has tools that allow you to design pixel art drawings easily. As a plus, you can also use it for other types of illustrations.
> Krita
Source: YouTube
5. Pixilart
This is another program option for making pixel art online. Its website is quite easy to use and has options to change the brightness of the pixels, so you can achieve a more natural effect in your creations. In addition, you can make animations and view other users’ work to get inspiration for your drawings.
> Pixilart
Source: Pixilart
6. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is another software that will help you design your pixel art drawings easily. All you have to do is to create a template with 1×1 squares and use a special brush. Also, if you are interested in comics, this is a good tool to start creating them, one of the pixel art programs you can’t miss!
> Clip Studio Paint
Source: Clip Studio Paint
7. Illustrator
A graphic design program that you probably already know, but did you know that you can also make pixel art with it? just as you read it! Undoubtedly, it is a good tool to create pixel art pieces, even more if you already know the program.
> Illustrator
Source: YouTube
8. Excel
You probably didn’t expect it, but you can also make a pixel art drawing with Excel. If you haven’t noticed, every cell can represent a pixel for your creation. Pretty nifty, don’t you think? give it a try! We’re sure it will become your favorite pixel art program.
Excel
Source: Twitter
9. Adobe Photoshop
As you can see, there are a variety of programs to make pixel art, but you can also bring your ideas to life through the most popular 2D imaging software. Yes, we are referring to Photoshop. This program allows you to create pixel animations or drawings in a very easy way.
are you ready to make your own pixel art? Whether you want to create a piece or photo pixel to share on your social media account, or maybe you need a character for your retro video game, creating pixel art for your projects using Adobe Photoshop is super easy.
Adobe Photoshop
10. Pixel Studio
Pixel Studio was one of the first applications that made the dream of creating pixel art on mobile devices and graphics tablets a reality. This pixel art editor belonging to the video game company Hippo Games has more than two million >s worldwide and has been translated into 23 languages.
It is one of the oldest applications for making pixel art on the market, which has many advantages for lovers of this technique. Among its main benefits we can find:
It has a large number of functions to create pixel art graphics.
In addition to all the typical tools, Pixel Studio supports layers, as well as various image types and editable files .
It is compatible with the Samsung S-Pen and Apple Pencil.
Although it is a free pixel art app, it also includes some additional in-app purchases.
Pixel Studio on Android
Pixel Studio on iOS