It seemed that pixel graphics had become obsolete a long time ago. There are many new formats (much better). But it turned out that the pixel graphics are still alive. It is still used in games, memes, various programs. Pixel graphics is slowly becoming a new form of art that has the right to life only on the Internet. But this does not make her at least any specific. To realize your artistic ambitions, you will first have to choose the right software. There is a great option. "Pixel art Studio" - a free program for drawing pixel art. It will help to realize the most daring projects. We will consider all its main options, but first we’ll figure out what the phrase “pixel art” means.
What is pixel art?
Creating pixel art involves drawing complex graphic objects from simple shapes. A full-fledged picture is created from small squares (pixels), which are painted manually and give the image the desired color, volume and shape. Previously, this is how icons for launching applications (shortcuts) were created. Some of them are created to this day. Pixel Art is currently used in a wide variety of fields. It is used in 2D games, simple cartoons, memes on the Internet and in some programs. Which is pretty strange. However, it is worth recognizing that pixel art looks pretty funny.
To work in this style, any graphic editor will do. Even the notorious Photoshop. But it is much easier to use a specialized application, which was created just in order to work with just such graphics. Such a program is a free product called Pixel Art Studio. There are versions for Windows and Mac OS. The corresponding versions can be found in the Windows store and in the AppStore. Now let's analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the application.
Software Product Benefits
So, "Pixel Art Studio" is a program for drawing pixel art for a PC. She has an impressive list of benefits.
- The utility is completely free. Anyone can download and install it.
- The program has the most simple and intuitive interface (albeit without the Russian language). Even a beginner will figure it out.
- The product does not have a huge number of tools, like more advanced editors. This allows you to not get lost in tools and settings.
- The program supports working with layers. Like any high-quality graphic editor.
- The utility works very quickly even on old and weak machines (although it is optimized for Windows 10). This rarely happens.
- Understanding the principle of operation of the basic tools is not difficult. For the most part, these are simple geometric shapes and lines.
- The program for drawing pixel art has in its asset a very rich reference material with a bunch of lessons. Here are just the whole text in English. But there is nothing to worry about. The translator from Google will quickly and accurately explain what is written there.
Program disadvantages
As befits an ordinary application, Pixel Art Studio has a set of shortcomings. Of course, there are fewer of them than advantages, but they are.
- The program has a rather meager set of functions and tools: a couple of lines, several shapes, a palette of colors, a canvas with pixels and several editing tools. That's all.
- This pixel graphics editor does not allow you to create high-quality content. Maximum image quality is artificially limited.
- In this program, there is no way to create an animated pixel art. And this is very important for games, cartoons and memes. The hobby of the application is static pixel images. Not capable of a larger software product. But it is completely free.
Why not use Photoshop?
The fact is that the graphics editor from Adobe is a very sophisticated product. In order to successfully work in it, you need to study for a long time. And in the case of pixel art, everything is complicated at all. We'll have to shovel a mountain of literature on the topic "How to draw pixel art in Photoshop." This editor is good for those who are already used to it. And beginners will simply be lost in the abundance of tools and functions. Although we must give it its due: the product does its job perfectly and can do almost anything with the image. Also in "Photoshop" there are animation options that are suitable for creating cartoons in the style of "pixel art". In general, you can use Photoshop to draw stylish pictures in pixels. But only if you are ready to spend a lot of time on training. Do not forget that Photoshop is a paid product. And the subscription is very expensive.
Positive app reviews
Back to our pixel art drawing program. What do users say about Pixel Art Studio? It is worth noting that opinions were divided. Some users claim that this is a powerful and convenient tool for creating masterpieces. They praise the ease of use and the availability of all the basic tools. Also, users like the intuitive interface and design of the program, made in a minimalist style. The utility fits perfectly into the standard Windows 10 interface. In addition, users note a very high speed of the software product. Pixel Art Studio really works faster than more sophisticated graphic editors. And the owners of relatively old PCs claim that this application behaves perfectly even on their ancient machines. In general, everything is fine with the optimization of the program.
Negative Pixel Art Studio reviews
All positive reviews are left by those who have just begun to plunge into the fascinating world of computer graphics. Negative comments belong to those who have nothing easier than how to draw pixel art in Photoshop. These comrades claim that Pixel Art Sutdio is a useless app for those who want to draw in cells. Professionals say that in this program there is absolutely nothing to praise it for: a meager set of tools, there are no additional functions, there is no way to animate objects. Also, many note fundamentally the wrong mechanism for working with layers. Be that as it may, this software product is not intended for professionals, but for beginners. So on the reviews of "specialists" you can not pay attention.
Conclusion
So to summarize. Pixel Art Studio is a great new pixel art app for beginners. It has an interface that is clear and not overloaded with various unnecessary elements and a minimal set of tools for creating simple images. At the same time, this product does not suit professionals in any way, since it cannot satisfy their needs with its functionality. In any case, drawing pixel art in this program is much simpler than in the notorious Photoshop. If a product is required in order to get started, there is nothing better than Pixel Art Studio.