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FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Pixel Editor

Frequently Asked Questions — Pixel Editor

What is the Pixel Editor?

Pixel Editor is a free browser-based pixel art creation tool built for the web. Draw pixel-by-pixel on canvases ranging from 8×8 icons to 64×64 sprites with a full suite of drawing tools, a curated terminal-inspired color palette, and lossless PNG export. Everything runs 100% client-side — no uploads, no accounts, no data leaves your device. It is purpose-built for game sprites, app icons, social media avatars, emoji-style art, retro game tiles, and pixel art animations.

What drawing tools are available in the Pixel Editor?

Pixel Editor includes eight essential pixel art tools: Pencil — freehand pixel drawing one cell at a time. Eraser — remove pixels precisely without affecting surrounding cells. Fill (Bucket) — flood-fill any enclosed region with the selected color instantly. Eyedropper — sample any color already on the canvas and set it as your active color. Line — draw perfect straight lines between two points. Rectangle — draw hollow rectangle outlines. Filled Rectangle — draw solid filled rectangles for backgrounds and shapes. Circle — draw pixel-perfect circles using Bresenham's circle algorithm.

What canvas sizes can I use for pixel art?

Choose from four standard canvas presets: 8×8 (icons and tiny sprites), 16×16 (classic NES/Game Boy game sprites and favicons), 32×32 (detailed sprites and emoji-style art), and 64×64 (game tiles and character sheets). You can also set a completely custom width and height for non-standard dimensions — perfect for pixel banners, social media graphics, or wide-format retro pixel scenes. The canvas can be zoomed in up to 32× for precise per-pixel editing of any size.

How do I export my pixel art as a PNG file?

Click any of the Export PNG buttons in the Export panel and choose your scale factor: 1×, 2×, 4×, or 8×. A 32×32 canvas exported at 8× produces a crisp 256×256 PNG. The download happens instantly in your browser using the Canvas API. The exported PNG preserves full transparency (alpha channel), making it perfect for game engines like Unity and Godot, web apps, Figma, Photoshop, and any design tool that requires transparent sprite backgrounds.

What is the terminal color palette?

The curated terminal color palette is inspired by classic terminal emulators and retro computing aesthetics: deep black backgrounds, phosphor greens, cyan highlights, warning yellows, alert reds, and muted earth tones. The palette produces visually striking, high-contrast pixel art — ideal for game sprites, hacker-aesthetic icons, and retro-style graphics. You can also use the full color picker and hex input to use any custom color outside the preset palette, giving you unlimited creative freedom.

What is the mirror/symmetry drawing tool?

The mirror tools let you draw symmetrically across the canvas. Mirror X reflects every pixel you draw horizontally — draw on the left side and it automatically appears mirrored on the right. Mirror Y reflects vertically — draw on the top half and it mirrors to the bottom. Enable both simultaneously for 4-way radial symmetry, perfect for creating symmetric icons, badges, geometric pixel art, and mandala-style designs. Toggle the mirror buttons in the canvas toolbar above the drawing area.

Does Pixel Editor support undo and redo?

Yes. Pixel Editor maintains a full undo/redo history for every drawing action. Press Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y (or Ctrl+Shift+Z) to redo. The history counter in the status bar shows how many undo steps are available. Undo and redo work across all tool types — pencil strokes, flood fills, lines, rectangles, circles, and clear-canvas actions — so you can experiment freely without fear of losing your work.

Can I use Pixel Editor on a tablet or touch device?

Yes. Pixel Editor supports touch events and stylus input on iPads and Android tablets. The drawing canvas responds to touch and drag for freehand drawing, and tap for single pixel placement. For the best mobile experience, use a tablet in landscape orientation with a stylus for precision pixel placement. Pixel Editor also installs as a Progressive Web App (PWA) from your browser's install option, giving you a full-screen, offline-capable experience without an app store.

What keyboard shortcuts does Pixel Editor support?

B — Pencil  |  E — Eraser  |  G — Fill  |  I — Eyedropper  |  L — Line  |  R — Rectangle  |  C — Circle  |  X — Swap primary/secondary colors  |  Ctrl+Z — Undo  |  Ctrl+Y — Redo  |  +/= — Zoom in  |  - — Zoom out  |  Space+drag — Pan canvas  |  Delete — Clear canvas. Press K to show the full keyboard shortcut overlay at any time.

Is the Pixel Editor free and private?

Yes, completely free and private. No account required, no uploads to any server, no tracking of your artwork. Pixel Editor runs 100% in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API and Web APIs. Your pixel art is processed and stored only on your device — never transmitted anywhere. One of 57+ free browser tools at jasperbernaers.com — built for developers, game designers, and anyone who loves retro pixel aesthetics.

⌨ Keyboard Shortcuts
BPencil
EEraser
GFill bucket
IEyedropper
LLine
RRectangle
CCircle
XSwap colors
Ctrl+ZUndo
Ctrl+YRedo
+ / =Zoom in
-Zoom out
Space+dragPan canvas
ScrollZoom
DelClear canvas
?This panel