Piskel

Piskel

Piskel is a free online editor for sprites and pixel art. It allows users to easily create animated sprites and pixel art with a simple interface and tools like layers, palettes, onion skinning, and export animations as GIFs or spritesheets.
pixel-art sprite-editor animation gif layers onion-skinning

Piskel: Free Online Editor for Sprites and Pixel Art

Piskel is a free online editor for sprites and pixel art. It allows users to easily create animated sprites and pixel art with a simple interface and tools like layers, palettes, onion skinning, and export animations as GIFs or spritesheets.

What is Piskel?

Piskel is a free web-based application for spriting, pixel art and animated GIFs. It offers users an intuitive and simple interface to get started quickly with creating pixel art or animations.

Some key features of Piskel include:

  • Intuitive interface with pen, erase, color pickers, shape tools, layers, onion skinning, etc.
  • Supports both frame-by-frame and tweening animation workflows
  • Import images to use as references or templates
  • Animated preview to check GIFs or sprite sheets
  • Color palettes for consistent use of colors
  • Export animations as GIF, APNG or sprite sheets
  • Supports transparency and onion skinning
  • Keyboard shortcuts for efficient workflow
  • Cross-platform - works on desktop and mobile browsers
  • Free and open source

Piskel is highly versatile for designing game sprites, pixel icons, animated images or assets for 8-bit style games. The easy learning curve makes it suitable for beginners, students and hobbyists to bring their pixel art ideas to life.

Piskel Features

Features

  1. Pixel art editor
  2. Layers and frames
  3. Onion skinning
  4. Palette support
  5. Export animations as GIF or spritesheet

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Intuitive interface

Active community support

Cross-platform - works on desktop and mobile browsers

Ideal for game developers, pixel artists and animators

Cons

Limited features compared to desktop pixel art software

File size limitations for exports

Less control over animation compared to other tools

Can be slow on lower end devices


The Best Piskel Alternatives

Top Photos & Graphics and Pixel Art & Sprite Editors and other similar apps like Piskel


Aseprite icon

Aseprite

Aseprite is a feature-rich software specifically designed for creating 2D sprite graphics and pixel art animations. It is commonly used by indie game developers, pixel artists, and animators to produce retro-style graphics and animations for video games.Some key features of Aseprite include:Pixel-perfect workflow optimized for creating authentic retro graphics stylesLayers...
Aseprite image
Pyxel Edit icon

Pyxel Edit

Pyxel Edit is a feature-packed pixel art and tilemap editor designed specifically for artists and game developers. It includes a wide range of versatile drawing and mapping tools tailored for easily creating captivating pixel art assets and intricate game environments.The drawing tools allow you to create pixel-perfect art with features...
Pyxel Edit image
PixBuilder icon

PixBuilder

PixBuilder is an easy-to-use graphic design and image creation software aimed at non-professional users. It offers a wide range of ready-made templates, icons, shapes, graphics, text effects, and design effects that users can simply drag-and-drop to create flyers, invitations, menus, business cards, greeting cards, logos, and more with no design...
PixBuilder image
Pixelesque icon

Pixelesque

Pixelesque is a feature-rich pixel art and sprite editing software for Windows. It is designed specifically for creating and animating pixel art for video games, animations, and other projects.Some key features of Pixelesque include:Intuitive pixel art drawing and editing tools like pencil, eraser, color picker, shape tools, and more.Layer support...
Moai icon

Moai

Moai is an open-source 2D and 3D game engine designed for high-quality mobile games. It was created by Zipline Games in 2011 and then later released as open-source. Moai allows game developers to write the game logic in Lua scripting language and leverage Moai's built in libraries and APIs to...
Moai image
GraphicsGale icon

GraphicsGale

GraphicsGale is a feature-rich graphic design and sprite animation program. Developed by HumanBalance Co., Ltd., GraphicsGale has a simple yet powerful interface for creating and editing images and animations.Some key features of GraphicsGale include:Support for layers and frames for creating sprite sheets and image sequencesTilemap editing toolsVarious brushes and shape...
GraphicsGale image
PixelCraft icon

PixelCraft

PixelCraft is a feature-rich pixel art and sprite creation software designed to streamline the process of making 2D pixel art assets. With an intuitive interface and powerful editing tools, PixelCraft allows users to quickly bring their pixel art creations to life.At the core of PixelCraft is a flexible layer-based workflow...
PixelCraft image
PixelOver icon

PixelOver

PixelOver is a feature-rich graphic design and photo editing software used by professionals and hobbyists alike. It provides users with a wide range of tools for creating digital artwork from scratch as well as editing images.Some of the key features of PixelOver include:Intuitive interface with panels for layers, tools, editing,...
PixelOver image
Pixelorama icon

Pixelorama

Pixelorama is a free, open-source pixel art and sprite animation program. It provides a complete toolset for creating 2D pixel art for games, animations, and more.Some of the key features of Pixelorama include:Intuitive pixel art drawing and coloring tools like pencils, brushes, buckets, and color palettesOnion skinning and frame manipulation...
Pixelorama image
Pixel Studio for pixel art icon

Pixel Studio for pixel art

Pixel Studio is a free browser-based application for creating pixel art, sprite animations, and tilesets. It has an intuitive interface designed specifically for pixel-level artwork, with features tailored towards game development.Some key features of Pixel Studio include:Grid-based canvas up to 4K resolution for precision pixel drawingTools like pencils, erasers, shape...
Pixel Studio for pixel art image
Pixilart icon

Pixilart

Pixilart is a free web-based application for drawing and editing pixel art. It provides a complete pixel art editor and sprite creation tool aimed at game developers, graphic artists, and pixel art enthusiasts.Some key features of Pixilart include:Intuitive drawing tools like pencil, eraser, bucket fill, color picker, shape, text, and...
Pixilart image
PikoPixel icon

PikoPixel

PikoPixel is a free online photo editor that allows users to make basic edits to images easily through a web browser. It does not require any downloads or installations.With PikoPixel, users can crop, resize, rotate, and flip photos. There are also filters available like black and white, sepia, blur, sharpen,...
PikoPixel image
Cosmigo Pro Motion icon

Cosmigo Pro Motion

Cosmigo Pro Motion is a comprehensive motion graphics application designed for creating motion graphics, kinetic typography, 2D animation, titles, transitions, animated infographics, animated presentations, and visual effects for video production.It features a flexible node-based workflow that allows users to quickly assemble compositions by connecting effects, generators, masks, transformations, particle systems,...
Cosmigo Pro Motion image
Dotpict icon

Dotpict

Dotpict is a free online design tool used to easily create wireframes, prototypes, diagrams, illustrations, sketches, and more. It has a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows anyone to get started quickly without needing advanced design skills.With Dotpict, you can choose from a variety of ready-made templates like website...
Dotpict image
Jpixel icon

Jpixel

Jpixel is a free, open-source pixel art and sprite editor available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It provides a streamlined interface specifically designed for easily creating and editing pixel art graphics and sprite animations.Some key features of Jpixel include:Intuitive drawing and coloring tools - Includes a pencil, eraser,...
Jpixel image
PixelMaker icon

PixelMaker

PixelMaker is a feature-rich pixel art and sprite creation software designed for game developers, graphic designers, and pixel art enthusiasts of all skill levels. With an easy-to-use interface and a comprehensive set of professional pixel art tools, PixelMaker allows you to quickly bring your ideas to life.PixelMaker makes it simple...
PixelMaker image
Poxi icon

Poxi

Poxi is an open-source software load balancer and reverse proxy server. It is designed to improve the performance, security, and reliability of web applications and sites.Some key features of Poxi include:Caching - Poxi can cache static and dynamic content to reduce server load and improve site speedLoad balancing - Poxi...
Poxi image
Tilesetter icon

Tilesetter

Tilesetter is a free, open-source tilemap creation program for Linux systems. It allows game developers to easily create tilesets and tilemaps for use in 2D video games. Some key features of Tilesetter include:Intuitive interface for drawing and editing tilesMultiple layers for tilesA variety of tools such as copy/paste, reshape, color...
Tilesetter image
Lospec Pixel Editor icon

Lospec Pixel Editor

Lospec Pixel Editor is a free online pixel art editor that runs in the browser. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for beginners to start creating pixel art without having to download any software.Lospec provides basic drawing tools like pencil, eraser, paint bucket fill, shape...
Lospec Pixel Editor image
Grafx2 icon

Grafx2

Grafx2 is a powerful, open source bitmap paint program and pixel art editor. Originally released in 1992 as Ultimate Paint, Grafx2 was designed primarily for creating and editing video game graphics, sprites, icons, and other types of digital artwork where pixel precision is important.Some key features and capabilities of Grafx2...
Grafx2 image
Mtpaint icon

Mtpaint

Mtpaint is an open source raster graphics editor for Linux operating systems. It is designed to be a simple, intuitive and easy to use painting program that still provides useful features for basic image editing and drawing.Some key features of Mtpaint include:Supports layers for more advanced image editingIncludes various shape...
Mtpaint image
Pixel Proof icon

Pixel Proof

Pixel Proof is a cloud-based screenshot and feedback software designed for teams to visually collaborate. It has robust screenshot capabilities that allow users to capture full pages, selected regions, or custom areas and annotate them easily. Some key features of Pixel Proof include:Collaborative commenting and annotationsTask management with assignmentsVersion history...
Pixel Proof image
Pixel Art to CSS icon

Pixel Art to CSS

Pixel Art to CSS is a free online tool that converts pixel art images into CSS code. It is very easy to use - you simply upload your pixel art image, and the tool analyzes the colors and dimensions and automatically generates optimized CSS classes for each pixel.This allows you...
Pixel Art to CSS image
PaintCAD icon

PaintCAD

PaintCAD is a 2D CAD (computer-aided design) program used to create technical drawings, blueprints, schematics, diagrams, and plans. It has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface targeted towards novice and intermediate CAD users.Key features of PaintCAD include:A ribbon toolbar interface with various 2D drafting and annotation toolsIntelligent snapping tools for precision...
PaintCAD image
IconLover icon

IconLover

IconLover is a free, open source icon manager and viewer for Windows. It provides an easy way to browse, organize, and view icon image files in various formats including ICO, ICNS, BMP, GIF, PNG, XBM, and more.Some key features of IconLover include:Intuitive interface for browsing icon files and foldersSupport for...
IconLover image
Dottable icon

Dottable

Dottable is a user-friendly, cloud-based database management software designed for non-technical users. It provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows anyone to easily build relational databases, tables, forms, charts, and dashboards without needing to know how to code.Key features of Dottable include:Intuitive visual interface to model data and relationships between...
Dottable image