A common question that we get asked several times on Mega Voxels is what is pixel art? In this post we will explain what pixel art is and how it is created by pixel artists.
What exactly is Pixel Art?
Pixel art, also referred to as pixel artwork, is a type of art form where 2D images are designed entirely out of squares called pixels. Artists are able to create these 2D pixel images using a special type of software called a pixel art maker, commonly known as a pixel editor. Once created these images can be used for several purposes such as creating images that can be shared to different social sites such as Instagram or exported as 2D sprite files that can be used in video games and 2D animation.
If you want to learn how to make pixel art check out our free Pixel Art Tutorials!
What are pixels?
A pixel is a square, that is positioned on a grid in two-dimensional space. Pixels are combined to create a type of artwork referred to as pixel art or pixel artwork. In 2D graphics, a pixel is the smallest element in a raster image. If you were to zoom in onto an image you’ll notice that the whole image is composed entirely out of these squares. In addition to this you’ll notice that these squares are lined up perfectly to one another as if they were on a grid. These squares are called pixels and can only have a single color. When they are combined together they make up the 2D images that we see.
Standard Pixel Art and 3D Pixel Art Similarities and Differences
This is very similar to an standard voxel in three-dimensional space. This is important to note because it has many of the same qualities as 3D pixels in 3D models. For starters a pixel can only contain a single color at a time just like an 3D pixel can only have a single color. Also a pixel has an exact position inside of a 2D grid just like an 3D pixel has an exact position inside of a 3D grid. The difference though, is that a pixel has only two axis on the grid whereas a 3D pixel has an extra axis, the Z-axis, that allows it to be positioned in three dimensional space. This also gives the 3D pixel volume, in the sense that it is not just a 2D square in a grid like a standard pixel, but rather a 3D cube in a three dimensional grid. So if we were to translate this in the real world a standard pixel would be similar to a square piece of paper. You can see its height and width but really there is no depth to that sheet of paper. A 3D pixel on the other hand would be something like a cardboard box. While you can certainly see its height and width, the other thing that is very clear is it has depth as well.
So what exactly is pixel art? It’s actually the art of combining and coloring pixels. When combined an artist is able to create images that can be used for artwork and animation. A great example of this is in games such as Terraria. If you look at the main character, even the landscape, you’ll notice that all the artwork is made out of pixels. This character was actually made of several pixels, that in the end were colored to look like an adventurer.
Learn More > What are Pixels?
Who makes pixel art?
The awesome thing about pixel art is that any one can become a pixel artist, also known as a pixel creator. A pixel artist is a type of artist that makes pixel art by creating images made entirely out of pixels using a software called a pixel art maker. After their pixel art image is complete these artists can they use their pixel art in several different types of projects such as games and artwork.
> See the Best Pixel Art Ideas you Can Start Making on the Top Pixel Art Ideas
How do you make pixel art?
While you can definitely make pixel art images by manually writing positions inside of a text file, this is not easy and not feasible for the common pixel artist. Knowing this many software developers began to create specialized editors that gave artists tools to more effectively create images out of pixels while taking care of the file behind the scenes. As of today there are several pixel editor options to choose from when it comes to picking a pixel art maker for making pixel art. The most well known include Piskel which is a popular pixel editor for desktop machines, and Mega Voxels which is a free pixel editor app on iOS and Android developed by the Mega Voxels team.
Over time as the tools began to advance, artists have been able to make amazing pixel art, from hit mobile games to gorgeous pieces of digital art like the ones you see on the Mega Voxels channels.
> View the Best Pixel Editors of 2024
Pixel Art Genres
Over the years pixel art has expanded from being used for simple images like a cat or dog, to include complex images such as castles, houses, trees and even characters. Pixel artists have experimented with these different categories and have created exciting new creations previously not possible. Here are some of the best pixel art featured on Mega Voxels by genre:
- Best Pixel Art of 2022
- Best Voxel Art of 2023
- Best Pixel Art Animals
- Best Pixel Art Food
- Best Pixel Art Cars
- Best Pixel Art Sports
Types of Pixel Art
Pixel art has actually been around for a while and many different versions of pixels have risen in the past decade. However it is still based on the same concept: digital squared placed together to create an image. Here is a list of the most popular types.
Piskel
Piskel is a popular pixel editor for creating pixel art on desktop machines. A lot of the pixel artwork you see on Mega Voxels is created using the .PNG file type which is the standard file format for Piskel. What makes Piskel great, is it’s free to download and use. Most sites that sell pixel art will use this file type. If you are getting started with pixel art this is a good option since it is widely supported.
> Learn more about the Piskel Pixel Editor
Mega Voxels
Mega Voxels is the most popular mobile pixel art maker in the world for making pixel art developed by the Mega Voxels team for iOS and Android. This pixel editor comes with all the pixel editing tools that you would find in other popular software for creating pixel art plus more. One of its biggest benefits is that it is available for virtually every smart device. It supports .PNG files for importing pixel art images from other editors such as Piskel, Aseprite and Adobe Photoshop. However, it also ships with its own shop to access hundreds of different pixel images. It also includes various export formats including .PNG and .JPG which work in Adobe Products or game engines like Unity. This app is designed for beginners and is a popular choice since it is free.
> Learn more about Mega Voxels Pixel Editor
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is another very popular image editor especially amongst the traditional artists for designing pixel art. A large number of pixel art images that you can view and purchase today were made using this software. As mentioned before, Adobe Photoshop has an extremely large set of tools that you can use to make incredibly complex pieces of pixel art. It also supports numerous export options including .PNG, .JPG and .GIF.
> Learn more about the Adobe Photoshop
Pixel Based Games
Pixel-based games for the PC have seen a huge increase in popularity thanks to games like Stardew Valley and Terraria. These games use pixel systems to render thousands of pixel images in a scene at one time. While some of these games have additional objectives, one of their primary functions is to give creators the ability to build their own pixel creations.
> Learn more about the Best Pixel Art Games for 2024
How to Get Started
The nice thing about pixel art is it’s incredibly easy to get started. Here are some links to help get you started. First start off by choosing a Pixel Art Maker. Check out our article on the Best Pixel Editors to learn which pixel editor can work best for you. Once you’re ready to start designing your own pixel art check out our free page Pixel Art Tutorials to learn how to make your very first pixel art image.
