Leave a Review Pixely
Great At What It Does
I’ve used a number of small graphics applications on the iPad (or iPhone), and none of them ever seem to do it all. Most are just easy, obvious clones of each other with the standard functionality, using your photos (camera roll) to (inadequately) do the heavy lifting of managing files, and littering your photos with junk in the process.
Real work (even hobby work) requires something more, and Pixely provides just enough interaction with files and iCloud, and copy/paste with other apps, to make it really useful in creating pixel-based art. It has almost all of the tools one needs to create small pixel drawings (I mostly use it for 32 or 64 pixel wide icon-like images for games), including animated sequences.
It obviously can’t do everything… I need other tools to migrate my Pixely work into a finished product and refine it further (such as creating crowded sprite sheets, which I could do in Pixely, but it is just more easily done on my Mac). But it lets me comfortably and efficiently generate a pretty refined first step in the process.
There’s very little I’d change about Pixely, except perhaps to provide some online documentation, and an ability to move a selection instead of only copy/paste (and maybe a cut in addition to copy)… and maybe an option to export a collection of images into a single sprite sheet. The UI is a little rough around the edges, and not always entirely intuitive, but it’s all there, you can figure it out with practice, it all works, and it gets the job done.
Pixely is definitely one of the few apps I rate highly (or at all), and one of the very, very few that I have been using for years and keep going back to.Show lessLordBobTheFirst
Confused
This app looks really nice besides I can’t find out how to make a new drawing. I don’t know if I’m just missing something but I’ve been trying to figure it out for an hour. I also don’t know how to choose the amount of pixels I want in the canvas.Does anyone even read this
Almost 5 stars
This app NEEDS to support split view on the iPad. It would be great to have a reference photo from safari or the photos app next to the canvas. Also 11 inch iPad Pro aspect ratio support would be amazing. Otherwise great app with desktop class toolsXenoTeK
Developer Response
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to write a review and for using Pixely. Just to let you know, since your review indicates you're interested, split view support will be in the next feature release (version 13). If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email at help at pixely.app!HORRIBLE
I used to use this app years ago to edit images at the pixel level.
Now, it DOES NOT allow loading photos from any photo album. This has to be the only graphics app for the iPad that does not access photos!!! That is ridiculous!!! Drag and drop does not work either.
This app has taken a few steps backwards. 😔😔😔😔😔Show lessGauntletwielder
Developer Response
Hi -- sorry you're having trouble -- Pixely has always been able to load photos from all photo albums. Tap the + icon on the canvas bar and you'll see 'Import Photo'. Please consider updating your review with this information considered. Also, drag and drop (and, by that token, split view) are slated for the next feature release (version 13). Thank you!Good- Crashes are mostly fixed!
Update:
So, the app still crashes occasionally, but with the auto-save it’s essentially a non-issue. I’m not fairly certain that this is the best app available for pixel art on the iPad- and I definitely appreciate the developer response!
Original Review:
Overall, this is a nice, simple app that, while it doesn’t have some of the conveniences of a more advanced tool (eg selecting parts of an image, copy/paste, saving, and setting a color are all a little cumbersome) can produce images and animations that are a joy to make.
However, the biggest drawback (and it is a large one) is the lack of an auto save combined with frequent crashing. While editing large size canvases (over about 200x200 pixels) or using a large editing tool (the pencil tool on anything but the smallest setting) the app has a tendency to quit frequently and without warning. Since the app does not save work automatically, you will lose work even if you do remember to save frequently. At its worst, it makes work both extremely tense and maddeningly frustrating. Which is a shame, since most of the app is at least serviceable if not polished.
I’ll probably continue to use it, as it’s still the best pixel editing app I’ve found for the iPad, but the crashing issue is best to be aware of before you begin.Show lessstellar_iron
Developer Response
Update 2: The latest (v11) should prove even more stable -- at least according to the anonymous bug reports sent my way by iOS. Please reach out if you're still seeing sporadic issues. Thanks! Update: As promised, version 10 was just released with continuous auto-saving. Again, thanks for the feedback and please reach out if you need anything! Hi and thanks for taking the time to write a review! A few users have reported crashing problems and version 9.0, just released today, should help with that. If you experience any problems with the latest version, please reach out to me at feedback@pixely.info and I will do everything I can to resolve what issues are left. Also, you can look forward to auto-saving while editing in a near-future update. Thanks for both the critical feedback and the praise!Tendency to crash
When working on a bigger project I noticed it crashes and doesn't save anything and I need to restart my projectGrifter1462
Developer Response
Update 2: Just want to note that the latest release, v10.0, features continuous auto-saving and session reloading on restart. If you're still experiencing any issues, please reach out. Thanks! Update: Today's release, version 9.0, should help further with this if you're still experiencing issues. Please feel free to reach out at feedback@pixely.info if you'd like to work together on resolving any remaining problems. Thank you! Hi! Could you please send the details of this crash to feedback@pixely.info -- specifically, your iPad model, canvas count, canvas sizes, and what you're trying to do when the app closes? Thank you!My GoTo Pixelling App
Regularly updated. Stable. Clean UI. Pixely makes the majority of my art.Tech2Art
Developer Response
Thank you! These are all things I strive for with Pixely. Glad it's working well for you!Great BUT...
This an amazing app for pixel artwork. The only problem I have is that no one can figure out how to delete folders that are in app (accidentally made a couple). There is no way to delete or rename folders which would be wonderful if someone could tell meShinobi-kitty
Developer Response
Hi and thanks for taking the time to write a review. Just wanted to let you know that this has been addressed with an improved file interface. Hope this helps!Great workflow
This app filled a huge hole; game design pixel art workflow. Dropbox integration, symmetry modes, custom color swatches, tile preview, animation etc, it's quite good. Get used to its quirks in about 10 mins then get drawing. Would love to see canvases reordering, and circle/elipse tools, but as is totally worth the money. Thanks!Show lessGrymmjack
Developer Response
Hi and thanks for the fair and honest review! Just wanted to let you know, in case it helps, that you can reorder the active canvas by swiping right on its thumbnail and then tapping where you want it to go. I agree, it's one of the less intuitive functions, and I'll keep that in mind as an improvement. Thanks again.Absolutely fantastic! But still needs a few things.
This app has been incredibly easy, fun, and helpful. The only problem is the colors. Firstly, there aren't enough of them. Second, a color palette that shows what colors you are using on a canvas would be extremely helpful. Lastly, the ability to copy colors between canvases so you can work on two or more sprites that you want to keep within the same palette. Other than that, it's been perfect.Show lessAHorseintheTardis
