How do I export a sprite sheet from Aseprite?

Use the Export dialog in Aseprite to save animations as sprite sheets, configuring frame layout, scaling, and formats like PNG or GIF through intuitive settings. This is ideal for game asset pipelines.

Aseprite vs Photoshop for pixel art: which is better?

Aseprite is more efficient for pixel art with dedicated tools like onion skinning and pixel-perfect brushes, while Photoshop offers broader features but requires more setup for sprite animation.

How to use Lua scripting in Aseprite?

Write Lua scripts to automate tasks or extend functionality; place scripts in the scripts folder and access them via the Scripts menu, with documentation available on the Aseprite website.

Can Aseprite open PSD files?

No, Aseprite does not natively support PSD files; you need to export layers to PNG or use intermediate formats, making it best for its own .ase/.aseprite format.

Is Aseprite free for commercial use?

No, Aseprite requires a paid license for commercial use; the source code is available, but official binaries are under EULA, so purchasing is necessary for legal distribution.

What are the system requirements for Aseprite?

Aseprite runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with modest hardware; it's lightweight but benefits from a modern CPU and GPU for smooth animation preview, as noted in community forums.

Aseprite's source code

C++v1.3.17.2

A professional animated sprite editor and pixel art tool for game developers and digital artists.

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What is Aseprite's source code?

Aseprite is a professional animated sprite editor and pixel art tool designed for creating 2D graphics, particularly for video games and digital art. It provides specialized features for frame-by-frame animation, color management, and pixel-perfect drawing, solving the need for a dedicated tool that combines animation capabilities with pixel art precision.

Target Audience

Game developers, pixel artists, indie developers, and digital artists who need to create animated sprites, character designs, tilesets, and other 2D assets for games or animations.

Value Proposition

Developers and artists choose Aseprite for its focused feature set tailored specifically for pixel art and sprite animation, its cross-platform availability, and its combination of professional tools with an accessible workflow that supports both manual creation and automation through scripting.

Overview

Animated sprite editor & pixel art tool (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Use Cases

Best For

Creating animated character sprites for 2D video games

Related Projects

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

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GitHub

37.4k stars8.1k forks0 contributors

Designing pixel art assets for indie game development

Frame-by-frame animation for digital art and sprite sheets

Drawing and editing tilesets for retro-style games

Automating sprite export and batch processing via CLI

Learning pixel art techniques with dedicated tools

Not Ideal For

High-resolution digital painting or illustration requiring smooth gradients and advanced brush engines
Vector graphics creation for scalable assets like logos or UI design elements
Projects needing real-time collaborative editing in a cloud-based environment
3D texturing workflows that require direct integration with 3D modeling software

Pros & Cons

Pros

Pixel-Art Specialized Tools

Includes pixel-perfect freehand mode, shading ink, and custom brushes specifically designed for precise pixel manipulation, as highlighted in the README's pixel-art tools section.

Comprehensive Animation Workflow

Offers frame-by-frame animation with onion skinning, real-time preview, and the ability to transform multiple frames/layers simultaneously, essential for efficient sprite creation.

Robust Export and Automation

Supports exporting to sprite sheets, GIFs, and PNG sequences, plus a CLI for batch processing and Lua scripting for extensibility, streamlining integration into game development.

Reliability and Customization

Features non-linear undo/redo, crash data recovery, and highly customizable keyboard shortcuts and workspace, ensuring a stable and personalized user experience.

Cons

Proprietary Licensing

Distributed under a custom EULA requiring purchase for commercial use, unlike fully open-source alternatives, which may limit redistribution and increase costs.

No Cloud Collaboration

As a desktop application, it lacks built-in real-time collaborative features, making it unsuitable for teams needing simultaneous editing without third-party tools.

Limited to 2D Raster

Focused solely on 2D pixel art and raster graphics, with no support for vector editing or 3D integration, restricting its use in mixed-media projects.

Open Source Alternative To

Aseprite's source code is an open-source alternative to the following products:

G

GraphicsGale

GraphicsGale is a pixel art and animation editor for Windows, designed for creating 2D sprites and game graphics.

Pyxel Edit is a pixel art editor designed for creating tile-based graphics, sprites, and animations with features tailored for game development.

P

Procreate

Krita

Krita is a free and open-source digital painting and illustration software designed for artists, with a focus on concept art, texture, and matte painting.

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