Pixia for Windows

By Tacmi
Free
User Rating

Key Details of Pixia

Draw and edit images in various formats.
Last updated on February 26, 2016
There have been 7 updates
Also available on
Virus scan status:
Clean (it's extremely likely that this software program is clean)

Editors' Review

Download.com staffFebruary 26, 2016

Pixia looks like it came straight out of a Windows 95-era, but is one of the most popular drawing tools in Japan. Like other freeware image editors, Pixia allows you to create digital art and supports layer editing, selective undos, and an assortment of brushes and tools for artists.

When you first launch the program, you're greeted with options for filters, right-clicking tools, and a whole bunch of other tools that just flat out won't make sense at first glance. Pixia doesn't exactly win any awards for first impressions and welcoming interfaces for new users because it doesn't really give a direction. However, these pop-up menus start to make more sense once you open up a new canvas.

When creating a new canvas or session, your selection is very bare bones: set image dimension by pixels, millimeters, inches, or select a preset size from the drop-down menus. Once you start drawing, the "supplementary settings" start to make more sense. You can choose to set the right-click button as either an "undo" pen, which lets you remove specific changes from the last drawing action. Setting it as a dropper lets artists quickly switch between colors, which comes in handy when working with 2D art. A good majority of Japanese Pixia community seem to be anime artists who'd utilize this kind of setup.

Pixia uses pop-ups to configure items like filters and masks. Small buttons labelled as P, C, O, L are actually expandable windows for Palette, Color, Pen, and Layer settings. One feature I definitely appreciated as I was drawing was how quickly I can adjust brush size simply by dragging the brush preview windows. There's also a brush size label that displays the brush dimensions for more-precise editing.

Overall, Pixia is a solid alternative to Photoshop if you're looking to quickly jump into character sketches and basic 2D art. And though it includes a healthy number of useful graphic tools, it still can't compare with the sheer polish and features that premium apps like Photoshop have. But Wacom users have praised it for its simple (albeit ambiguous at first glance) interface. It's perfectly capable for all except the most graphic intensive renderings -- and of course, the price tag of "nothing" is a pretty attractive perk.

What's new in version 6.01t

Version 6.01t is a bug fixing release.

Pixia for Windows

By Tacmi
Free
User Rating

Explore More

Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: February 20, 2015

Latest update: February 26, 2016

Version: 6.01t

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows Vista
Windows 10
Windows 7
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 150,474

Downloads Last Week: 1

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User Reviews

2.9/5

15 User Votes

installs spamware:
helium73April 4, 2013
Pros
None at all theres my 10 characters
Cons
installs spamware: strongvault backup, whitesnake toolbar along with the installation. I don't remember agreeing to install anything extra during the installation. Apparently strongvault is very hard to get rid of.
Summary
Terrible product
useless horrible installation
archer12006February 11, 2013
Pros
Not sure what to say didn't get to try it.
Cons
did not install hung for 20 minutes
Summary
useless
Bueno para que ... bueno
fabzcomSeptember 8, 2012
Pros
Es un buen free
Cons
Necesitas siempre otros free
Summary
It does not work with Win XP
OlivaxFebruary 20, 2012
Pros
It has more or less the same functions as other picture editors.
Cons
It hangs when undoing actions, I had to kill it via Task Manager
Summary
not bad, just confusing
ac05jnJanuary 24, 2012
Pros
decent number of functions, free, light weight
Cons
***quite difficult to figure out the controls; for instance: the last reviewer said "No Copy Paste capability", but that is false; there is copy and paste, its just confusing because they take multiple steps.
Summary
No Copy Paste capability
Andes_HelpDecember 26, 2011
Pros
Loads fast and looks nice.
Cons
This program can not see the Windows clipboard. I am unable to do what I do most often, Copy a picture and Paste it. I can copy and paste to the default Windows programs but Pixia just keeps telling me that the clipboard is empty when I try to Paste a picture into it.
Summary
Maybe it will work for other things.
Does not work with Windows ME
jacques63May 8, 2010
Pros
Nothing to say about it.
Cons
During installing the message appears "Pleas use a newer Windows Version" ( My Windows ME version is 4.90.3 ) This version is not supported. PC is Pentium III 667 Mhz CPU and 256 MB RAM. SVGA 3 MB plus 16 MB VideoRAM.
Summary
The product is not complete and it does not expect this advertisment. Why not incluing the needed drivers into the pacage?
alternative for photoshop
nisamiawNovember 20, 2007
Pros
It great although not as powerful as photoshop.
Cons
Summary
Good Program... when it works.
rottingpearlzMay 20, 2007
Pros
It's easy to use
Cons
Freezes every 5 seconds... you have to save ANY TIME you do ANYTHING
Summary
Bugs Prevent Use
danortonApril 29, 2007
Pros
The c|net instructions read "leave this blank if you liked nothing about the product", but leaving it blank prevents the submission form from proceeding.
Cons
Hopelessly arcane interface. Freezes when I click on anything that looks like it's going to do some actual work. (Like when I click on the "File" menu.)
Summary

Developer's Description

Draw and edit images in various formats.

Pixia is a great drawing and image editing software but totally free. It supports unlimited layers, 10240*10240 pixels layout, effect plug-ins(also accept Photoshop's plug-ins), undo 100 times. Also can working with your TWAIN devices(eg. Scanner or Digital Camera and Digitizer.