Aseprite

A pixel art editor with a full animation timeline, built specifically for work where every pixel is placed deliberately and antialiasing is the enemy rather than the goal.

Version 1.3.18.1 28.4 MB Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 (64-bit) Updated 3 days ago

Overview

What this release is

Aseprite is built for one discipline and does it better than any general purpose editor can. Every tool respects the pixel grid, nothing smooths an edge unless you ask it to, and the drawing behaviour is designed around the assumption that you know exactly which pixels you want and simply need the program to place them there without interpretation.

The animation side is a proper timeline rather than an afterthought. Frames sit alongside layers in a grid, onion skinning shows the frames before and after at adjustable opacity, tags group frames into named sequences with their own playback settings, and the whole animation previews live in a separate window at the actual playback speed while you keep editing.

Palette handling is thorough because pixel work is often palette constrained. Palettes load, save, and are shared between files, colours can be replaced globally across every frame and layer at once, indexed colour mode is supported properly with palette cycling, and the shading tools work in palette order rather than in colour space, which is how pixel artists actually shade.

The export side is built around game development. Sprite sheets export in every layout arrangement with an accompanying data file describing frame positions, tags, and timings, so an engine can read the animation structure without anyone typing coordinates. Individual frames, layers, and tagged sequences export separately, and command line export means the whole thing scripts into a build process.

There is a scripting interface for automating repetitive work, tilemap support for building level tiles with automatic tile detection and reuse, and rotation and scaling algorithms designed for pixel art that keep edges hard rather than blurring them. This build is the complete application with a portable option included.

Feature set

What you get

Pixel accurate tools

Every tool respects the grid, with no antialiasing applied unless it is explicitly requested.

Animation timeline

Frames and layers in one grid with onion skinning, named tags, and live preview at real playback speed.

Palette workflow

Shared palettes, global colour replacement, indexed mode with cycling, and shading that works in palette order.

Sprite sheet export

Every sheet layout with an accompanying data file describing frames, tags, and timings for engine import.

Tilemap support

Build level tiles with automatic detection and reuse of repeated tiles across a map.

Scripting and command line

Automate repetitive work and export from a build script without opening the application.

Changes in this build

What changed

Tilemap editing improved with better automatic tile matching
Faster canvas performance on very large sprites with many layers
Export data format extended with additional metadata for engine importers
Added more pixel art aware rotation and scaling algorithms
Fixed the onion skin rendering on frames using indexed colour with transparency

Installation

How to install it

Extract the archive with any archiver. The package is not protected.
Run the setup executable, or use the portable folder if you prefer nothing installed.
Choose your interface language from the preferences on first launch.
Set the default sprite size and colour mode in preferences to match the work you do most.
Configure the export data format before your first sprite sheet if a game engine will be reading it.

Hardware

System requirements

Processor	Any 1 GHz or faster processor, 64-bit
Memory	1 GB, 4 GB for very large sprites with many frames
Graphics	Any adapter, hardware acceleration optional
Storage	100 MB
Display	1024 x 768, higher resolution useful for zoomed work
System	Windows 7 through Windows 11, 64-bit

Package

Release information

Title	Aseprite
Version	1.3.18.1
Developer	Igara Studio
Category	Graphic Design
Platform	Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 (64-bit)
Package size	28.4 MB
Interface languages	Multilingual (17 interface languages)
Release identifier	BS-13180101
Listed	4 years ago
Last rebuilt	3 days ago
Total downloads	109,495

Questions

Before you start

Can it open layered files from other editors?

It imports the common layered formats, though effects and adjustment layers are flattened during import.

Does the sprite sheet export include animation data?

Yes. A data file describing frame positions, tags, and timings is written alongside the sheet.

Is it suitable for high resolution artwork?

It works, but the tools and the interface are built around pixel level work at small canvas sizes.

Does portable mode keep preferences separate?

Yes. Settings and palettes stay alongside the executable rather than in the user profile.