Pixelmash 2026.2 has been released and is now available to download! This update transforms how you light your pixel art with a massively upgraded Auto Shade effect, expands your output options with image sequence exports, and adds several highly-requested workflow improvements like layer nudging and expanded undo history.

For this release we've completely rebuilt the Auto Shade layer effect, which now feels magical in its ability to light a 2D sprite as if it were an actual 3D object. We've upgraded the core algorithms and introduced a brand-new cylindrical shading mode to give your art immediate volume and depth. You now also have total control over how the lighting interacts with your artwork thanks to new blend mode support...

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We’re excited to announce that Pixelmash 2026.0 is now available! This release supercharges your creative process with new customizable layer effects presets, the ability to work on multiple files at once, and adds far more powerful ways to turn any image into gorgeous pixel art in seconds.

The brand-new Effects Presets menu lets you instantly load pre-made layer FX setups or save your own, making it faster than ever to experiment with different lighting, shading, and color styles. You can now also open multiple Pixelmash windows at the same time with the New Window command in the File menu, perfect for juggling several related assets.

Meanwhile, the improved Auto Palette effect (formerly Auto Limit Colors) has been rebuilt...

We’re thrilled to announce that Pixelmash 2025.2 has arrived, and it brings one of the biggest additions yet to your animation toolkit: layer effects are now fully animatable using keyframes!

This opens the door to all kinds of dynamic possibilities for your pixel art. Imagine a lightning bolt whose glow pulses and fades over time, a character whose clothes shift color as they power up, or a shifting ground shadow that adds depth to a moving scene. Now, effects like Glow, Colorize, Drop Shadow, and more can change over time — seamlessly integrated into Pixelmash’s animation timeline alongside layer transforms and vector shape tweening. The result? Complex animated effects made far easier than in traditional pixel art editors.
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