Pixel image editor – Edit small PNG graphics

1. What is the editor for?

Tools → Pixel image editor opens the internal editor for small transparent PNGs, such as process-page symbols. The maximum size is 350 × 350 pixels. It edits pixels without layers, filters or vector tools.

The screenshot shows a new unsaved 32 × 32 image. The light editing grid is not saved as a background.

2. New, Open and image dimensions

New

Creates a transparent 32 × 32 image.

Open

Loads a PNG for editing. Images exceeding 350 × 350 are rejected rather than resized automatically.

Width / Height and Create transparent

Creates a new empty image using the entered dimensions, each from 1 to 350. This does not resize an existing image.

Before replacing unsaved work, the application offers Save, Continue editing or Discard. Save or cancel the action to preserve the existing graphic.

3. Zoom is not image size

− / + change magnification. The screenshot's 1800% makes individual pixels visible; the saved image remains 32 × 32 pixels. Also inspect at a smaller zoom to judge its eventual appearance.

Undo reverses available edits; Redo restores undone edits. These do not replace a backup of the original image.

4. Pencil, eraser, eyedropper and fill

Pencil

Sets pixels using the selected colour and opacity. It is active in the screenshot.

Eraser

Makes pixels transparent rather than painting white.

Eyedropper

Samples a pixel's colour and opacity for further editing.

Fill

Colours a connected area. A gap in an outline may connect a larger area than intended.

Make all transparent

Clears the entire graphic to transparency.

Stroke width

Sets tool width in image pixels where available. The example shows 1 pixel. Zoom and stroke width are independent.

5. Colour and opacity

Select a colour on the right. #23BCA2 is the example's turquoise hex value. Copy colour copies the colour value to the clipboard as text.

Opacity 0–255: 0 is fully transparent, 255 fully opaque, with partial transparency between them. This affects image pixels and differs from an object's transparency on the process page.

If a stroke appears missing, check the tool, colour and opacity. Transparent areas allow the process-page background to show through.

6. Insert and position an image

1. Choose Insert image and select a PNG.
2. Position the inserted graphic. Arrow keys move the active selection.
3. Press Enter to commit or Esc to cancel the selection operation.

Ctrl+A selects the entire image. Insertion uses the existing canvas without automatically enlarging it. Check boundaries and available space. Open instead loads a graphic as the document to edit.

7. Exercise: create a symbol

1. Choose New, or enter width and height 32 and click Create transparent.
2. Select a colour and opacity 255.
3. Draw a small closed outline with the pencil and fill it if desired.
4. Erase individual pixels and use the eyedropper to sample an existing colour.
5. Zoom out and check that the symbol remains recognisable at a small size.
6. Save under your own name, such as My_Symbol.png.

See Image for using the file in a project. Saving a graphic through Tools does not automatically insert a new object on the page.

8. Save and close

Save writes the current PNG, opening a file chooser for a new image. Save as chooses another name or location. PNG preserves transparency. Give variants a new filename to avoid overwriting an existing graphic.

Close offers Save, Continue editing or Discard when changes are unsaved. Check the file status on the right and the bottom message. Saving a project and saving an image are different actions.

Overwriting a file used by several objects may affect their appearance. Create separate files for variants or state images. Select the internal editor as the default image editor in Settings.