CNET editors’ review

Reviewed by: CNET staff on August 17, 2009

Pixel Editor is a basic design tool for small images. The program is similar to many other icon and cursor design programs, but offers fewer features.

The interface will look familiar to anyone who’s ever used Microsoft Paint. The program’s functions are well-organized with buttons and menus. In general the program is easy and intuitive to use, as long as you’re familiar with Paint. If not, or if you have any questions, you’re more or less out of luck. Although the program has a Help file, all it contains is a brief Readme document with basic information about the program’s features. There are no actual instructions for the program’s use. Users who are not already familiar with more advanced image editing concepts like transparency or smooth resampling will be especially frustrated by Pixel Editor’s lack of guidance. The program contains most of the basic features that one would expect from such a program, including a variety of drawing tools and effects. However, Pixel Editor lacks many of the extra features that we’ve seen in similar programs, such as animation and preview functions. The program is fine for basic icon creation and editing, but you won’t be creating fancy animated cursors with it.

Pixel Editor has a 30-day trial period, and the trial version displays a nag message across the work area. The program installs icons without asking, but it uninstalls cleanly. We recommend this program to any user looking for a basic way to make icons and other small images, as long as they’re already familiar with the functions of such programs.

Publisher’s description

Transferring images from the depths of your fantasy to your Web site or cellular phone? It’s easy. Pixel Editor is a smart software tool for the job. It supports a variety of graphic formats and has specialized tools to process images in color depths up to 16 million colors. You’ll love its clearly-structured interface and great capabilities.