Good pixel pusher for Mac?

Chicky · Thu 09/07/2009 23:21:57

Hello, hai.

Just got myself a macbook pro, they're pretty sweet but the freeware m$paint substitute i've downloaded is pants. Anyone know of any good programs out there just for low-res stuff?

Also has anyone used one of those wacom Cintiq* tablets?

*thanks Darth

Snake · Thu 09/07/2009 23:38:30

I believe I remember Squinky telling me a long time ago (a long time ago) that he uses a Wacom mouse pencil dingy-doo for all his artwork... but who knows where that silly bastard is now days

Or how valid what I just said is.

Darth Mandarb · Fri 10/07/2009 00:22:23

I cannot help you with a pixel-pusher for a mac (as I only use real computers)

As for a the wacom Cintiq I haven't used one personally but I have chatted at a few that have and they say it is amazing! I am planning on getting one (the 21UX) as my next big "toy" but I don't have it just yet.

Gilbert · Fri 10/07/2009 04:17:52

If you don't mind using 256 colour palettised graphics try Grafx 2. Development has continued and there is a MAC build now.

Makeout Patrol · Thu 16/07/2009 05:25:17

When I was making The Vacuum I used a program called Pixen, and it sufficed, but I'm not sure I would reccommend it - it was extremely buggy (it crashed a lot, and the eyedropper tool selects a color that is slightly greyer than the color you tried to select, and so on) but it had a good interface and the animation tools were excellent. I have been looking for a better one, because the program has not been updated since 2006, but I haven't found anything yet.

If you do get it, I would suggest looking for older versions; maybe they'll be a bit more stable.

Khris · Thu 16/07/2009 07:50:48

Run Bootcamp, install XP, then use a decent program like ProMotion

abstauber · Thu 16/07/2009 08:32:42

http://paintbrush.sourceforge.net/

But I prefer something like Pixelmator, Photoshop or Gimp with a hard 1px pencil.

Layabout · Thu 16/07/2009 08:41:02

Quote from: KhrisMUC on Thu 16/07/2009 07:50:48
Run Bootcamp, install XP, then use a decent program like ProMotion

Why XP. Cool kids use Windows 7.

Idiots use Macs.

Isn't the Gimp on mac?

Yes it seems to be....
http://www.gimp.org/

It's a decent Photoshop alternative. I'm not sure if it has animation support, but I do know it's great for backgrounds. And it can pixel.

Hah, it seems it does have animation support. With onion skinning. My how things have changed and got awesome. I'll have to check it out myself.

Chicky · Thu 16/07/2009 11:09:03

Hey hey!

Thanks for all the posts, i will check out all the programs recommended today and post my verdict tonight. For the record i use photoshop for all my higher res stuff but when it comes to a clean line tool MS Paint always wins.

Bootcamp is the best way forward but i was looking for something that i can easily tab to in OSX.

And seriously, there's nothing wrong with the mac. It's a superior operating system that takes a little getting used to but has loads of useful little features, and everything AGS runs perfectly with the help of crossover.

SpacePaw · Sun 19/07/2009 02:26:23

And you can develop for iPhone on mac too!!! *nerdy*

MashPotato · Sun 19/07/2009 03:44:16

Quote from: HTMI on Thu 16/07/2009 11:09:03
For the record i use photoshop for all my higher res stuff but when it comes to a clean line tool MS Paint always wins.

I've never understood this point of view ;) Photoshop isn't made specifically for pixels, but turn off the aa and you're good to go.

rharpe · Mon 20/07/2009 23:07:28

I thought everyone here used Amigas to push pixels so beautifully?
MAC users unfortunately don't have pixel pushing software. (They barely have any games, for goodness sakes!)

Snarky · Tue 21/07/2009 00:15:49

Quote from: MashPotato on Sun 19/07/2009 03:44:16
Quote from: HTMI on Thu 16/07/2009 11:09:03
For the record i use photoshop for all my higher res stuff but when it comes to a clean line tool MS Paint always wins.
I've never understood this point of view Photoshop isn't made specifically for pixels, but turn off the aa and you're good to go.

Photoshop doesn't draw proper single-pixel Bresenham lines. You'll often get double pixels and crap like that.

MashPotato · Tue 21/07/2009 00:35:36

Aaah, I'm not a big line-tool user, you see

I would still say that Photoshop's still heaps better overall, but that's one disadvantage I didn't know about.

Khris · Tue 21/07/2009 00:52:23

Quote from: Snarky on Tue 21/07/2009 00:15:49
Photoshop doesn't draw proper single-pixel Bresenham lines. You'll often get double pixels and crap like that.

Oh yes it does. Just select the pencil, set the diameter to 1px, then click on the start point of the line, then click on the end point while holding shift. The result is a perfect Bresenham line. (CS2)
However, freehand drawing does produce double pixels if the mouse is moved too slow (although I wouldn't count this as PS's fault).

Snarky · Tue 21/07/2009 03:03:13

OK, so you can do it with the pencil tool, but the line tool doesn't work that way, and with the pencil tool you can't preview the line before you draw it.

Ideally you'd want shape layers that could be rendered without antialiasing, snapped to pixel boundaries, and easily adjusted dynamically (the fact that you can't take easily edit the endpoint of a Photoshop line--since it's actually represented as two vertices--amazes me).

Chicky · Tue 21/07/2009 15:59:09

Hey hey hey,

Snarky pretty much hit the nail on the head with his posts, double pixels suck. Well i've used gimp before and decided to give it a go again which is going well so far.

And on another note i finally decided to get the Cintiq 12wx. After hours of calling independent retailers in the the UK (i wanted to try one out before i forked out £900) i gave in and decided to order online.

If you haven't seen them check out this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEI97_Ka-n4