Pro Motion NG
Pro Motion NG is a specialized pixel art creation tool designed for artists and game developers to design precise animations, tilemaps, and sprites for retro-style video games.
Sketch
Sketch is a comprehensive design platform for macOS that gives you professional vector editing tools, interactive prototyping capabilities, and shared libraries to create and collaborate on digital products.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Pro Motion NG | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Website | cosmigo.com | sketch.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $12/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1995 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Pohlheim, Germany | The Hague, Netherlands |
Overview
Pro Motion NG
Pro Motion NG is a powerhouse for creating pixel-perfect art and animations, specifically tailored for the constraints of classic game consoles and mobile devices. You can manage indexed colors with precision, ensuring your palettes remain consistent across complex projects. Whether you are designing individual character sprites or massive seamless tilemaps, the software provides the specialized toolset you need to maintain a retro aesthetic while working with modern efficiency.
You can streamline your animation workflow using onion skinning to see previous frames and multi-layer editing to keep your project organized. The software solves the common headache of tile-based design by allowing you to draw directly into a tilemap, automatically updating all instances of a tile across your level. It is the go-to choice for professional pixel artists who need more than a general-purpose image editor.
Sketch
Sketch provides you with a powerful, native macOS environment to design everything from simple icons to complex design systems. You can create precise vector graphics, build interactive prototypes with logic-based transitions, and manage reusable components through a robust Symbols system. The platform is built specifically for the Mac, ensuring a smooth, high-performance experience while you work on high-fidelity user interfaces.
Beyond individual design, you can collaborate with your entire team through a web-based workspace. This allows you to share documents, gather feedback via comments, and hand off production-ready assets to developers directly in a browser. Whether you are a solo freelancer or part of a large design department, you can maintain a single source of truth for your projects and scale your design language across multiple platforms.
Overview
Pro Motion NG Features
- Tilemap Editing Create and edit seamless tilemaps visually, allowing you to draw directly into tiles while the software handles the repetition.
- Advanced Color Management Control your indexed color palettes with precision, including easy color cycling and palette effects for authentic retro visuals.
- Onion Skinning View multiple animation frames simultaneously so you can track movement and timing without constantly switching between layers.
- Symmetry Drawing Draw perfectly symmetrical objects in real-time using mirror modes, cutting your design time in half for characters and icons.
- Multi-Layer Support Organize your artwork into independent layers to separate backgrounds, characters, and effects for non-destructive editing.
- Dithering Tools Apply classic dithering patterns automatically to create smooth gradients and textures within the limitations of small color palettes.
Sketch Features
- Vector Editing. Create and edit resolution-independent graphics with intuitive Boolean operations and flexible point-based paths for pixel-perfect designs.
- Smart Layout. Design components that automatically resize to fit their content, saving you hours of manual adjustment when changing text or button labels.
- Prototyping with Logic. Transform static designs into interactive previews with overlays and scrolling areas to test your user experience before writing code.
- Shared Libraries. Sync your symbols, text styles, and color variables across your entire team to ensure brand consistency in every document.
- Developer Handoff. Give your developers access to inspect designs, measure distances, and export assets directly from their web browser for free.
- Offline Mac App. Work wherever you are with a native desktop application that lets you design offline and sync changes once you're back online.
Pricing Comparison
Pro Motion NG Pricing
- Basic drawing tools
- Indexed color support
- Single layer editing
- Basic animation frames
- Unlimited usage time
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Advanced tilemap editor
- Multi-layer support
- Onion skinning
- Custom brush shapes
- Commercial usage rights
Sketch Pricing
- Unlimited documents and projects
- Native macOS editor
- Web app for feedback and handoff
- Shared Libraries for teams
- Version history and recovery
- Free unlimited viewers
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Priority support
- Dedicated customer success manager
- Custom security reviews
Pros & Cons
Pro Motion NG
Pros
- Unmatched precision for indexed color palette management
- Excellent tilemap tools for level design efficiency
- One-time purchase avoids annoying monthly subscription costs
- Lightweight performance runs smoothly on older hardware
Cons
- Steep learning curve for those used to Photoshop
- User interface feels dated compared to modern apps
- Limited documentation for some advanced technical features
Sketch
Pros
- Native macOS performance feels incredibly fast and smooth
- Industry-standard vector tools offer unmatched precision for UI
- One-time purchase option available for individual Mac users
- Clean, focused interface minimizes distractions while you work
- Robust ecosystem of third-party plugins extends functionality
Cons
- Exclusively available for macOS users only
- Real-time co-editing requires a stable internet connection
- Limited built-in animation capabilities compared to competitors