Pixaki
Pixaki is a professional pixel art creation app for iPad that provides a powerful touch-based interface for drawing, animating, and exporting high-quality pixel graphics for games and digital art.
Storyboarder
Storyboarder is a free, open-source storyboarding software that provides artists with a fast, simple interface to draw, animate, and export visual stories directly to professional creative suites.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Pixaki | Storyboarder |
|---|---|---|
| Website | pixaki.com | wonderunit.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | London, UK | New York, USA |
Overview
Pixaki
Pixaki is a dedicated pixel art studio designed specifically for your iPad, combining the precision of desktop tools with the flexibility of a mobile interface. You can create everything from simple sprites to complex isometric environments using a multi-touch workflow that feels natural and responsive. Whether you are a professional game developer or a hobbyist artist, the app provides the technical depth needed for serious production work without the clutter of traditional desktop software.
You can manage complex projects using a full-featured layer system and create smooth animations with a dedicated frame-by-frame timeline. The software solves the problem of awkward mobile drawing by offering advanced color management, custom palettes, and seamless export options to industry-standard formats. It is the go-to choice for artists who want to move their pixel art workflow away from the desk while maintaining professional-grade control over every pixel.
Storyboarder
Storyboarder provides you with the fastest way to visualize your stories. Whether you are a filmmaker, animator, or novelist, you can quickly draw rough sketches to test your ideas without the friction of complex tools. You can use the built-in drawing tools or print out paper templates to draw by hand, then snap a photo to import your frames instantly.
The software integrates deeply with your existing creative workflow, allowing you to open your boards in Photoshop for detailed editing. You can also export your finished boards directly to Premiere, Final Cut, or Avid for timing and assembly. Because it is open-source and community-driven, you get a professional-grade toolset entirely for free, making it accessible for independent creators and large studios alike.
Overview
Pixaki Features
- Advanced Layer System Organize your artwork with unlimited layers, allowing you to edit backgrounds and characters independently without destructive changes.
- Animation Timeline Create fluid character movements and environmental effects using a dedicated frame-by-frame timeline with onion skinning support.
- Reference Layers Import photos or sketches as transparent reference layers to trace over and convert real-world inspiration into pixel art.
- Custom Color Palettes Build and save your own color palettes or import standard ones to ensure consistent visual styles across your projects.
- Isometric Grid Support Switch to an isometric grid to easily draw 3D-style environments and structures with perfect perspective every time.
- Professional Export Export your finished work as GIFs, sprite sheets, or layered Photoshop files to integrate directly into your game engine.
Storyboarder Features
- Quick Drawing Tools. Use a light pencil for roughing, a hard pencil for lines, and a brush for tones to create boards quickly.
- Shot Generator. Type a description to instantly generate 3D characters and sets when you need to visualize complex camera angles.
- Paper Import. Print storyboard templates, draw with a real pencil, and take a photo to automatically import and crop your frames.
- Photoshop Integration. Edit any board in Photoshop with one click and see your changes update automatically inside Storyboarder.
- Professional Export. Send your storyboards directly to Premiere, Final Cut, Avid, or PDF to begin your editing and production process.
- Layer Management. Organize your drawings with simple layers to separate characters, backgrounds, and notes for better visual clarity.
Pricing Comparison
Pixaki Pricing
- Up to 3 layers
- Basic drawing tools
- Static image export
- Standard grid options
- Touch-optimized interface
- Everything in Intro, plus:
- Unlimited layers
- Full animation timeline
- Photoshop (PSD) export
- Sprite sheet generation
- Reference layer support
Storyboarder Pricing
- Unlimited storyboards
- Shot Generator 3D tool
- Photoshop integration
- Export to Premiere and Final Cut
- Printable paper templates
- Open-source source code access
Pros & Cons
Pixaki
Pros
- Best-in-class touch interface designed specifically for iPad
- Seamless export to Photoshop and game engines
- Powerful animation tools that rival desktop software
- One-time purchase price with no recurring subscriptions
- Excellent Apple Pencil support for precision drawing
Cons
- Limited to iPad with no desktop version
- Steep learning curve for the animation timeline
- Intro version is quite restrictive for professionals
Storyboarder
Pros
- Completely free and open-source for all users
- Extremely fast interface for rapid sketching
- Seamless round-trip editing with Adobe Photoshop
- Unique 3D shot generator for non-artists
Cons
- Limited advanced drawing features compared to Photoshop
- Occasional stability issues on certain hardware
- Smaller community support compared to paid alternatives