Product Introduction
- TilePix is a mobile application designed for creating pixel art, tilesets, and tilemaps directly on iOS and macOS devices. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for game developers, hobbyists, and artists to design assets and build game levels efficiently.
- The core value of TilePix lies in its ability to streamline game development workflows by offering portable, intuitive tools for prototyping and exporting assets compatible with popular game engines.
Main Features
- TilePix includes advanced tileset creation tools such as Bresenham and Isometric line algorithms, shape-drawing tools (rectangles, ellipses), flood fill, color picker, and selection tools with flip/duplicate/delete functions.
- The app supports dynamic tilemap editing with layer-based workflows, tile stamping, bucket filling, and a dual-function picker for copying layer patterns or selecting source tiles quickly.
- Users can export projects as scaled PNGs, .zip files containing JSON data, or Tiled-compatible formats for direct integration into game engines, alongside full undo/redo support and customizable UI panels.
Problems Solved
- TilePix addresses the lack of mobile-first tools for game asset creation, eliminating the need for desktop software to prototype or design retro-style game elements.
- It targets indie game developers, pixel artists, and educators seeking an accessible platform for teaching game design principles on iPads or iPhones.
- Typical use cases include designing platformer levels, creating top-down RPG tilesets, or rapidly iterating on asset packs during commutes or collaborative sessions.
Unique Advantages
- Unlike desktop-centric tools like Aseprite or Tiled, TilePix optimizes its interface for touchscreens and Apple Pencil, offering pressure sensitivity and gesture-based zoom/pan controls.
- The app uniquely supports exporting projects in the Tiled map editor format, ensuring compatibility with engines like Unity, Godot, or Phaser without manual conversion.
- Competitive advantages include native macOS/iPadOS integration, no data collection per its privacy policy, and Family Sharing for team-based workflows across six devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What export formats does TilePix support? TilePix exports tilesets and maps as PNG (with scaling options), .zip archives containing JSON metadata, and Tiled-compatible files for direct engine integration.
- Is Apple Pencil required to use the app? While optimized for Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity, all tools function with touch input, and keyboard shortcuts are available for external keyboards.
- Can projects be shared across devices? Yes, via Family Sharing (up to six users) and standard file-sharing methods, with cross-platform compatibility between iPadOS 17.0+ and macOS 14.0+ on Apple Silicon devices.
- Does TilePix collect user data? No personal or usage data is collected, as stated in the developer’s privacy policy, ensuring all work remains locally stored.
- How does the dual-function picker work? It allows copying entire layer patterns from the palette to the canvas or quickly selecting individual tiles from the source tileset using a single toggleable tool.
