A-Pix DS pre-release 0.11
Pre-release
A-Pix DS – Pre-release v0.1
The YY-CHR-inspired pixel art editor designed for DS hardware and greater ease of use
Features
- Pixel art editor optimized for the NDS hardware
- Multiple color depth support (2bpp to direct color)
- Retro console–oriented export formats
- Custom compact image format (
.acs) - Undo and Redo support for safer editing
- Grid, zoom and scroll tools for precise pixel work
Import / Export Formats
Console formats
| Platform | Color depth |
|---|---|
| NES | 2bpp |
| Game Boy | 2bpp |
| SNES | 4bpp |
| GBA | 4bpp |
Image formats
- PCX
- BMP (4bpp, 8bpp and direct color)
- ACS (custom format)
What is .acs?
Alfombra Compression System (ACS) is a custom image format designed to store pixel art using less space while allowing very fast read times.
It was created specifically with hardware like the Nintendo DS in mind.
ACS supports multiple color depths and compression commands tailored for pixel art patterns.
Important:
ACS is still under development and not finalized yet.
While it is usable, it is not recommended for storing critical or irreplaceable assets at this stage.
Editing Tools
A-Pix DS includes a set of tools designed to speed up pixel art workflows:
- Scale, flip and rotate full images or selected areas
- Copy, cut and paste operations
- Selection-based transformations
Undo / Redo
Undo and Redo are available, allowing experimentation without fear of permanent mistakes.
View Options
- Zoom
- Grid overlay
- Canvas scrolling
These tools help maintain precision even at very small resolutions.
Color Modes
The editor supports multiple color configurations:
- 2bpp
- 4bpp
- 8bpp
- Direct color (ARGB1555)
- NES palette mode
Current Limitations
- Maximum image size: 128×128 pixels
- ACS format is still experimental
- This is a pre-release, features and formats may change
Project Status
This is the first public pre-release of A-Pix DS.
The main goal of this version is to showcase the editor’s current capabilities and gather feedback for future improvements.
Known Issues
The following bugs are currently known and have not been fixed yet:
- When using non-square resolutions, it is possible to scroll outside the canvas.
- Exiting a text screen may leave purple graphical garbage on screen.
- ACS currently cannot import 1bpp and 2bpp images.
- Files with very long filenames may fail to load.
- Undo-Redo have a 6% chance of showing nothing. (Just undo again)
Why these issues are not fixed yet
I have wanted to publish this editor for a long time.
Due to limited available time in the coming days, I decided to release this pre-release version instead of delaying it further.
Documentation
Usage instructions and controls are documented in the README and included project files.