How to do Pixel Lines on PaintTool SAI in 3 Fast Steps

Many artists worldwide enjoy working with pixel art, which is something that PaintTool SAI lets you design. Drawing pixel lines can be tricky though, especially if you’re used to pen tools or freestyle designs. It’s relatively easy to set up and do, though, so don’t be put off by the number of settings and functions at your disposal.

For today’s fun, creative activity, we’re going to show you how to do pixel lines on PaintTool SAI.

How to do pixel lines on PaintTool SAI

Before you can start designing with pixel lines on PaintTool SAI, you’ll need a drawing you can work on to proceed further. Let’s begin!

Step 1: Design with the pen

Since pixels are small, you should set up a small canvas of about 450 x 450 px. Select the Pen tool and design anything your heart desires. Ensure that you keep the lines clean and tidy, as it will make the next step easier.

Step 2: Overlay with the pixel tool

Now, create a new layer and make the opacity 20-30%. Depending on which PaintTool SAI version you have, select the Pixel or Binary Tool function. Turn the color to black with 100% opacity and a size of 1 px. Zoom in and do smooth pixel lines over your original design.

Step 3: Merge layers

While drawing over different sections, make sure you create various layers so you don’t have to start completely over if you have to delete the initial level. Once you’re done, you can merge all layers into one so that you can have a single, complete design to show your fans.

The pixelated artist

There’s so much you can do with pixel lines in PaintTool SAI, but you need to get the basics right first. We’ve seen some drawings that started off with exceptional pixel designs, transformed later with brushes and various layer effects into masterpieces. It’s the perfect tool for beginners who want to showcase their creative talents. 

If you’d like to show us your pixel art, please feel free to tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.