Pixia

Overview

Pixia is a free graphics program for painting and image processing, with drawing tools, image adjustments, and PSD conversion. It suits Windows users who want those capabilities without a software fee, particularly when tablet input matters. Its main drawback is the trade-off: free use comes without user support, and compatibility is not guaranteed across hardware and drivers.

Key features

Pixia combines brush customization, layers, and pressure sensitivity with image-processing controls. Tone curve, color balance, white balance, and automatic correction give users ways to adjust images as well as create them; PSD conversion is useful when work needs to move through a PSD-based workflow.

Its ruler tools cover rectangles, straight lines, circles, spline curves, parallel lines, and radial lines. That range supports both geometric marks and curved guides. Wacom, XP-PEN, and HUION tablets are mentioned as options, with Wacom AES pen ID support also noted. Filter installation is less approachable: it requires knowledge of file and folder operations, a practical hurdle for users who expect add-ons to install through a simpler interface.

Pricing

Pixia costs nothing. The free software includes the drawing and image-processing capabilities described above, but user support is not provided. There is no paid plan or published seat or usage cap in this pricing model. The no-fee price makes Pixia a low-cost option, but users who need help resolving setup or compatibility problems should weigh that limitation carefully.

Platforms

Pixia ver.6 is available for Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11 in 32-bit and 64-bit variants. Windows 7 may work, but has not been tested recently. Android and iPad versions are test builds distributed to a small group; the Linux version is discontinued and no longer officially published. Windows is therefore the practical choice for most people seeking a current, supported download route, though free-software user support is not provided.

Tablet choices include Wacom, XP-PEN, and HUION, but operation can vary with Windows hardware, tablet drivers, and other modules. The maker does not guarantee that Pixia will work in every environment, so users with a particular setup should allow for compatibility uncertainty.

Who it's for

Pixia is a good fit for Windows users seeking a free tool that spans painting and image adjustments, especially those who want layers, pressure-sensitive input, ruler tools, or PSD conversion. It is a weaker fit for people who depend on official Linux availability, need a broadly distributed tablet build, or want user support and straightforward filter installation.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free software costs nothing, with no paid tier needed to access Pixia.
• Pros: Painting features sit alongside tone and color adjustments, automatic correction, and PSD conversion, making it useful for both image creation and processing.
• Pros: Rulers cover straight, circular, spline, parallel, and radial work, while pressure sensitivity and tablet options support pen-based drawing.
• Cons: User support is not provided, which leaves setup and troubleshooting to the user.
• Cons: Android and iPad are limited test builds, Linux is discontinued, and Windows compatibility can vary by environment.
• Cons: Adding filters requires familiarity with file and folder operations.

Alternatives

For more drawing-software choices, browse Digital Painting Software. Drawpile is another free option with Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows availability, plus free official community servers; choose it when those platform choices or community servers matter more than Pixia's image-processing and PSD-conversion features.

ibisPaint offers a free version with unlimited usage time, 64MB of cloud storage, and advertisements, as well as a premium membership; choose it if that cloud allowance and its mobile and macOS availability suit your needs. Krita is free and open source, with no subscriptions or trials, and runs on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows; it is a stronger alternative when those platforms or an open-source license are priorities.

Light Brush is another free option for Android, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Sketchbook has a free mobile app with brushes, layers, guides, rulers, and stroke tools, plus a Premium Bundle; choose it when those mobile drawing tools are a closer match. Tux Paint is free and open source under GPL v2 and can be installed on as many machines as you wish, making it the alternative for that licensing and installation model.

FireAlpaca is free and includes customizable brushes, layered artwork, animation tools, and CMYK display; choose it when those capabilities matter more than Pixia's listed adjustments and PSD conversion. GrafX2 is a free Linux and Windows option under the GNU General Public License version 2, with no warranty stated.

Verdict

Choose Pixia if you want a free Windows graphics tool that brings painting, image adjustments, ruler-based drawing, and PSD conversion together, with tablet input as an option. Look elsewhere if you need official Linux availability, broad tablet-build access, dependable compatibility, or user support; those limits matter more than the zero price for users who need a predictable setup.