Deluxe Paint
The pixel artist's brush
Electronic Arts' Deluxe Paint defined pixel art creation on the Amiga and became the standard tool for game graphics throughout the 16-bit era.
Overview
Deluxe Paint (DPaint) was the tool that created an era’s game graphics. Dan Silva’s painting program for Electronic Arts offered features pixel artists needed: palette manipulation, animation support, brush tools, and intimate integration with Amiga display modes. Game developers worldwide used DPaint to create sprites, backgrounds, and title screens throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
Fast facts
- Developer: Dan Silva (Electronic Arts).
- Publisher: Electronic Arts.
- First version: 1985 (Amiga).
- Versions: DPaint I through V.
- Platform expansion: later PC versions.
- Legacy: set standard for pixel art tools.
Key features
What made DPaint essential:
- Palette tools: colour cycling, range manipulation.
- Brush system: custom brushes, transformations.
- Animation: frame-based animation support.
- Display modes: IFF/ILBM format, Amiga HAM.
Industry impact
DPaint’s influence:
- Game development: standard graphics tool.
- Demoscene: demo graphics creation.
- Animation: used in television production.
- Education: taught digital art techniques.