Pixelmash 2026.2 has been released! This update transforms how you light your pixel art with a massively upgraded Auto Shade effect, expands your output options with image sequence exports, and adds several highly-requested workflow improvements like layer nudging and expanded undo history.
For this release we've completely rebuilt the Auto Shade layer effect, which now feels magical in its ability to light a 2D sprite as if it were an actual 3D object. We've upgraded the core algorithms and introduced a brand-new cylindrical shading mode to give your art immediate volume and depth. You now also have total control over how the lighting interacts with your artwork thanks to new blend mode support and an adjustable amount slider, making it easier than ever to dial in the perfect atmosphere.
To keep your creative process smooth and precise, we’ve packed in several handy workflow updates. You can now nudge layers exactly one pixel at a time using Shift + arrow keys, and holding Shift will also constrain angle adjustments when tweaking your layer effects. Getting custom effect setups into your project is easier too, thanks to new drag-and-drop support for importing .pmfx layer effect files. On top of that, we've added the option to export your animations as an image sequence, bumped the undo limit up to 50 steps to give you more freedom to experiment, and knocked out a variety of bug fixes.
Feature List:
Vastly improved Auto Shade layer effect, including upgraded algorithms, a new cylindrical shading mode, support for blend modes, and an amount slider
Added ability to nudge layers by one pixel with Shift + arrow keys
Added constraints to layer effect angle adjustments when holding Shift
Added option to export animation as image sequence
Added drag-and-drop support for importing .pmfx layer effect files
Increased undo level to 50
Various bug fixes