Pixel_Encoder Update 1.6

Update 1.6 Overview

Hey Everyone!

I just can't stop tinkering with Pixel_Encoder, and this update is the culmination of a few pretty fun ideas I've been kicking around. Some of them are definitely more niche than others. The most exciting difference for most users will probably be the massive (not saying that lightly!) performance improvements. BUT, we've got some other fun things in here too. So, without further ado, let's dive in!

If you run into any issues with the update, please reach out to me at contact@megakrunch.com.

New Features

As I'm sure you guessed by now, this update introduces a new set of features I'm calling the "Chaos" tools as well as a couple new pattern presets and some huge performance improvements. For a full changelog, feel free to skip to the bottom of this post, but, for those of you who want a little more detail, keep reading!

Chaos Features

The Chaos tools are really built with the idea of being a "when it makes sense" kind of tool. I think they'll be an interesting way of adding some extra flair/glitchy-ness when you need it. I don't imagine most designers will use them all the time (feel free to prove me wrong), but I decided to create them for the few times that they would come in handy. Personally, I've used them to create some "corrupted data" type effects, and I think they look great for that.

When enabled, the chaos tools takes the user-selected chaos parameters and uses them as guidelines to randomly resize the individual pixel patterns of an image. I.E. think of it like Pixel_Encoder randomly adjusting the "Pattern Size" parameter for each tile instead of the whole image. In my testing, this typically looks best when used with Scale Lock turned on, but I encourage you to test it out and see what looks best with your own footage!

New Pattern Presets

Update 1.6 also introduces two new pattern presets, "Diagonal (Left)" and "Diagonal (Right)." These were built with the new chaos tools in mind, and I think they look great when paired together. On their own, they create a neat pixelated cross-hatching effect. Plus, they can be layered on top of each other to create an interesting mesh pattern.

Performance Improvements

This is bound to be the most dry part of the blog post, BUT it's also the part that will affect your workflow the most. In this update, I was able to work out some optimizations to how Pixel_Encoder handles image data. These changes should equate to a very noticeable improvement in both final rendering and previews.

I still see room more more optimization down the road, so, hopefully, I'll be able to include even more performance improvements with the next update.

Full Changelog

For a full list of changes, take a look here:

• Added Chaos Tools. Users can now control intensity, animation speed, seed value, and chaos behavior within Pixel_Encoder.

• Added two new pattern presets "Diagonal (Left)" and "Diagonal (Right)."

• Hugely improved performance by adjusting how Pixel_Encoder processes image data

• Moved Pixel_Encoder from "Will Cecil" sub-directory to "MEGAKRUNCH" sub-directory

Got any suggestions for a future update? Shoot me an email at contact@megakrunch.com and let me know!

How To Update

To update Pixel_Encoder on your machine, you can download the newest version using the same download link you used originally. Either through your confirmation email or by logging in here. If you didn't create an account when your originally purchased, you can create one here using the same email you purchased with and your orders will automatically sync up!

Want Pixel_Encoder for your next project?

You can purchase Pixel_Encoder by clicking here.