i.Mage

i.Mage provides a simple pixel editing environment, in which you can edit graphics like in the old days of MS DOS or Amiga. The application is the exact opposite of bloated drawing utilities, with countless plug-ins. It keeps things simple and it lets you work without any distractions. However, this doesn't mean that i.Mage doesn't have anything good to offer. The application supports various graphical formats, including GIF, TIF, BMP and ICO, it comes with alpha blending capabilities, it can convert images to C/C++ code and more.

The application works on all modern Windows systems and it doesn't have any special requirements. The installation process is quick and simple, so you don't have to go through any complex settings. i.Mage is absolutely free, with no hidden costs or limitations.

The user interface has a clean and simple design. All the tools you need for drawing, as well as various tweaking options, are well organized and placed within reach, so there is no need to waste time looking around for a specific button. The main drawing environment is split into two parts. Besides the main one, you also get a secondary drawing area, with an increased zoom level. To make things easier, you can enable a grid and make use of other useful options.

The tools pane is located on the left side of the user interface. The interesting part is that it can be minimized on the interface's toolbar, so you can get a better view of your work. The software places all the usual drawing tools at your disposal, like a brush, a sampling tool, a paint bucket, tools for inserting shapes, text and so on. What's more, it lets you make a few fine tweaks to most of the drawing tools.

The best thing about i.Mage is that you can draw or edit with a high level of precision. You can edit an image, create icons from scratch and more, with pin-point precision, thanks to the enhanced zoom mode and all the other tools the application has to offer.

If you want to take a direct approach to pixel editing, then i.Mage is definitely a good choice.