From Sand Based (1997) to the createwithpixels app (2025)

Written for those interested in the createwithpixels app’s development history.

Create With has just released its createwithpixels app on Google Play. It’s an amateur bitmap editor for novices wanting do low-resolution raster designs on their mobile phones, or tablets. Easy to learn, the app offers a resizable pencil, plus web-friendly colour palette. Images can be exported locally, or shared on createwithpixels.com. This website supports users who prefer to work within browsers. Users can do everything the app supports in Chrome, Edge, Safari and other browsers, post-registration via https://beta.createwithpixels.com. Here’s a short, visual story on key developments towards the app:

1997 “Sand Based”exhibit

Fellow Middlesex MA in Digital Art graduate, Stephen Wolff, and Travis worked on a concept inspired by his ‘Sand Based’ exhibit. Figure 1’s screenshot showed how a sprite created interesting aesthetic trails. They originally wanted to design software that would give its end-user more control over the serendipitous effects of algorithmic rendering…

Figure 1. Almonds and pomegranates (cycle 3), Sand based exhibit (1997)
Figure 1. Almonds and pomegranates (cycle 3), Sand based exhibit (1997)

Figure 2’s from Travis’ exhibit as part of the MA Digital Arts 1996-97 group’s year-end show. Middlesex University’s Centre for Electronic Arts’ exhibited at OXO towers, London. Read the show’s curator, Emma Quinn’s view at honeyrider.co.uk/curatrix/PAGES/curatrix.htm). 

Figure 2. Sand Based installation by Travis Noakes for his Middlesex University MA in Digital Art year-end's exhibit (1997).
Figure 2. Sand Based installation by Travis Noakes for his Middlesex University MA in Digital Art year-end’s exhibit (1997).
Figures 3 & 4. Jython test bitmap graphic captures (2001)
Michael Cope wrote Jython scripts for Travis to achieve a similar effect in a PC's browser (see Figures 3 & 4).
Michael Cope wrote Jython scripts for Travis to achieve a similar effect in a PC’s browser (see Figures 3 & 4).

2003 Pixel Player

In doing a student project for the CTI Education Internet Development Specialist Diploma, Travis developed a mock website’s graphic user interface (GUI) for a bitmap animator. 

Figure 5. Pixel Player graphic user interface concept page 5 (2004)

He first named it Pixel Player, then Easy Pixels (see Figure 5). Workwise, Stephen and Travis were busy for Loopo/Max Gate Digital and Winning Wellness/BODYiQ/Virgin Life Care, respectively. Nonetheless, work on the bitmap animator continued as fun ‘digital art for bitmaps sake’ diversion. In 2008, Travis setup Crafty Pixels CC (T/A Create With) as a vehicle for pursuing his auteur-ish visual design projects.

2008-9 Crafty Pixels GUI concept

Figure 6. craftypixels.com mockup (2009)
Figure 7. Crafty Pixels desktop application GUI mockup (2009)

One of which was to mock-up a Crafty Pixels website (Figure 6) and desktop application (7)- this fancy screensaver’s pre-sets could be adjusted in real time. Stephen Wolff developed a private prototype for Travis and he to experiment with.

Figures 8 & 9. Pixel Player bitmap outputs (2008)

The prototype was promising in supporting some pleasing aesthetic outputs (yebo, yes, Figures 8 & 9!)

2010 createwithpixels.com – private Alpha for desktop

Travis wrote a PhD in Media Studies proposal to study the use of creatwithpixels.com and other bitmap drawing software in High Schools. However, his preliminary research at an elite one suggested that focusing on free online portfolio software would be more worthwhile for the Visual Arts. In response, he pivoted to developing a visual arts e-portfolio syllabus (2011-13) at a private school with its HOD, and a repurposed one for a government school…

2012 createwithpixels.com – public Alpha

Max Gate Digital released a public website at createwithpixels.com, and a test hosting site at beta.createwithpixels.com. Travis’ lead supervisor, Dr Marion Walton kindly permitted him to reference Processing bitmap code she wrote for a coding outreach project at an iKamva Youth branch. 

Figure 10. Create With Pixels homepage (2012)
Figure 11. createwithpixels.com configure wizard GUI (2014)
Figure 12. createwithpixels.com elements wizard GUI (2014)

2016-18 Beta GUI for a mobile createwithpixels app

Figure 13. createwithpixels library GUI (2016)
Figure 14. Color selection in the createwithpixels bitmap editor GUI (2016)

Following createwith.net‘s launch, with fresh Create With branding by Jon Whelan consulting, Jon developed a matching, revised front-end for createwithpixels (see Figures 13 & 14).

Figure 15. createwithpixels.com testing on iMac

This new GUI focused on bitmap illustration, versus serendipitous animations. It also added a scalable version for small-screen, mobile phone use (NOT shown in Figure 15!) An MA in Digital Art colleague, Dr Julie Freeman (Translating Nature) reviewed the app, and provided many helpful suggestions on its improvement, plus future development possibilities.

2023-25 createwithpixels app v.1 development

Michael Pretorius and Rafeeq Weideman, both then at Younglings Africa, worked to prepare createwithpixels’ front-end for Apple iOS and Google Android apps. Michael continued work on the app’s front-end as a freelancer, liaising with Stephen Wolff to integrate with the back-end. In 2025, the Android version was approved by the Google Play Store. The Apple version is currently under review. 

 ‘Art is long, life is short.’ – Hippocrates.

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