How are Pixi designs created?

All Pixi designs are created by manipulating geometric curves called hypotrochoids and epitrochoids, using your fingers and the multi-touch capabilities of the iPhone interface.  Layering effects are created by using specialized tools available from the menu:  Stroke Painter, Flare Painter, Web Painter, Brush Painter.  Look for upcoming instructional videos to help explain further.

How were the designs in my default gallery created?

All the designs which were available in your Pixi gallery when you first ran the app were created by members of the Pixi development team.  Each of these designs was created by starting with the default Pixi (the design you get when you shake your iPhone to “reset” the design).  The trick to creating these complex animations is to explore certain harmonic frequencies in the underlying math.  That sounds complicated, but the truth is that you need to have patience and move your fingers slowly until you intuitively discover these magic “sweet spots”.  Moving just one pixel in any direction can greatly change the nature of your design.  Our advice: explore and have fun!

What happens when I press the PixiNet Load button?

The PixiNet Load button allows you to download unique designs from our own online gallery.  These are designs which were created by Pixi artists here at Tiny Wonder Studios.  In the future you’ll be able to download images from your friends or share designs with any other Pixi user.  Feel free to save or manipulate any of these designs.  Pixi is about sharing.

Why doesn’t Pixi integrate with my iPod.  I’d like to see Pixi react to my music.

The way Apple has structured the iPhone OS and framework, developers are prevented from streaming iPod music through their own application.  We tried, we really did.  But as much as we’d like to do this, it’s currently impossible.  Our advice is to help us bug Apple to open up this feature in upcoming Apple OS versions.  It would be great fun.

How can I create iPhone wallpapers with my Pixi designs?

Please check out this post for creating wallpapers with your Pixi designs.

I see that Pixi is dedicated to Mike Doughty.  What gives?

We love Mike Doughty.

If you have additional questions, please let us know.