Reference
Troubleshooting and limits
Resolve failed saves, missing artwork, blocked drawing, cursor limits and draft-upload warnings.
When Pixl cannot finish an action, its message explains whether the drawing was saved, retained as a draft or left waiting on this device. Read that distinction before reloading or closing the tab.
Drawing does not change the picture
This layer is locked. Unlock it in the Layers tab to draw on it. Select Layers and use the layer’s lock control.
This layer is hidden. Show it in the Layers tab to draw on it. Turn on the layer’s eye and check that its group is visible too.
Also check the selected frame and layer, the active tool and both colour slots. A transparent primary colour clears pixels. Move can be carrying a selection rather than drawing, and an animation preview needs stopping before you edit.
If a reference layer appears on the editing board but disappears from finished thumbnails, that is its intended behaviour. Clear Reference layer (not exported) if its content belongs in the saved image.
A draft has not reached your account
Not saved to your account yet. It’s kept on this device… means the browser has queued it. Restore the connection and let the app retry.
If the message adds that this device has no room to keep it, keep the editor open. The queue is already at its 20-draft or 16 MiB limit, or the new draft does not fit. This work may be only in the tab until an upload succeeds.
The draft could not reach the server. Leave the editor open and try again. is another reason to keep the tab open while resolving the connection.
A newer copy of this draft was saved somewhere else. Reopen the draft to see it. means you should reopen the account draft before continuing. See drafts and saving for sign-out, expiry and cross-device behaviour.
Save was refused
| Message or situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| That drawing couldn’t be read. Try saving it again. | Try Save again. Keep the draft open if it continues. |
| That drawing is too large to save. Try fewer frames. | Reduce the animation’s frames or simplify the drawing, then save. |
| Your hand-made Pixls have used all their space (1 GB). | Remove artwork or drafts you no longer need and may delete, then try again. |
| This Pixl can’t be changed right now. or This Pixl is under review… | Keep your working draft and try later; contact support if the situation persists. |
| Only the artist can do that. | Use the available viewing or remix action instead of editing the original. |
| That Pixl isn’t available. | It may no longer be readable or usable. Return to the collection and choose an available drawing. |
The default handmade storage allowance is 1 GiB, counting drafts and saved artwork. All Pixl storage also counts towards a 2 GiB overall ceiling, including artwork treated separately from the handmade allowance. The warning’s wording names the handmade allowance even when the broader ceiling is the cause. There are no separate limits on the number of Pixls, animated Pixls or daily creations.
If a shared name is refused, rename it and retry. That name couldn’t be checked just now calls for another attempt later. A name-only failure after an image update explicitly says The drawing itself is saved; the old name remains in place.
Sharing or reuse was refused
An identical image is already shared opens the original-artwork choice. Choose an eligible credited original or keep editing.
Only its artist can use this Pixl. Ask them to release it as a free asset means it is not released for reuse. Its artist hasn’t shared this Pixl yet also prevents treating a visible private drawing as a reusable asset.
Profile pictures can’t be released as free assets, and released Pixls can’t be profile pictures explains why one of those actions is missing or refused. Use eligible artwork for the intended role.
Removed or unavailable artwork can appear as a placeholder. Do not keep trying to share a removed image. Use the reporting or support routes when you need help with its status.
An animation will not save or play
The save warning can say This animation flashes more than three times a second. Slow it down, or make the change between frames gentler. Increase the duration of affected frames or reduce the brightness change between them.
A still preview elsewhere does not mean the frames disappeared. Small artwork, busy canvas views and reduced-motion display can use a still. Check the frames inside Pixl Studio.
A cursor or picture will not fit
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| One Pixl | 16, 32, 64 or 128 pixels square. |
| Layers | One to 16. |
| Ordinary animation | Up to 24 frames. |
| Cursor | 16 or 32 pixels square; up to eight frames. |
| Animated frame duration | 20 to 10,000 ms, in 10 ms increments. |
| Pixl or layer name | Up to 120 characters. |
| Working palette | Up to 64 colours. |
| Joined picture | Up to 16 × 16 tiles. |
Stitching needs matching tile sizes and a complete rectangular grid without overlaps or gaps. The neighbour buttons require a free outside edge. See joined pictures.
Deleting was refused
This Pixl is still on a canvas or worn. Remove it there first. Check its placements, node pictures, avatar and cursor uses.
Someone else has saved or used this Pixl, so it can only be hidden. Use Hide from my list. Removing a use later does not necessarily remove that deletion lock.
Connection and account messages
For Couldn’t reach Glob, restore the connection. For You’ve been signed out, sign in again. If the app says to reload because a request was turned away or its answer could not be read, first check that any unsaved work is kept, then follow that instruction.
For Pixl isn’t available right now or a temporary Glob problem, keep the draft and try later. If you need help, contact [email protected] with the action and exact message. Account and deletion enquiries go to [email protected].