Examining Deluxe Paint After Four Decades
In the world of digital art, one name often echoes in the halls of history - Deluxe Paint. Christopher Drum, in his recent article, takes us on a trip down memory lane as he compares this classic software to modern times, focusing specifically on Deluxe Paint III, the version released in 1989 for the Amiga platform.
The Amiga, known for its snappy cursor movement, even when the processor was loaded, was the home of Deluxe Paint III. In 1985, this software was the killer app that catapulted the Amiga into the limelight.
Deluxe Paint III boasts an incredibly efficient workflow, thanks to useful keyboard shortcuts that resemble HOKAM (Hands-On-Keybard-And-Mouse). However, it's not without its quirks. Drum found some cursor latency issues with certain brushes, which may be due to Windows and emulation layer adding a delay.
One thing that hasn't changed over the years is the performance of pixel art. Apparently, it doesn't require an upgrade, even when comparing Deluxe Paint III to modern software.
However, many features that have become standard in today's digital art applications, such as palette swapping animations, flood-filling line gradients, and a proper layering system, have been forgotten in the new generation. Deluxe Paint III also lacks an infinite undo feature and a full 24-bit colour palette, but most pixel artists still use limited palettes.
The latest available version of Deluxe Paint remains Deluxe Paint III, originally released for the Amiga in the early 1990s. Despite Commodore's recent resurrection, a new Amiga is unlikely to be seen soon.
The owner of an Amiga likely has fond memories of it. The thumbnail and header image for Deluxe Paint were distributed by Electronic Arts, and the image itself was created by Avril Harrison.
Despite its age, Deluxe Paint III continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many, reminding us of a time when digital art was a little more straightforward, a little more hands-on, and a whole lot of fun.
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