GrafX2 in the Browser: Free Pixel Art Editor, Load Your Own Copy

Running GrafX2 in your browser — with your own copy Works well (windowed SDL build)

Guide updated July 2026 · Runs via Wine 1.7.55 (Win32) + WebAssembly · Requires your own copy

GrafX2 is the legendary free, open-source 256-color pixel-art editor — a spiritual successor to Amiga's Deluxe Paint, beloved by demoscene and game-art folks for its palette tools, gradients, custom brushes and Lua scripting. It's a small, SDL-based Win32 program with no DirectX or .NET dependency, which makes it a genuinely good fit for browser-based Wine. We don't bundle it here, but it's free (GPL) and easy to get: grab the Win32 build from the project page, load grafx2.exe with the uploader below, and it runs entirely in your tab — draw, then pull your image back out as a PNG without installing anything.

Runs in your browser tab with WebAssembly + Wine — nothing is uploaded. Click the screen to capture input; press Esc to release the mouse.

GrafX2 is GPL-2.0 open-source. Download the Windows binary from the GrafX2 project page, unzip it, then use Load your own copy above to run grafx2.exe.

Get GrafX2 (free, open-source)

GrafX2 is GPL-2.0 open-source software — free to download, use and share. The official project provides Windows builds; pick the SDL (version 1) 32-bit portable package for the best results here.

Get GrafX2 from the official project →

Download the grafx2-sdl-...-win32 portable ZIP (not the 64-bit or SDL2 build), unzip it, then use Load your own copy → a folder above and select the whole GrafX2 directory so grafx2.exe finds its data files. Licensed under GPL-2.0-only.

How it works & what to expect

GrafX2 renders through SDL, not DirectX or modern Direct3D, so it sidesteps the graphics APIs that trip up browser-based Wine. The 32-bit Windows build is exactly the kind of self-contained Win32 app ExeBrowser handles best: it boots into its palette-driven UI, the tools respond, and you can paint, fill, set gradients and edit the 256-color palette as normal.

Two honest caveats. First, run it windowed — GrafX2's fullscreen mode change can be flaky under emulation, so if you hit a black screen, drop back to a window. Second, you're running an x86 CPU emulated inside WebAssembly at roughly 10-40% of native speed; GrafX2 is light enough that this is fine for normal pixel pushing, though very large canvases or heavy Lua scripts will feel slower than on the desktop.

Get the SDL1 32-bit build for best results

The project ships several Windows packages. For browser-Wine, prefer the SDL (version 1) 32-bit portable build over the newer SDL2 one — the older SDL1 stack is what Wine 1.7.55 understands most reliably. Grab the portable ZIP (no installer needed), unzip it, and load the whole folder so grafx2.exe finds its data files.

Open the SDL 32-bit (win32) portable archive, not the installer or the 64-bit build (this engine is 32-bit only).
Keep the program folder intact — config, fonts and skins live alongside the EXE.
It saves in .png, .gif, .bmp, .pcx and many retro formats; PNG is the safe everyday choice.

Saving your art out of the browser

Files you create live in the sandbox, so save your work, then use ExeBrowser's Download files written by this app button before you reload or close the tab. That zips up everything the program wrote — including your saved PNGs — and downloads it to your computer. If you skip this step, the sandbox is wiped on reload and your image is gone.

Step by step

Click ▶ Run GrafX2 above to boot Wine on this page (keep Win32 (default)).
If prompted, download the GrafX2 SDL 32-bit portable ZIP and unzip it.
Use Load your own copy → a folder and select the unzipped GrafX2 directory.
Pick grafx2.exe and click Run in Wine (stay in windowed mode).
Draw, save your image, then click Download files written by this app to get the PNG out.

Frequently asked questions

Is GrafX2 free to use?

Yes. GrafX2 is free, open-source software released under the GPL-2.0-only license. The original MS-DOS version was developed by Sunset Design from 1996-2001 and later released as open source, and it remains actively maintained. You can download, use and redistribute it freely.

Does GrafX2 actually run in the browser?

Yes, and well. It's a small SDL-based Win32 program with no DirectX, Direct3D or .NET dependency, so it runs cleanly under browser-based Wine. Use the SDL1 32-bit portable build and run it windowed for the most reliable experience.

Which GrafX2 download should I use here?

Use the SDL (version 1) 32-bit portable Windows build. Avoid the 64-bit build (this engine is 32-bit only) and prefer SDL1 over SDL2, since the older SDL stack is the most compatible with Wine 1.7.55. The portable ZIP needs no installer.

How do I get my drawing off the page?

Save your image inside GrafX2 (PNG is easiest), then click Download files written by this app in ExeBrowser. That zips up everything the program wrote and downloads it. Do this before reloading — the sandbox is cleared on refresh.

Why does GrafX2 feel a bit slow sometimes?

ExeBrowser emulates an x86 CPU inside WebAssembly, giving roughly 10-40% of native speed. GrafX2 is lightweight enough that ordinary pixel work is comfortable, but very large canvases, big zoom levels or heavy Lua scripts will run slower than on a real desktop.