What is the best Minecraft skin editing program?

This is not a question that you're alone if you ask. There are so many editors available to avid Minecraft players wanting to personalize their look. The range is huge, from professional to beginner. But with all these resources, how come we still see questions like these popping up? -



I've heard and answered these questions so many times, yet there never seems to be a solid answer. For almost five years, I have been bouncing around trying different editors, apps, anything that works perfectly well for me. Still seem to be in that hunt after so many years... I think it's important to also consider every person is different, with different skills levels and skin needs. The ones that are being covered here are all free programs and all feature the 3D skin model (Meaning no art apps like Medibang, Photoshop, etc.)


Now let's get started, I'll be sorting them in order from most popular Google search results to least. Not interested in boring numbers and reviews? Skip to the bottom.

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Skindex: https://www.minecraftskins.com/skin-editor/



Layout/Design: 5 Simple, clean, and labeled.

Tools: 5 Bare minimum in tools, but still everything you need.

Community: 4 Many stolen skins and little moderation.

Time: 7 Shortcut galore.

User friendly: 8 Anyone at any skill level can figure it out.




Platform: Browser
Opacity support: No
Base layer transparency: No
HD support: No
Offline support: No
2D viewing: No
View layers separately: Yes
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: Hex


Pros:

• Offers shortcuts, something I am always looking for.
• If tab is closed, model isn’t wiped.

Cons:

• Undo tool only does one pixel at a time.
• Cannot toggle grid view.
• The same way you place pixels is how you move the model.
• Doesn't center currently shown model when other parts are deselected.
• Poor zooming.

Overview:

Ranking 5.8 and in 3rd place.

Skindex has a simple layout, and easy to find tools. A great editor for anyone who isn't fully committed to skin making and just needs an online editor every now and then. But this being said, it lacks many tools and features for someone who makes skins regularly. This editor also has community ties, however moderation seems limited and many skins appear to be stolen.

Bugs: (Please tell me about common bugs if you know of any!)

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Nova Skin(beta): http://minecraft.novaskin.me/resourcepacks



Layout: 4 Open, clean, easy on the eyes, but everything is far apart.

Tools: 6 All base tools, plus some awesome perks.

Community: 6 Community allows for more than just skin uploads and downloads.

Time: 3 A few shortcuts, but most tools are so spread apart that it eats time like nothing.

User friendly: 3 Labels are useless and the pictures offer little help.




Platform: Browser
Opacity support: Yes
Base layer transparency: Yes
HD support: Yes
Offline support: No
2D viewing: Yes
View layers separately: No
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: RGB-HSV-Hex


Pros:

• Mirror part option.
• CTRL + z undo.
• Double right click full face delete.
• Pose figures.

Cons:

• Many features seem glitchy or working improperly at time of blog upload.
• Too much trial and error to figure out what works.
• Doesn’t save a backup if connection were to fail or tab be closed.

Overview:

Ranking 4.4 and in 5th place.

Where do I even start? Oh right... the fact that at the time of review I couldn't even use most features on the regular Nova Skins editor that I had to use the beta editor to even give it a chance. Although the concepts here are great, it seems like it is less orientated towards ease of use and productivity, but rather a mash of features that feel more like afterthoughts than pure integration. This editor does take a lot of time to get used to and to explore all the features, and does seem very promising for anyone willing to take the time with it. This one leans towards pro and far from beginner.

Bugs: (Please tell me about common bugs if you know of any!)

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Minecraft Skin Editor: https://www.minecraftskins.net/skineditor


Layout: 6 Simplest design yet, very clean.

Tools: 3 Almost less than the minimum, but gets the job done regardless.

Community: 2 Although highly moderated, there is lack of creativity and still many stolen skins.

Time: 4 Little-no shortcuts.

User friendly: 6 Very quick to figure out.




Platform: Browser
Opacity support: No
Base layer transparency: No
HD support: No
Offline support: No
2D viewing: No
View layers separately: Yes
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: Hex


Pros:

• Easy to readjust model on screen.
• Palettes can be saved in easy access areas.
• Easy pre-available poses.

Cons:

• If page is refreshed, all work is lost.
• Cannot erase on base layer.
• Fill tool covers entire surface rather than one color.
• Small view.

Overview:

Ranking 4.2 and in 6th place.

Probably the simplest editor on this list. Very beginner level and easy to navigate. However, does miss a lot of important and extra features skin makers who do this regularly might want.

Bugs: (Please tell me about common bugs if you know of any!)

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MCSkin3D: https://www.planetminecraft.com/mod/mcskin3d/



Layout: 8 Large area to work, ability to make program into multiple windows (Great for recording).

Tools: 7 All the tools you need and then some. Very near each other and east to locate.

Community: N/A

Time: 8 Stamp tool and other shortcuts cut down on overall time.

User friendly: 6 Difficult setup but great once figured out.




Platform: Desktop
Opacity support: Yes
Base layer transparency: No
HD support: Yes
Offline support: Yes
2D viewing: Yes
View layers separately: Yes
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: RGB-HSV-Hex



Pros:

• Downloadable and usable on desktop offline.
• Great skin sorting and filing system.
• Includes other models and entities.
• Can choose pre or post 1.8 skins.
• Background color change and personalized ground textures.
• Can save palettes in program.
• Use anti-aliasing to smooth out the jagged pixelated look for nice screenshots.

Cons:

• Abandoned by creator, no more updates.
• Older version works better, newest version brings bugs and an ad.
• No easy way to copy.
• No mirror tool.

Overview:

Ranking 7.25 and in 1st place.

Fan favorite of many long-time skin makers, professional and beginner alike. This editor is great, sleek, and perfect for serious skin makers. It includes in-app files and folders for easy skin sorting, downloadable desktop app for offline usage, and the stamp tool is the most useful tool there. Not to mention the feature that allows you to split the app into two windows, this is great for anyone recording skin making videos and tutorials. However, this app has been left without updates in a crumbling state, so if you use it, recommended use is to download the v1.6.0.692.

Bugs:
- Latest version doesn't support HD skins, use older version.
- 2D view for HD skins is bugged. 3D model still usable.
- Skin stealer function is down.
- Can only separate app into multiple windows when app is first launched.

(Tell me if you know any other common bugs!)

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PMCSkin3D: https://www.planetminecraft.com/pmcskin3d/



Layout: 6 Movable windows are a plus.

Tools: 5 All tools needed, but organized poorly while many others are bugged.

Community: 9 Connected with one of the best Minecraft skin communities.

Time: 5 Even with shortcuts, layout is very time consuming.

User friendly: 6 Easy to access and report bugs/issues.


Platform: Browser

Opacity support: Yes

Base layer transparency: No

HD support: Yes

Offline support: No

2D viewing: Yes

View layers separately: Yes

View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: RGB-HSV-Hex




Pros:

• Lots of helpful tools.
• Posing feature. (Now you can make all your MC characters dab like you irl!)
• Mirror feature.
• CTRL + z.
• Customizable shortcuts.
• Moveable color and palette windows.
• Custom brushes.

Cons:

• Huge disconnect between creator and community.
• Feature driven, not usability driven.
• Messy layout.
• Every bug imaginable.
  
• Appearance of little testing before updates.

Overview:

Ranking 6.2 and in 2nd place.

This editor would be ranked much higher if it we not for the major amount of reported bugs. Also, this application does seem to be more about jamming as many features into a single space to the point where it gets difficult to work and cuts down greatly on work flow, even with shortcuts included. Connected with the Planet Minecraft community for easy upload. Many people comment on the "complexity" of this app when questioned.

Bugs:

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Miners(Minors?) Need Cool Shoes: https://www.needcoolshoes.com/



Layout: 5 Small, crammed space.

Tools: 3 Less than minimum tools.

Community: 1 Never have I seen so many Minecraft bobs. Send help.

Time: 4 No shortcuts.

User friendly: 5 Basic and easy to figure out.


Platform: Browser
Opacity support: No
Base layer transparency: No
HD support: No
Offline support: No
2D viewing: No
View layers separately: Yes
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: HSV


Pros:

• Model is saved if page refreshes.
• Layers.
• Image adjustment.
• Auto generated color palettes.

Cons:

• Community isn’t child friendly.
• Most parts and bases are stolen.
• Small work area.
• Minimal tools.
• Fill tool fills entire body part selected.
• Bugs. Many bugs.

Overview:

Ranking 3.5 and in last place.

Honestly, unless you want/need to use a feature in this program, it is almost always better to avoid and find another available one to use. Parents/people who do not want to see "suggestive" skins should not use the community. This program even on its own without all the pixelated lewds involved is bare minimum and not very user friendly to use with many bugs and not-so-clear labeling.


Bugs:

- Layers often merge or malfunction.
- Tools sometimes stop working properly.

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Skinseed: (Download on app store on your mobile device.)



Layout: 7 Simple layout, easy to navigate.

Tools: 6 All the tools you need, please a few features not common on other editors.

Community: 3 No moderation. However, allows uploading of HD skins.

Time: 4 The way the image view is set up is very time consuming.

User friendly: 6 Simple concept, easy to grasp.


Platform: Mobile
Opacity support: Yes
Base layer transparency: Yes
HD support: Yes
Offline support: Yes
2D viewing: No
View layers separately: Yes
View one part at a time: Yes
RGB/HSV/Hex: HSV


Pros:

• Allows to recover previous version if app crashes suddenly.
• Easy copy/paste tool.
• Flip horizontal/vertical tool.

Cons:

• Cannot select to view more than one part at a time, either one face or the entire side of the body.
• No 3D viewing while editing, separate 3D viewing.

Overview:

Ranking 5.2 and in 4th place.

Honestly, for a free mobile app, you can't get too picky with it . It has all the features anyone needs, although it might take a long time to get the job done. Other than that, the community is comparable to that of Miners Needs Cool Shoes. There is no moderation at all on this app, even though it is listed as E for everyone. There are a lot of people worth avoiding here. Parents and people wanting to avoid sexual context take note.


Bugs:
- Depending on version, sometimes pixels become blurry.
(Please tell me about common bugs if you know of any!)

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General Analysis:

Now before we get too far into this, I do want to state that this is all based on the opinions of several anonymous skin makers. None of these can truly be "the best editor" (Shocker!). This isn't all fact, actually a large majority is opinions jumbled all up into one big review. Not everything will line up with what you might personally think. But at the same time, these are all subject to change as these editors update or we add more opinions.

Also consider only a handful of editors are being tested, these being the most "popular" ones.



Based on these rankings, the best skin editors are as followed in order from best to worst. [​Based on current results.]

1st- MCSkin3D
2nd- PMCSkin3D
3rd- Skindex
4th- Skinseed
5th- Nova Skin
6th- Minecraft Skin Editor
7th- Miners Need Cool Shoes

Best for 'expert'/'serious' skin makers:
1st- MCSkin3D
2nd- PMCSkin3D
3rd- Nova Skin

Best for beginners:
1st- Skindex
2nd- Minecraft Skin Editor

Best for mobile:
1st (and only one tested for this review blog)- Skinseed

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Hey.

Hey you.


Do you like messing up numbers?



Do you like messing up numbers and making life difficult for Campestral?





Wow, I've got something for you.



So as I mentioned before, all of these are opinion based and subject to change. Want to help out and add your anonymous opinion? Fill out the following and screw up those numbers for me! Only serious and unbiased opinions will be accounted for. If you fill out the last box on the form, there's a chance of having it featured with the editor you are reviewing (Anonymously of course).*

Fill this out to be opinionated!

Wanna add to a poll or tell me what skin editor you use?



*Comments on blog/forum thread will not be considered. Only taking anonymous answers filled out on the Google form.