DEGAS (software)

DEGAS was a popular, low-cost integrated graphics and animation software package for the Atari ST line of computers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Developed by Electronic Arts, it allowed users to create and manipulate images using the Atari ST's limited color palette.

DEGAS offered a suite of tools for drawing, painting, and manipulating pixel-based images. Key features included a variety of brushes, fill tools, shape primitives, and text capabilities. It supported the Atari ST's standard screen resolution, and later versions, like DEGAS Elite, offered higher resolutions and enhanced functionality.

The software was widely used by artists, hobbyists, and game developers for creating graphics for games, desktop publishing, and general artistic expression. Its relatively low price point and user-friendly interface made it accessible to a wide audience. DEGAS was significant in fostering a creative community around the Atari ST platform and contributing to the visual aesthetic of many games and applications of that era. The program's file format, often referred to simply as "DEGAS format", was commonly used for storing and exchanging images created with the software.

DEGAS competed with other graphics packages available for the Atari ST, such as NEOchrome and Spectrum 512, each offering different features and capabilities. While DEGAS was not as powerful as some of the more expensive professional tools, its combination of affordability, ease of use, and versatility made it a popular choice for many Atari ST users.