How to Use Turtle Paint on NES

By Stone Age Gamer | Published: 2026-10-24

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to get started with Turtle Paint Video Coloring Book Volume 1 for NES, including basic controls, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Quick Answer

Turtle Paint is a coloring program for the NES that lets you draw and color pixel art using your controller. Here's how to get started and avoid common pitfalls.

What Makes Turtle Paint Different

Turtle Paint was created for the 2020 Byte-Off game jam and inspired by the adult coloring book trend. It offers a relaxing, creative experience on classic NES hardware—no cartridges or special accessories needed beyond your console and controller.

Unlike modern art apps, Turtle Paint runs on original NES hardware, so you'll work with a limited color palette and pixel grid. This constraint is part of the charm but can be frustrating if you expect a modern drawing tablet experience.

Getting Started with Turtle Paint on NES

Insert the Cartridge and Power On: Insert the Turtle Paint cartridge into your NES and turn on the console. Wait for the title screen to load. If the screen is garbled, reseat the cartridge or clean the pins. Common mistake: A dirty 72-pin connector can cause graphical glitches. Clean your cartridge and console pins if needed.
Select a Coloring Page: Use the D-pad to highlight a page from the menu and press A or B to confirm. Each page has a different outline design ready to be colored. Checkpoint: Some pages have very small areas—start with a simpler design if you're new to pixel coloring.
Choose Your Color: Press the Select button to open the color palette. Use the D-pad to pick a color and press A to confirm. The palette includes several bright and dark shades. Common mistake: Forgetting to confirm your color selection can leave you painting with the previous color. Always press A after choosing.
Color the Picture: Move the cursor with the D-pad and press A to fill the current pixel or area. Hold A and move to paint continuously. Experiment with different brush sizes if available. Checkpoint: Overlapping colors can create unintended patterns. Plan your color order to avoid muddy results.
Save or Share Your Art: Turtle Paint does not include a save feature on the cartridge itself. Take a photo of your TV screen or use a capture device to preserve your creation. Common mistake: Assuming the game saves your work. Since it's a cartridge-based NES game, there is no internal storage—capture your art before turning off the console.

Product Details

Turtle Paint Video Coloring Book Volume 1 - NES: Turtle Paint is a new coloring program for your NES game system, born as a submission to the 2020 Byte-Off game jam. This means the software is designed specifically for original NES hardware, not emulators, and offers a genuine retro art tool experience.
Turtle Paint Video Coloring Book Volume 1 - NES