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Total Beginner Pixel Art PDF

This document provides an introduction and overview of pixel art. It begins with defining what a pixel and pixel art are, then discusses the history and origins of pixel art from early video games that were limited by hardware. It also reviews some notable examples from video game history. The document then covers how to set up pixel art software like Photoshop and Piskel, demonstrating basic tools and techniques. It includes tutorials on drawing shapes, lines, and portraits using pixels. The document concludes with resources for learning more about pixel art.

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Tra Nguyen
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964 views62 pages

Total Beginner Pixel Art PDF

This document provides an introduction and overview of pixel art. It begins with defining what a pixel and pixel art are, then discusses the history and origins of pixel art from early video games that were limited by hardware. It also reviews some notable examples from video game history. The document then covers how to set up pixel art software like Photoshop and Piskel, demonstrating basic tools and techniques. It includes tutorials on drawing shapes, lines, and portraits using pixels. The document concludes with resources for learning more about pixel art.

Uploaded by

Tra Nguyen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 62

Pixel Art: 1.

0
Square is Cool!

by Astra Wijaya (astrawijaya.com)


with
Tech Valley Game Space
What is on the menu today?

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Software setup
4. Playing with pixels
5. Resources
0.1 Some questions

- Does anyone know how/is learning to draw (digital


or traditional)?
- Familiar with Photoshop/Piskel/other image editing
software?
- Who is using what software?
1.1 What is a pixel?
- From the words, picture and element.

This one
square is a
pixel

"Pixel-example" by ed g2s • talk - Example image is a rendering


of Image:Personal computer, exploded 5.svg.. Licensed under CC
BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.
org/wiki/File:Pixel-example.png#/media/File:Pixel-example.png
1.2 What is pixel art?
- Drawing or editing on the pixel level that now has become a style of its own.
2.1 History

- Came from hardware processing limitation


- Not able to draw or render too many colors
2.1 History
- Very similar to mosaic art
2.2 Visual History

Pong (1972)
Credit: Amintore Fanfani
2.2 Visual History

Space Invaders (1978)


2.2 Visual History

Pac Man (1980


2.2 Visual History

Donkey Kong [arcade]


(1981)
2.2 Visual History

Super Mario Bros (NES)


(1985)
2.2 Visual History

Ryu (Street Fighter series)


1987+
2.2 Visual History

Chrono Trigger (1995)


2.2 Visual History

Metal Slug series (1996+)


2.2 Visual History

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)


2.2 Visual History

Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)


2.2 Visual History

Pokemon series (1996)


2.2 Visual History

3D Dot Game Heroes (2009)


2.2 Visual History

Minecraft (2009)
2.2 Visual History

Scott Pilgrim VS The World: The Game (2010)


2.2 Visual History

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (2011)


3.1 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting software: Create new file

Photoshop: New File (32x32 pixels)


or CTRL+N (Win) / CMD+N (Mac)
3.1 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting software: Create new file

Piskel: Resize to 32 x 32 pixel


3.2 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting software: Zoom (PS and Piskel)

Piskel:
(+) to Zoom in
(-) to Zoom out

Photoshop: Zoom Tool (Z)


or CTRL [CMD] +(+) to zoom in and
CTRL [CMD] + (-) to zoom out.
3.3 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Pencil (PS) / Pen (Piskel)

Piskel: Pen tool (P)

Photoshop: Pencil tool (B or Shift+B to cycle)


3.3 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Pencil (PS) / Pen (Piskel)
3.3 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Pencil (PS) / Pen (Piskel)
3.4 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting software: Undo

Photoshop Piskel
- Multiple undos: CTRL+ALT+Z - Multiple undos: CTRL+Z (Win)
(Win) or CMD+ALT+Z (Mac) or CMD+Z (Mac)
3.5 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Eraser (PS and Piskel)

Piskel: Eraser tool (E)

Photoshop: Eraser tool (E or Shift+E to cycle)

Photoshop: Mode: PENCIL


3.6 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Color (PS and Piskel)

Piskel: Color

Photoshop: Color Picker


on HUE (H)
3.6 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Color (PS and Piskel)
3.7 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting software: Saving file (PS and
Piskel)
3.8 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tool: Magic Wand (PS) and Shape
selection (Piskel)

Photoshop: Magic Wand (W)


Sample Size: Point Sample Piskel: Shape
UNCHECK Anti-Alias selection (Z)
Contiguous?
3.9 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Paint Bucket (PS and Piskel)

Piskel: Paint Bucket


(B)

Photoshop: Magic Wand (G or Shift+G to cycle)


Fill: Foreground
Tolerance: 0
UNCHECK Anti-Alias
Contiguous?
3.9 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Paint Bucket (PS and Piskel)
3.10 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Eyedropper (PS) and Color
picker (Piskel)

Photoshop: Eyedropper (I or Shift+I to cycle) Piskel: Color picker (O)


3.11 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Move Tool (PS and Piskel)

Photoshop: Move (V) Piskel: Move (M)


Auto-Select?
3.11 Software Setup
Familiarizing with painting tools: Move Tool (PS and Piskel)

If
not:

Photoshop: Move (V)


Make sure the layer that you want to
move is selected
4.1 Playing with Pixels
Create New File

Piskel:
- Add New Frame
- Mouse over to old frame and Delete the frame
- Go to Save and Save As another file name
4.2 Playing with Pixels
Creating straight lines

Photoshop: Hold
Shift+click and drag using
Pencil (Horizontal and
Vertical)
4.2 Playing with Pixels
Creating straight lines

Piskel:
Click and drag the
Stroke Tool (L)

and then
SAVE FILE!
4.3 Playing with Pixels
Creating circular lines
4.3 Playing with Pixels
Creating circular or smooth curved lines

Piskel:
Circle Tool (C)
Press and hold Shift when
dragging for perfect circle
4.3 Playing with Pixels
Creating circular or smooth curved lines

Photoshop:
Eliptical Marquee Tool
(Shift + M to cycle)
DEMO!

and then
SAVE FILE!
4.4 Playing with Pixels
Creating a ball and a cube
4.4 Playing with Pixels
Creating a ball and a cube
4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait
4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait

By Dale Karp By 0tanim

Found on vixels.net
4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait

From 2006 RPI Pixel Art lecture


4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait

From http://pixelfigures.tumblr.com
4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait

Demo
4.5 Playing with Pixels
Creating YOUR self-portrait

Do not forget to save!


4.6 Playing with Pixels
Enlarging the image

Photoshop: Image Size CTRL+ALT+I [WIN] or CMD+ALT+I [MAC]


Resample Image set to :Nearest Neighbor (preserve hard edges)
DEMO
4.6 Playing with Pixels
Saving the image

Photoshop: Save As CTRL+SHIFT+S [WIN] or


CMD+SHIFT+S [MAC]
4.6 Playing with Pixels
Exporting the image on Piskel

Piskel: Export as PNG or Export as GIF


5.1 Resources
Pixel Art: 2.0 It Is (Not) Dangerous Out There. Take these!

● Pixel art documentary (YouTube link)


● A writing about pixel art (The Verge link)
● Eboy, a famous pixel art trio
● 30 pixel art artists compiled by CreativeBloq
● A forum tutorial for pixel art at Pixel Joint
● A great tutorial by Derek Yu
● Adam Saltsman’s pixel art freelance guide at GamaSutra (2009)
● One big list of tutorials, inspirations, artists, and forums at
pixelprospector.com
● Kotaku’s article about a Japanese pixel artist
6.1 (bonus) Q&A
Questions? Comments? Concerns? More classes like this?
The End?

Slides sharing
bit.ly/1IUacjC

Thank you for coming!

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