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medli20 β Pixel art tutorial
Published: 2011-06-22 01:25:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 134224; Favourites: 4911; Downloads: 1488
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Description
Quick note: generally, the larger your canvas is, the HARDER it is to create pixel art. Start out with a smaller canvas. (less than 150x150 pixels.) This way, it will also be easier to catch any mistakes you make.Quick pixel art tutorial.
Sorry if it seems rushed toward the end, but the psd file was starting to go over 400 MB and I didn't want Photoshop to crash on me, lol.
Also, here's what I was working on in this tutorial:
Tutorial on animating pixel art:
More pixel art: medli20.deviantart.com/galleryβ¦
Related content
Comments: 303
hi, thanks for sharing!
I tried yourtutorial and came up with my first pixel artΒ nibinlondien.deviantart.com/arβ¦
it was so much fun
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Will this work with Gimp using Pencil Tool?
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I've been told that Gimp should work, though I can't vouch for it myself since I've never used Gimp. If the pencil tool in Gimp makes kind of jagged-looking lines like MS Paint does, then yes, it should work.
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wait..so to create pixel art you just need to use photoshop?
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That's all I use, at least. You may also need Imageready or a similar program to animate it, though, depending on what version of Photoshop you use.
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hmm..well i kinda try it, to make pixel art, using SAI though..
what do you think about it?? [link]
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I can't really tell that it's pixel art 
Also, quick tip: pixel art is about having total control over the placement of each individual pixel. You should avoid using fuzzy brushes, since you lose much of that control when you use them. Try using just the binary tool-- it's better-suited for pixel art. 
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hmm, that's what i don't get, what's binary tool? hehe because i see people sometimes make it at sai using brush, but with very small size of picture, that will do?
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Eek, sorry for the late reply ><;Β
This is what the binary tool looks like
idk what SAI is like since I've never used it, but if you set it to the smallest setting, you should be able to use it to make pixel art. The key point of pixel art is being able to manipulate it pixel by pixel.
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so i am not allowed to use normal brush? hmm okay i'm gonna think over it..
and looking at your avatar alawys feel weird hahhaha
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The One Thing I Don't Like About This Tutorial, You have To know How To Draw Without A Base...
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That is a very basic skill, though. It kind of goes beyond skills that are confined solely to pixel art because it encompasses pretty much every other form of 2-dimensional visual art as well.
While knowing how to draw without a base is a very basic skill, it is by no means simple to explain. I honestly don't think I could explain how to do that in a single tutorial, nor do I think it is advisable to learn that skill from one. That sort of skill is best learned from trial and error, as well as practice, observation, experimentation, and maybe even some guidance from a person who is able to observe your method of drawing in person.
I'm terribly sorry, but I simply cannot teach anyone how to draw without a base-- trying to condense all that I've learned in almost 20 years of drawing (or even just a fraction of that) into a single tutorial would be borderline impossible.
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Yeah I Know, Ive Been Drawing For About A Year Now, Im Good On Paper, But I Just HATE The Amount Of Time It Take's To Fully Erase Everything. So Ive Been Using Stuff Like SIA Paint Tool For About 5 Months Now.
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I love the tutorial
I am working on my own as this showed me that I can convert my own small chibi drawings into pixels as long as the lines are done properly
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Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful!
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It really was and still is
Thank you so much!Β If you're curious, this was the pixelart I was talking about: fav.me/d6b1d1k ^^
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It looks pretty fantastic! Keep up the great work
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Thank you!
This really helped me, and I will save the image in case I forget!
Indeed, thank you very much!
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No problem; good luck!
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Thanks, I'm glad you think so!
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[link] Took me 2 hours to make but I'm done!!!
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Wow, that looks great! I love the way you did the eyes
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this is what i have been looking for! thx very much *open photoshop and started messing up for 2 hours*
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No problem and good luck!
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im done
[link]
there the link please tell me if it came out ok.
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great work, rewally, very uselful for a novice.. one question: how to draw a low fidelity pixel art?, i mean less detailed than yours..
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Depends on the resolution you want to work at, really. If you want to go REALLY low-res (like NES 8-bit), then I would suggest just laying down blocks of color until it starts to look vaguely like your desired result.
If you want to go a little higher-res than that, I'd suggest drawing and coloring your sprite as a normal picture (not pixel art), shrinking it down, then pixeling over it on another layer. Or at least for starters, anyway. Once you've gotten the hang of it, then you can just do straight pixel art.
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My mom nags me to try different styles "BLAH BLAH GRAPHIC ARTISTS KNOW DIFFERENT STYLES BLAH BLAH"
.......PIXEL ART HERE I COME (and fail miserably, nice job! 
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It takes a little practice and getting used to, but don't give up! Good luck
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Thanks! I'll send a link when I'm done to show off meh failure X3
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this is a really late reply, but what part don't (didn't?) you understand?
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well :sigh: hard to exsplane
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If you can't explain what part is giving you trouble, I can't really help you. Sorry
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THIS IS SO BOSS
i think my dreams of doing pixel art are crushed.
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Aaaahhh sorry sorry this is months late, but I've been on hiatus ;_;
Is there still anything I can help you with, or have you figured it out already?
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Um.. Can you answer my question? Or anyone who sees this answer my question please..
How do you get Photoshop with the one with the tools that you can use to make art?
All I have is Microsoft Paint. And, it's like stuck to my computer and I can't get it off but I don't mind it on my computer.
So does anyone know how to get Photoshop? Please tell me! 
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You're technically supposed to buy Photoshop-- some versions will be cheaper than others, though.
While I don't condone pirating in any way, Adobe has a copy of CS2 available to download from their website, but you're only supposed to download it if you've legitimately purchased a copy. (idk if they have any way of actually checking this though, *cough cough*)
In regards to legitimately free art programs, here's a list of several that you can check out: [link]
I've never used any of them, though, so I can't tell you which ones are good for pixel art. Good luck!
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Thank you!!
I have a question..
How long did it take to make this?
It must have been a long time!
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I don't remember how long it took to make the tutorial itself or the pixel art featured in it, sorry. 
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Oh well, it's great artwork!
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Thanks a lot! :3
I'm still in practice myself
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Useful tutorial!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!
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Wow I luvd your tutorial I think it will help me a lot. Thank you very much !! 
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I'd have liked to see a really "tacky" or overdone version :3
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Great tutorial, very helpful! Thanks!
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