home
>
Blog
>
Design
>
+5 programs to make Pixel Art that surely you did not know
+5 programs to do …
Are you a fan of video games? If the answer is yes, take a trip back in time by reading this note regarding Pixel art. We are sure that you will love this graphic design technique. You will learn about the best 8 programs to make Pixel art and, in addition, many curious facts about this retro technique of graphic design.
If you want to learn more about Pixel art in video games and a bit of its history, we invite you to continue reading the note 👾.
Table of Contents
Index:
- What are pixels?
- Who created the pixels?
- What differentiates the pixel from the vectors?
- What is pixel art?
- What types of pixel art are there?
- Programs to make pixel art
- Tips for designing with pixel art
- Some pixel art video games
- Some pixel art artists
Before starting to explain what pixel art is, it is convenient to explain what pixels are. Probably, for those who have experience working in the field of graphic design, this term sounds very familiar.
Pixels can be understood as the unit of all digital images. In other words, they are the main component of all our photographs that are in digital space. The word “pixel” comes from the concept “picture element”, which means “element of the image”.
It is also important to note that there is a relationship between pixels and image quality that you can see on your monitor. In this way, the more pixels per inch, you can display better graphics on your computer.
Source: Pinterest
Claudde Shannon was a 20th century mathematician and electronic engineer. The creation of the pixels began when the following question was asked: what is the simplest probability that exists? In this way, he realized that the information we know can be encoded in a binary system: ones and zeros.
That is, yes or no, off, on, blue or no blue. All of these dichotomous data could be translated on a machine. At first, this discovery had an impact on the creation of the bits (binary digit) and, later, the creation of the pixels. Thanks to this contribution from Claudde, humanity was able to go from analog to digital.
This simple dichotomous reasoning was the beginning of future inventions and advances in world technology. For example, the future creation of digital photographs, and later, what we now know as Pixel art.
Source: xatakafoto.com
Immerse yourself in the world of lifestyle photography with our free course 👌
Vectors are a hallmark of design programs like Illustrator. The difference between a vector and a pixel is that the former is not distorted when enlarging the screen (or “zooming in”).
This is because vectors have a mathematical formula that allows them to adapt to their original size. For this reason, it is common for designers to use vectors to make billboards or logos. No matter the final size, the image will not be distorted.
Source; Freepik
Are you passionate about illustration? Meet our free Illustrator course ✌️
Now that we know what pixels are and a bit of their history. We can say that Pixel art is a style of graphic design that is inspired by some video games or arcade games. Translating verbatim, we can say that it means “the art of pixels”.
In the words of our teacher from Crehana, Nacho Rodriguez:
“Pixel art pixel is the rock art of computing. The first method used in a rudimentary way to capture an artistic expression or an iconography on a screen. Today it has evolved into digital illustration. It evokes the retro, entertaining and the playful “.
If you are interested in this form of art, we invite you to know our Pixel art course to learn this cool style of graphic design 😊.
As for the types of pixel art, these can be divided into two:
1. Isometric pixel art
It allows us to see a three-dimensional object in only two dimensions, which makes it difficult for us to see when an object is near or far. One thing that helps differentiate distances is color. If the object is losing brightness, it is because it is moving away.
Source: drububu.com
Source: Pinterest
2. Non-isometric pixel art
They are graphs that do not show three-dimensionality. They can be viewed from the side, from the front or from above without showing more than one dimension. That is, they are displayed flat.
Source: drububu.com
Now that you know enough theory, we have collected this list of 8 programs to make pixel art. Each one will help you use the retro style in your graphic creations.
We leave you the list of pixel art programs that we recommend:
1. Aseprite
It has a simple interface with intuitive and easy-to-use tools. You can make symmetrical pixel drawings and animations. You will achieve great pixel art designs with this software. We invite you to look at the following tutorial by Pixel Nacho.
➤ Download Aseprite
2. Piskel
It is an online pixel art editor. Also, you can create animated pixel images. You just have to create a new layer (frame) and draw your character in another position. In this way, you can make a sequence with your creations.
We leave you a tutorial so you can start using this app, it is quite intuitive and easy to use. When entering the web, you only have to create an account and enter “create sprite”.
➤ Piskel test
3. Gimp
It has functionalities similar to Photoshop but the difference is that Gimp is free. It is a good tool to retouch and make photomontages of your pixel art drawings. You can be guided by the following tutorial:
➤ Download Gimp
4. Krita
This application to design Pixel art is free and you can download it on Windows, Mac and Linux. It is a fairly intuitive application that has tools that will allow you to design pixel art drawings easily. As a plus, you can also use it for other styles of illustrations.
➤ Download Krita
5. Pixilart
This is another online Pixel art design option. Their website is quite easy to use and has options to change the brightness of the pixels, so that you can achieve a more natural effect in your creations. As a plus, you can make animations and also see the work of other users.
➤ Try Pixilart
6. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is another software that will help you to design your Pixel art drawings easily. All you have to do is create a template with 1×1 squares and use a special brush. Also, if you are interested in comics, it is a good tool to start creating them.
We leave you a Pixel art tutorial to start using the app:
➤ Download Clip Studio Paint
7. Illustrator
A graphic design program that you probably already know. We leave you all the steps to make your Pixel art drawing in Illustrator with the following video. It is a good tool for creating Pixel art pieces, even more so if you already use the program.
➤ Download Illustrator
8. Excel
You probably didn’t expect it, but you can also make a Pixel art drawing with excel. If you haven’t noticed, each cell can represent one pixel for your creation. Pretty nifty, huh? Try it!
We leave you a tutorial so that you can start making your Pixel art drawing in excel:
Source: justexw.com
Source: Pinterest
Making pixel art drawings can be a bit complicated at the beginning, but we want to show you some points that you should know to speed up this process. These tips will help you make more realistic and striking pixel art graphic pieces👾.
1. Be clear about your goal
If you want to make an animation, it will be more comfortable and easier for you to work with fewer pixels. On the other hand, if it is a static graph, you can use more number of pixels in your graphs.
2. Avoid jaggies
You should avoid sudden changes between the lines or curves that you are drawing. There is no exact formula, but you will get used to it with practice.
3. Avoid high saturation
Avoid high saturation in your pixel art graphics, as this can cause discomfort in the person who sees your drawing. You can play with saturation to give more variety of colors to certain sections of your graphic creations.
Source: medium.com
4. Play with the nuances
The hue is the color tones that your graph can have. You can use it to make shadows in your pixel art. This allows you to give your drawings more realism.
Source: medium.com
5. Use the “shading” or shading
It is a technique that helps you generate shadows and highlights to your graphics. Improve the aesthetics of your pixel art drawing. In the following photos you can better notice the differences in finishes.
Source: medium.com
Are you passionate about the gamer world? Sign up for our video game creation course! 🙌
Now that you know various programs to make pixel art, we leave you a list of old and new video games that you can take as a reference for your creations.
We are sure that this retro style will inspire you to create new graphic pieces (and who knows, maybe your own video games) 🎮.
1. Pixel art in Pac man (1980)
Source: Pinterest
2. Pixel art in Donkey Kong (1981)
Source: Pinterest
3. Pixel art in Super mario bros (1985)
Source: Pinterest
4. Pixel art in Sonic (1991)
Source: Pinterest
5. Pixel art in Kirby (1992)
Source: Pinterest
6. Pixel art in Pokemon (1996)
Source: Pinterest
7. Pixel art in Minecraft (2009)
Source: Pinterest
Pixel art is an artistic discipline. Around the world there are several exponents of this retro art. We invite you to learn more about them with the following list:
Eboy
It is a collective of pixel art artists based in Berlin and Vancouver. Its members are: Kai Vermehr, Steffen Sauerteig and Svend Smital. His pixel art drawings stand out for the high degree of detail they have.
Source: oldskul.net
Pixel Nacho
Peruvian pixel art artist and teacher from Crehana. His graphic pieces are varied and very striking. He also makes animations, mostly inspired by video games.
Source: Pixelnacho.com
Kirosake
Another Peruvian pixel art artist. It is characterized by its creations based on science fiction, fantasy and medieval world.
Source: oldskul.net
Waneella
Pixel art woman artist. Your pixel creations can be of various themes: cities, science fiction and fantasy. Get inspired by his pixelated drawings.
Source: waneella.tumblr.com
Pixels huh
Pixel art artist from Barcelona. His creations have a lot of detail. In each piece he portrays unique scenes that have allowed him to get to work on the design of a video game.
Source: oldskul.net
Now that you know more about this graphic design technique, we are sure that you will be encouraged to draw with the style of pixel art. We hope that all the information and graphics have inspired you to start using this technique of pixelated drawings in your creations. See you on the next note!
Luck! 🙌