AuthorTopic: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique  (Read 10119 times)

Offline wanderer123

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Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

on: February 26, 2017, 03:17:48 am


Zoom in to those hairs. Those hairs inside have different colors. I think it's always brighter colors in the hair. So please answer this and help me understand this. I have other pixel arts (on my computer this time) that have various colors inside the hair. I just don't understand the purpose of those colors. I want to learn this to use this if needed (as I take it it is needed) and use it in my own pixel art.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2017, 03:37:48 am by wanderer123 »

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #1 on: February 26, 2017, 04:45:49 am
That's called a highlight, and it's where the light shines strongest on the hair! It's even in the word, "High Light"!
It's apparent in non-pixelart too, and is primarily used both for lighting accuracy and to provide hair texture!

Here's an example of highlighting done outside the pixel art medium!


You can also see this phenomenon in real life too, as in this glamour photo! Spoilered because it is QUITE LARGE.

PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
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Offline wanderer123

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #2 on: February 26, 2017, 04:48:40 am
Hey MysteryMeat. Thank you for your answer. So how can I apply highlight on my pixel art hairs? Do I just apply regular shading on the hair? I am not sure I fully understand why those pixels are there. I mean both highly bright highlights and more dark (but different) colors there.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2017, 04:50:42 am by wanderer123 »

Offline yaomon17

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #3 on: February 26, 2017, 05:08:26 am
You could apply highlights onto your hair. It helps define the shape of the hair and indicates that your characters have a healthy, voluminous head of hair.

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #4 on: February 26, 2017, 05:09:45 am
It's simply part of shading! When you shade you're actually emulating the flow of light around an object, highlights are simply an extension of that! To apply it, figure out where your light source is and how glossy the material should be. If it's skin, for example, highlighting would be next to nothing. On hair though, which is somewhat shiny... well, I've already posted several examples!

Experiment, watch some youtube videos on shading (proko is pretty tops), and keep practicing!
PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
MAJOR BORK TALLY: |

Offline wanderer123

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #5 on: February 26, 2017, 05:24:46 am
Thank you guys again.

MysteryMeat: I can experiment pixel art to learn it? It will actually teach me through experimenting? I should youtube proko for shading?

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #6 on: February 26, 2017, 06:13:45 am
Experimentation is always helpful, just don't make my mistake and do your experiments in the pixelart format! Get a pencil and paper and practice these concepts there, THEN transfer over to digital! You'll find it far easier to learn new concepts that way, at least as i've experienced it. Your mileage may vary there!
PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
MAJOR BORK TALLY: |

Offline wanderer123

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #7 on: February 26, 2017, 06:25:27 am
I don't learn pixel art by first drawing pencil and paper dude. I learn by copying pixel art pixel-by-pixel.

Offline yaomon17

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #8 on: February 26, 2017, 09:15:32 am
Eh, copying pixel by pixel doesn't really help in the long run if your goal is to learn. If your goal is to get a decent looking product it is fine, but without understanding the 'why' behind doing something, you won't really learn to improve at producing art.

Offline wanderer123

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Re: Please explain to me this Pixel Art technique

Reply #9 on: February 26, 2017, 12:48:53 pm
No copying pixel-by-pixel does work dude. I've improved on it. But I also need to learn this intellectually I think.