And here it is without any single pixel at all (so not even a single 45 degree connection). Perhaps even stronger, IMO. Bolder, smarter solutions with less pixel detail, more readable.

Oh, I see it now. Definitely. 

As to what is gained from applying this technique: yes, the image will have harsher shifts, and will appear more blocky. Compromises will be made. But I think what is gained is a stronger gestalt, where the form and the content of the image are better aligned. A piece of craftsmanship that is declaring what it is, not playfully hiding what is is by showing it can emulate what it isn't too. To take a picture that has unpleasant blockiness but a promise of gestalt into a picture that retains the gestalt but has a pleasant blockiness is a matter of experience within that mindset. I am too, working on this.

Yeah. But.. Stronger gestalt?

This is entirely subjective, and what I would call a pixel 'style'. I can't see this applying to any other forms of pixel styles (Like my piece before) without radically changing it into 'sexy cluster style', that overwrites the original. Using only clusters can limit you incredibly in portraying certain aspects, especially if they are small.

For the purposes of the exercise, it's great. But again, it's limiting everything to this clustery 'flavor'.



Here's a newer one that's true to sex cluster style. You can't get any more cluster-y than this.

Professor Helm

(New)

(Original)


Here's an animated comparison gif.




...And here is where I couldn't help but break the rules. 



I might have missed some stray pixels here and there, but that's not a problem as I can go back and fix them. The ones in red are the ones I left there intentionally, because even tweaking a single pixel around facial features can radically change the original 'feeling' of a face; and I didn't see any alternatives.

This thing really made me think. It feels like a puzzle game. I had to get creative on the right cheek and even add hair there so I could lawfully anti-alias that line, and say GTFO to the jaggies there.

......

Someday