Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: DARK-SPIRIT on November 03, 2013, 11:18:02 pm

Title: Tiles First attempt
Post by: DARK-SPIRIT on November 03, 2013, 11:18:02 pm
Hi.

I'm new here and I would like to have your opinion and also help. I'm working on a new pixel game.

I've created 6 tiles, I'm thinking to create additional 3 tiles for the top or just add top to current upper green tiles. I tried to blend colors and it's a little bit difficult for me has I'm not painter...

Could you please direct me to some tutorials? or maybe explain to me how to blend the purple color with the gray/Green colors? for now it doesn't make the feel that the under tiles continue the upper tiles..

Thanks!

(http://i43.tinypic.com/j0i836.png)
Title: Re: Tiles First attempt
Post by: Decroded on November 06, 2013, 06:29:13 am
Not sure what I'm looking at here.
Can you explain the perspective firstly?
Is it side-scrolling view or top-front rpg style view?

If its side-scroller then first you should mark out in a grid where the "solid" edges are and/or decide where jump-through platforms are etc.
Block some of these in, provide more info on the setting and environment etc.
Once we know exactly what you're trying to do we can help properly.
Title: Re: Tiles First attempt
Post by: DARK-SPIRIT on November 06, 2013, 05:02:27 pm
Hi,

First, thank you for the comment.

I'll try to explain, it's a side-scrolling game, retro style, at least I hope to get the feel. I'm designing the floor tiles, what are you looking at is 6 tiles that I'm going to duplicate and.
there is only 6 tiles right now, and I need to edit the underneath right and left tiles so it'll get the continues feeling. I didn't start to work on the Background (it's now white).
I hope the new screenshot will help.... ( Ignore the stick man, I will paint a pixel character)

I have a couple of questions:

1. in pixel art when you create a game or a static paint, there is a routine? for example, first you create the BG, second the floor, third the decorations, etc...?

2. as you can see I used in more than 3 colors to paint the tiles, I don't get the feel that the underneath (purple) tiles color combining with the gray, the colors are good for my taste :) but I don't understand what I should do for blurring the connection between the upper tiles to the underneath tiles, maybe I need to use more colors or paint some pixels, as I mentioned before I'm not an painter, so I hoped that someone will advise me or direct me to a good tutorial.

3. (Silly question), Can I mix between the size of objects? for example, the background will made of tiles with different size like 16X16, 64X64, 32X32...

4. what you change or add to the current tiles I had made?

I'll be very grateful if pixel artists that making games will give me some tips.
Thank you very much.
(http://s22.postimg.org/5o1athtq9/6_Tiles.png)
(http://s15.postimg.org/fldlxe91n/2d_Game2.png)
(http://s14.postimg.org/mpmz1yv1t/2d_Game.png)
Title: Re: Tiles First attempt
Post by: Johasu on November 06, 2013, 05:52:03 pm
I'm very new to pixel art myself, which I think gives me some solid insight into your biggest problems.  While many of the more experienced artists can show you giant leaping strides forward on how to improve, they might also struggle to show you intermediate steps on how to move forward because it's like stepping backward in their skill level.  While I'm not suggesting they aren't capable in any way, I feel my own lack of developed skill gives me a closer ability to show you stepping stones to move forward from.

You set up three layers on your stone as if the light cascading from the top dims downward.  The move from green to purple shows the gradually darkening transformation.  The problem is that you drew a straight line across where the color shifts.  Light and colors don't work this way. They blend and gradually shift.  I did a quick edit in which I took three colors from your palette and then created bridging colors  to make smoother transitions.  Then I broke the even line of transition by staggering the lighting a bit. This could be taken much further if you really took the time to do the same with the lighting on each individual stone.  Showing a light to shadow transition and gradually darkening them down.  For now I just showed what a simple fill on your colors could do to break up those straight lines.

Another issue your are having is using a very dark solid line to break your stones apart. The darkness is a massive portion of the tile and this pulls away from the stones.  Stagger that with an intermediate color some and thin it out and this will look better still.
Practice and don't be afraid to look for other examples.
(http://s6.postimg.org/kf66xivv1/j0i836edit.png)

Edit:  I should mention that the palette choices I took from yours were your brightest green, median grey, and darkest purple.  That gave me good contrast to work with and then I found colors that were fairly middle ground between each, green to grey, grey to purple.  I changed the dark color between the bricks to a darker purple since that was your shadow tone.  Then I dimmed that a bit at the top where it was brightest.
Title: Re: Tiles First attempt
Post by: DARK-SPIRIT on November 06, 2013, 06:06:41 pm
Wow, it looks great.

Did you use some tutorials to learn pixel art, or you just use trial and error?

thank you.
Title: Re: Tiles First attempt
Post by: Johasu on November 06, 2013, 06:14:58 pm
Everything I learned in the last week has been from analyzing other people's work to see how they did things and just trying it for myself.
I have found that as a noob you can't just imitate someone's style very easily. It really takes a lot of time and practice to UNDERSTAND what they are doing fully.

http://wayofthepixel.net/index.php?topic=15933.0 (http://wayofthepixel.net/index.php?topic=15933.0) (Started this thread last week asking for help.)
I have been working on my own project and if you look from my earliest post to the newest update I went from drawing with black lines on a white page to very flat and jagged coloring to what I have now. Just stay at it and put time in. You will get better with time and experience. Listen to the advice of others even if it doesn't work for you right away.  You will figure it out quickly or slowly over time and it will come together more and more as you work with it all. I'm working on color theory right now and lighting effects.