AuthorTopic: what is the best tool for pixelation?  (Read 25395 times)

Offline blackthirteen

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what is the best tool for pixelation?

on: September 01, 2005, 10:29:35 pm
What tool do you use the most to create low color pixel arts?

If you were working for a cell game, or any other handheld systems, what tool would you choose to work with?

And what is your worst paint tool?
« Last Edit: September 01, 2005, 10:31:10 pm by blackthirteen »

Offline Mercury Rising

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #1 on: September 01, 2005, 10:46:55 pm
Fear the gradient and the spray paint tool!
For pixel art you would use the pencil... other than that, nothing. 
Or did you mean for choosing colors?

Pixel art is used for low memory limited games.  The fewer colors the smaller file.  Yet when you have infinite colors CG is a better idea.  It is a dying art.  Sadly now only used in GBA games, DS games, a few console remake games, and tons of Acardey Games.
« Last Edit: September 01, 2005, 10:50:39 pm by BrotherInWar »
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Offline blackthirteen

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #2 on: September 01, 2005, 10:49:42 pm
I have a contract for a cell company.

They obligate me to use Photoshop 7 and Illustrator 7... I'm not confortable with these programs for pixel art... Is it me or the responsible of this cell game is crazy? (it will be their first game)

Offline Mercury Rising

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #3 on: September 01, 2005, 10:51:55 pm
May I ask what type of game it is?  That could depend on if it should be pixeled or not.
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Offline blackthirteen

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #4 on: September 01, 2005, 10:53:28 pm
A game similar to Maniac Mansion.

Offline Mercury Rising

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #5 on: September 01, 2005, 10:59:55 pm
...which is? 

IMO for Cell Phone Games
-Shooters-Pixel if side scroller-CG if not
-Racers-CG it just looks better
-Puzzle-Pixel
-RPG-Honestly never played one (on a cell)
-Sports-CG
-Card-Pixel

If your asking for what programs I use MS paint and Graphics Gale.
MS paint is good for setting up your outlines and stuff because it allows 3 colors to be chosen
but you can't edit colors once MS paint has be restarted also selecting a color from the picture is annoying
Graphics Gale allows you to edit and create colors and save pallates.  Also with a right click color select and allows you to save in many file types with no corruption.  You can even make animated cursors.  Yet a pain for making outlines because only one color can be chosen.

I use combos of these programs.  For gifs because I didn't register GG I must save each individual frame as a different file then string them together with Gif Co. Set Pro.
« Last Edit: September 01, 2005, 11:11:19 pm by BrotherInWar »
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Offline lief

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #6 on: September 01, 2005, 11:02:01 pm
I will presume you have meant software tool, if you didn't then ignore the following.

If it can make a pixel on the screen in the color of your choice, then it is a viable candidate.  You will find though, that there are certain functions in different programs that will make your life easier.

Here are some possible packages:

MSPaint - You already have this.  It usually does what it is supposed to, which is not all that much.  If are really good, you can use this nearly as effectively as any other tool.
Pro Motion - Buy it.  It is good.  Pixel painting program, similar to dpaint on amiga.  Also known as index painting software, as it allows a lot of complex effects through a palette system.  I like it simply for the color switching and animation.  As the name suggests, pro motion is geared towards animated sprites.
Photoshop / Imageready - Buy it.  It is great.  Once you learn photoshop you will understand why it is the staple program of most designers and digital artists worldwide.  Even a lot of 3d art comes back through photoshop for finishing.  Its range of tools, effects and the refined interface are that which only about 15 years of development can bring.  It is overpowered for pixelart, and animation is lacking.  Imageready is supposedly an integrated animation package, but it is not designed for sprite animation as we do.  It has a layer based animation system, which I find fairly difficult to use.  It also cannot export in anything but GIF (why why why, it can import many many formats.  adobe, this is stoopid).
Graphics Gale - It is apparently great, and is in Japanese or something, which turns me off slightly.  It helps to be able to read a menu.
Paint Shop Pro - I used to be a fanatic, but that was before I got photoshop. nuff said.
Photopaint - I lied with previous, it was before I got this.  and THEN I got Photoshop...  this is nearly on par, but is a pale imitation.  Corel should stick with vector, it is clunky and bad GUI.
Telepathy - I have not had much success with changing the color of pixels with mindpower.  Give it a shot though!

There may be others.  Let me know.

Offline blackthirteen

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #7 on: September 01, 2005, 11:07:51 pm
thanks lief;

but first, I have big problems to jump from Paint Shop Pro 7 to Adobe Photoshop7. Here's an example;

I don't know why but the Line Tool with Photoshop 7 produces irregular algorithm lines. Is there any way to fix this annoying problem?

« Last Edit: September 01, 2005, 11:09:38 pm by blackthirteen »

Offline blackthirteen

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #8 on: September 01, 2005, 11:11:04 pm
I need to specify that I need to work with "low color" pixelation.

Offline Mercury Rising

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Re: what is the best tool for pixelation?

Reply #9 on: September 01, 2005, 11:14:03 pm
Just use MS paint.  It never gives you those odd lines and its a pretty good program.  It is also on most computers.
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