AuthorTopic: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED  (Read 23249 times)

Offline Helm

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THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

on: February 15, 2008, 12:44:33 pm
Okay, I think we need to do something. I think there's a lot of repeated errors that new people make and whereas it's absolutely important to explain them again and again in personal terms we could at least preface by linking them to older posts that deal with similar errors. For example I am in the habit of posting the AVOID BANDING post sans any further explanation unless the user I suggested this for asks for more, as it is a relatively simple thing to explain and advise against and I don't see the point of editing a new piece of artwork to remove banding every time unless I absolutely have to.

So how about, in lack of a Megatut that we should have done a few years ago but nobody had the time for, we assemble a collection of links in a thread that take care of all the popular errors in making pixel art? So you could say to someone who is new and has the usual errrors here look at these specific posts about pillowshading, banding and dither-aa clash and then ask if they have further questions. I know these posts already exist in the database and if they don't I'll take it upon me to make new ones explaining them, but what I need from you is to search your Pixelation Memory Banks (tm) for threads you though exemplified EDITS THAT EXPLAIN COMMON PIXELLING ERRORS. Posts that just couldn't have been made any plainer and which you thought at the time 'wow, that's a pretty simple and elegant way to explain the problem!'. The avoid banding santa for example deals with this just fine, I don't think it can be really improved upon as a post. Similar things to that, by any user!

Also I hope the people whose artwork was in these edits that we'll use as teaching aids do not mind. If they do they can contact us to remove them from this project.

Here are the things I'd like to see covered:

  • BASIC ANATOMY
  • FACIAL ANATOMY
  • STRAIGHT RAMPS
  • PILLOWSHADING
  • SELOUT
  • DITHER-AA CLASH
  • BLURRY AA
  • 45 DEGREE NEEDLESS AA
  • BANDING
  • OVERDITHERING
  • VAGUE LIGHTSOURCES
  • COLOR CONSERVATION
  • LACK OF CONTRAST/SMALL VALUE RANGE
  • TOO MUCH SATURATION
  • VALUE JUMPS

and the ever-popular,

  • GRASS TILE GRID ISSUES
  • TOP-DOWN RPG DOLL SPRITE (I call them 'muscle babies'  :P)

... and whatever else you come up with that you think should need adressing!

A post that deals with one or more of these issues at the same time could fly, as long as it's very clear!

There is no time-limit in getting this done, nor is there any prize involved besides perhaps a level up in data mining, and a sense of positive contribution to this community. You will be credited of course.

Feel free to both discuss the idea, and provide links here.

Offline mattpk

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #1 on: February 15, 2008, 02:46:10 pm
wow, i learnt something by reading the board!

45 degree angles DON'T have AA! WOO
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuu

D:

Offline Sherman Gill

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #2 on: February 15, 2008, 07:13:39 pm
The 45º thing is tough because people seem to either do it unnecessarily or not do it at all. If it's got a curve to it or it's not QUITE 45º then AA can be used to great effect. :-\
Oh yes naked women are beautiful
But I like shrimps more haha ;)

Offline ptoing

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #3 on: February 15, 2008, 07:22:24 pm
Well of course. Even if you have a straight 45° line AA can be justified if the contrast to the bordering colour is quite big, for softening.
There are no ugly colours, only ugly combinations of colours.

Offline sharprm

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #4 on: February 15, 2008, 09:03:53 pm
Tiling:

http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=2555.msg31527#msg31527
http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=2555.msg31713#msg31713

Baccaman21 links:

http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=5420.msg64518#msg64518

Adarias’ isometric wireframe example:


http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=2932.msg40853#msg40853

Isometric, if someone doesn’t realise the angles are wrong:

http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=5853.0

How do we link to specific replies in a topic? I can see the bacamann one does it, but how do you find out what msg#? Thanks Akira
« Last Edit: February 15, 2008, 09:53:01 pm by sharprm »
Modern artists are told that they must create something totally original-or risk being called "derivative".They've been indoctrinated with the concept that bad=good.The effect is always the same: Meaningless primitivism
http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/Philosophy/phi

Offline Akira

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #5 on: February 15, 2008, 09:28:07 pm
Grab the link from the specific posts title. on yours it's RE: THE KEEN MINDS... and the link is http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=5965.msg70060#msg70060
thanks Dogmeat!

Offline Helm

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #6 on: February 16, 2008, 12:30:09 am
thanks, sharprm! Keep them coming, guys!

Offline Doppleganger

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #7 on: February 19, 2008, 06:50:22 pm
Tiling, contrast and saturation http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=4463.0

It's a longer read but it's obviously a topic that I could easily remember existing. Oh glory were the days when my monitor was so poorly calibrated.

Offline Helm

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #8 on: February 20, 2008, 01:44:52 pm
That's excellent!

Offline ndchristie

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Re: THE KEEN MINDS OF PIXELATION NEEDED

Reply #9 on: February 20, 2008, 05:13:15 pm
delete this post as necessary, sparked by 45 degree questions:


what do we call this technique of using value to alter line weight without changing width?  it's no AA...or selout.....or is it?



used a lot on shiny things with glints etc.  arms and armor mostly, like the head, shoulders, or particularly shining part of a weapon.  also for cars pr anything else that's high shine
« Last Edit: February 20, 2008, 05:19:21 pm by Adarias »
A mistake is a mistake.
The same mistake twice is a bad habit.
The same mistake three or more times is a motif.