How to Get Started with Pixel Art
Anyone familiar with classic games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Earthbound understands what pixel art looks and feels like.
Pixel art uses the aesthetics and properties of 8-bit and 16-bit graphics to create worlds, characters, and ultimately, full-fledged games. Artists and developers often use the "sprite" process, which involves forming their creation from pixels.
Game sprites are what gave rise to game development, and in recent years they have experienced a resurgence. Stardew Valley and Kynseed, both life simulators, use impressive pixel art graphics that populate every aspect of their game worlds. From dirt and plants to small creatures lurking in the bushes, pixel art drives the game forward, enriching the player experience.
But what is pixel art? And how do you start creating your own pixel art game? We'll talk about that a bit later. First, some basics.
Pixel Art and Game Examples
Pixel art itself is a form of digital art that allows an artist or user to create a wide range of different objects for a game. Pixel art can be found in the oldest arcade games, such as Space Invaders. It was pixel art that made these games unique, and they simply worked.
Earlier I mentioned Final Fantasy Tactics. That game was amazing because it combined pixel art, a 3D environment, and an isometric camera view. But pixel art is not limited to the 1980s and 1990s. In particular, the game Enter the Gungeon took pixel art to a new level.
In Enter the Gungeon, filled with fast-paced gunplay and colorful characters, pixel art combines with excellent animation and graphical rendering. If this is your style of game, then keep reading!
How Do You Create Pixel Art for a Game?
Well, first of all, you need a decent program to help you with the artistic process. Fortunately for you, there are more than enough options to try your hand at creating illustrations and sprites.
Before starting to develop a game using pixel art, you need to create objects, characters, and story elements that will populate your world, giving your game the foundation needed to move forward in the creation process.
Various Programs and Guides
Sprite animation and 8- and 16-bit pixel art have become a huge hobby among game enthusiasts and artists. This has led to the emergence of many programs and resources for pixel art game developers.
Below is a list of programs you can use to start your gaming journey in 3D pixel art.
GIMP
One of my favorite free programs for working with artwork, GIMP allows the user to access many of the features found in programs like Photoshop — how great is that? GIMP comes with a pretty serious graphics renderer, allowing you to create first-class