Use more contrast and actual values instead of just a monochromatic scheme (aka, just increasing or decreasing the brightness). When you work with pixel art you usually don't want to use any shades that don't need to be used, and you have a few of these shades that dont really add anything to the piece. Also, shadows under the sidegrass would help give it more depth.
Here's the difference between low contrast and higher contrast + values (quick edit, you could probably do a better job if you tried it yourself). Fact is that higher contrast textures will pretty much always look better in game and make your pack look more interesting and lively. Just something for you to keep in mind.
Why not? What do you gain out of me not editing your texture to show you what I would fix to improve the texture? You think a visual representation doesn't help?
Editing another persons work to better show how they can improve is a pretty useful learning technique. I don't think Lilyo means anything negative by it.
Also kinda new here. How come it tells me I cannot use that image extension on this board?
You need to make sure you're linking to the actual .png, not the page.
[img]http://imgur.com/ZYgLI[/img] won't work, because as you can see, the url isn't linking to a .png (because of the lack of '.png' at the end.
This will work however: [img]http://i.imgur.com/ZYgLI.png[/img]
From what I can see, looks nice, but you'll want to avoid night-time screenshots.
I never stated he meant anything bad. I've just seen a lot of people disliking that Lilyo 'Burrow' a texture and edits.
Lets not make a flamewar, you both made good points.
*Walks away*
I find it that whenever someone gives some sort of CC it usually doesn't really put much pressure on the author to either listen to the advice or try it out. If I posted an art piece and someone says something like "you should do so and so to improve it" I probably wouldn't give it much thought, but if I see the person actually post something showing me what he means and how that certain thing improves my artwork then I'd probably think something like "holy **** this guy's right, I should totally do that". For example, if Levaunt didn't post his example or Losm his edit I probably wouldn't have even considered to edit my Notch avatar.
I find it that whenever someone gives some sort of CC it usually doesn't really put much pressure on the author to either listen to the advice or try it out. If I posted an art piece and someone says something like "you should do so and so to improve it" I probably wouldn't give it much thought, but if I see the person actually post something showing me what he means and how that certain thing improves my artwork then I'd probably think something like "holy **** this guy's right, I should totally do that". For example, if Levaunt didn't post his example or Losm his edit I probably wouldn't have even considered to edit my Notch avatar.
It depends on learning style I suppose. Your comment about my shading on the cobble came without an edited example and I picked up on your meaning. I think I have improved on that. To test this here is a plank texture I just whipped up. :smile.gif:
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Look, I don't care if your 8 or 20. If you can't take criticism or opinions, then get off the internet." -Stronghold257
Thank you for all of the feedback! I'll try using it to make my textures better. And yes, you guys are right, its not 100% pixel art. But I think its close enough to maybe be called "sort of pixel art". :tongue.gif:
Anyway, Lilyo, could you do one of your comparisons on my dirt/other texture please? I'm really bad at high contrast and can never seem to make it look right. I want to see how a pro does it. Here is the "terrain.png". :wink.gif:
As that quote states, pixel art is about control. Control down to the level of individual pixels, that is. You can use layers, simple filters(such as opacity settings, invert, etc.), and more while still retaining pixel-level control.
That is pixel art.
Pixel art in its purest form contains no semi-transparency. Layers are fine, since games use layers, but filters and semi-transparency and all those other crazy gadgets pretty much kill the whole concept.
Pixel art is about control, meaning if you were to place a row of pixels somewhere, it'd be because you wanted to place them there. If you use semi-transparency, you're pretty much putting pixels where you don't necessarily want them to be, if that makes any sense.
So, yeah. Bottom line: semi-transparency = not REAL pixel art.
Can you give me some advice on how to make the textures nicer and smoother?
and what i mean is, when i select pencil. and pick a color and click and drag, its all one color, i was hoping gimp would have a feature that, when i click would darken or lighten the color ever so slightly so it gives it more shading, or do i have to do it manually? like i just made an iron door and im happy with it but, all the colours are solid, with no shading, do i add this on my own or is there a tool?
Tune down the opacity of the Paintbrush tool and make it black, i'd give it a scale of 0.25. Also make sure you select the door so it only changes that texture (subtract the windows from the selection)
Hope that helps
EDIT: Also, try fooling around with the Multiply filter on the brush for shading
No, that only depends on how you use the tools at your disposal, not which ones you use. As I said, pixel art is all about control over the individual pixels. If you are unable to use any type of transparency and maintain that control, or if you simply don't want to, then that's your choice.
Edit to quote your edit:
No offense, but if you're going to be an elitist then at least try to know what you're talking about.
Except you DON'T have control when you use semi opacity... If I took one medium color and then took, say, black or a really dark color that I'll use for the shadows and turn the opacity on my brush down to 50% and use it like that, then I'm no longer in control over the resulting colors and shades. While I know the resultant will be something between the dark and medium colors, I'm not fully in control of it, and that isn't what pixel art is about. You SHOULD be choosing all your colors individually rather then using partial opacity to create your colors...
So sure, you could use stuff like hue and brightness adjustments or partial transparency to EDIT your pixel art, but you're straying off true pixel art by doing so.
No, that only depends on how you use the tools at your disposal, not which ones you use. As I said, pixel art is all about control over the individual pixels. If you are unable to use any type of transparency and maintain that control, or if you simply don't want to, then that's your choice.
Edit to quote your edit:
No offense, but if you're going to be an elitist then at least try to know what you're talking about.
Not every tool can be used in pixel art. Anything containing something the computer automatically did for you should not be considered pixel art. Sure, you can use semi-transparency to edit your colours to something that looks more appealing, but if you start doing something like in the picture below, well... Heh. It's not exactly pixel art.
In case you don't see what's wrong: you're adding colours you didn't necessarily want in places you didn't necessarily want thanks to the magic of the computer automatically doing things for you. Anti aliasing should be done by hand with your own colours, and not with the help of a computer, for it to be pixel art. Colours should be picked and placed by hand, and not with the help of a computer, for it to be pixel art. Blah blah blah...
Oh, and how am I being an elitist, exactly? I'm trying to make a point using knowledge I've acquired from actual professional pixel artists, throughout the years. Never once did I mention I was some kind of God at doing anything.
Cobblestones pretty bright. I like the rest, though.
And also: What do you guys think about this dirt?
http://imgur.com/ZYgLI
Also kinda new here. How come it tells me I cannot use that image extension on this board?
That's not cobblestone, that's normal stone.
There's yet more to come!
OH. In that case it looks quite good. Can't wait to see it used
I like this, but at the same time i dont. Im gunna keep posting experiments, and when I feel confident enough to start my RPG pack I will :smile.gif:
Feedback?
Use more contrast and actual values instead of just a monochromatic scheme (aka, just increasing or decreasing the brightness). When you work with pixel art you usually don't want to use any shades that don't need to be used, and you have a few of these shades that dont really add anything to the piece. Also, shadows under the sidegrass would help give it more depth.
Here's the difference between low contrast and higher contrast + values (quick edit, you could probably do a better job if you tried it yourself). Fact is that higher contrast textures will pretty much always look better in game and make your pack look more interesting and lively. Just something for you to keep in mind.
That's pretty great. I love how well it tiles.
Twitter: @Levaunt
I haven't seen a single example of that.
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Retired StaffYou need to make sure you're linking to the actual .png, not the page.
[img]http://imgur.com/ZYgLI[/img] won't work, because as you can see, the url isn't linking to a .png (because of the lack of '.png' at the end.
This will work however: [img]http://i.imgur.com/ZYgLI.png[/img]
From what I can see, looks nice, but you'll want to avoid night-time screenshots.
I find it that whenever someone gives some sort of CC it usually doesn't really put much pressure on the author to either listen to the advice or try it out. If I posted an art piece and someone says something like "you should do so and so to improve it" I probably wouldn't give it much thought, but if I see the person actually post something showing me what he means and how that certain thing improves my artwork then I'd probably think something like "holy **** this guy's right, I should totally do that". For example, if Levaunt didn't post his example or Losm his edit I probably wouldn't have even considered to edit my Notch avatar.
It depends on learning style I suppose. Your comment about my shading on the cobble came without an edited example and I picked up on your meaning. I think I have improved on that. To test this here is a plank texture I just whipped up. :smile.gif:
I chose weird colors in this one, and I was kinda just ****in around on this one. Its mehh.
Anyway, Lilyo, could you do one of your comparisons on my dirt/other texture please? I'm really bad at high contrast and can never seem to make it look right. I want to see how a pro does it. Here is the "terrain.png". :wink.gif:
what do you mean by this?
"sometimes, wizards are so awesome, it hurts"
Pixel art in its purest form contains no semi-transparency. Layers are fine, since games use layers, but filters and semi-transparency and all those other crazy gadgets pretty much kill the whole concept.
Pixel art is about control, meaning if you were to place a row of pixels somewhere, it'd be because you wanted to place them there. If you use semi-transparency, you're pretty much putting pixels where you don't necessarily want them to be, if that makes any sense.
So, yeah. Bottom line: semi-transparency = not REAL pixel art.
I think he means the dodge and burn tools
Tune down the opacity of the Paintbrush tool and make it black, i'd give it a scale of 0.25. Also make sure you select the door so it only changes that texture (subtract the windows from the selection)
Hope that helps
EDIT: Also, try fooling around with the Multiply filter on the brush for shading
...read the thread once in while. Lol he said it like 5 minutes ago.
Hes working 16x16.
Except you DON'T have control when you use semi opacity... If I took one medium color and then took, say, black or a really dark color that I'll use for the shadows and turn the opacity on my brush down to 50% and use it like that, then I'm no longer in control over the resulting colors and shades. While I know the resultant will be something between the dark and medium colors, I'm not fully in control of it, and that isn't what pixel art is about. You SHOULD be choosing all your colors individually rather then using partial opacity to create your colors...
So sure, you could use stuff like hue and brightness adjustments or partial transparency to EDIT your pixel art, but you're straying off true pixel art by doing so.
Not every tool can be used in pixel art. Anything containing something the computer automatically did for you should not be considered pixel art. Sure, you can use semi-transparency to edit your colours to something that looks more appealing, but if you start doing something like in the picture below, well... Heh. It's not exactly pixel art.
In case you don't see what's wrong: you're adding colours you didn't necessarily want in places you didn't necessarily want thanks to the magic of the computer automatically doing things for you. Anti aliasing should be done by hand with your own colours, and not with the help of a computer, for it to be pixel art. Colours should be picked and placed by hand, and not with the help of a computer, for it to be pixel art. Blah blah blah...
Oh, and how am I being an elitist, exactly? I'm trying to make a point using knowledge I've acquired from actual professional pixel artists, throughout the years. Never once did I mention I was some kind of God at doing anything.