Pixel Joint Forum: A Bit of Advice on Tiles

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   Well, I use to dabble in pixel art quite a lot, never anything much, mostly buildings. I stopped for a long time, and recently decided I'd like to get back into it, but doing something a little different and more practical. I'd like to learn spriting and tiling, but for now I'm focusing on tiles. I've read some advice before, but more is always appreciated. Right now I'm mainly just looking for some critiques on a grass tile I made, and some advice on how to make tiles tile a bit better. I feel like mine doesn't connect all that well. Thanks in advance for any help, and don't bother sugar-coating any critiques, I need the honesty.

32 x 32 Standalone Tile: 

Tile in a 100x100 Square: 

So, my own opinion. I think the colors are too contrasting, and I did a poor job of actually blending them, and that maybe my base color is too dark. The darkness I can change, but any advice for blending them better would help a lot. So, thanks for reading, and for any future advice. 

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KarmicJustice Seaman Joined: 11 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Topic: A Bit of Advice on Tiles Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:24am
	Well, I use to dabble in pixel art quite a lot, never anything much, mostly buildings. I stopped for a long time, and recently decided I'd like to get back into it, but doing something a little different and more practical. I'd like to learn spriting and tiling, but for now I'm focusing on tiles. I've read some advice before, but more is always appreciated. Right now I'm mainly just looking for some critiques on a grass tile I made, and some advice on how to make tiles tile a bit better. I feel like mine doesn't connect all that well. Thanks in advance for any help, and don't bother sugar-coating any critiques, I need the honesty. 32 x 32 Standalone Tile: Tile in a 100x100 Square: So, my own opinion. I think the colors are too contrasting, and I did a poor job of actually blending them, and that maybe my base color is too dark. The darkness I can change, but any advice for blending them better would help a lot. So, thanks for reading, and for any future advice.
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skaytr Seaman Joined: 04 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 34	Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:32am
	There are a few horizontal and vertical lines that jump out right away. I indicated where these lines are on this quick edit. I also brought down the saturation and shifted the hue a bit more yellow. Pretty good start though :) Here it is: Just something to think about, When you create tiles or sprites or anything, it really helps to understand the setting they are in. Sure for a study making a grass tile is great, but what kind of grass is it? is it Earth/alien grass? Is it suppose to be long? if its medievil, conisder they didnt have lawn mowers, however tramppled all over it :) Alsoo for background tiles, try to was them out slightly, or they will "Pop" way to much and cause you a headache. Stuff like that, good luck! Edited by skaytr - 11 June 2013 at 9:33am
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KarmicJustice Seaman Joined: 11 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:35am
	Wow, just those hue and saturation changes are so much more amazing looking. Thank you very much for the help. Yeah, I noticed the same lines. Do you have any advice for preventing those on the tile itself? Or would I have to go back and manually fix them up?
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skaytr Seaman Joined: 04 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 34	Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:42am
	You would have to do some editing. I use photoshop,I dont know what software your using. however, in photoshop I just duplicate a grid like you did there, edit the borders of the new tile and the original so that it appears more seemless. I move the duplicate back over, and erase the parts i didnt edit. Merge the tiles back together as one, and repeat as many times as you can manage until you cant see a single repeating pattern - until you can't see anything that jumps out within a few seconds ;)
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KarmicJustice Seaman Joined: 11 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:46am
	Thanks a lot for the help, I use Graphics Gale, I can't get comfortable using Photoshop for anything but my photo-manipulation works. But I use photoshop to make the grid.
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Bcadren Commander Joined: 07 June 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 53	Posted: 11 June 2013 at 9:51am
	Bit of a trick I learned in a 3D art class (we were doing it for tiling textures to map to 3D art but regular tiles should benefit as well). In photoshop under filter -> other there's an offset option; which allows you to move your seams into the middle of the art. Say you were making a 32x32 tile; put in the values of 16x16 and suddenly you can edit the seams between the tiles and clearly see problems like this. Make what edits you need to; and use the filter again to return it where it was. Before Offset: After Offset: Edited by Bcadren - 12 June 2013 at 4:32pm
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