WIP PJ avatar
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: Pixel Art
Forum Name: WIP (Work In Progress)
Forum Discription: Get crits and comments on your pixel WIPs and other art too!
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13760
Printed Date: 11 September 2025 at 3:26pm
Topic: WIP PJ avatar
Posted By: gogglecrab
Subject: WIP PJ avatar
Date Posted: 25 January 2012 at 9:12pm
Here's a WIP of my PJ avatar, I'm still working on the background, I might even just make it transparent, any tip on improvement?
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Replies:
Posted By: skeddles
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 7:17am
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Not bad, the drawing is fine, you just need to work on the pixelling. First thing that we almost always suggest is adding more contrast between the colors. It's pixel art, you don't need to try to hide them by making them really close. And remember that light isn't just to show where the light is coming from, but also to show shapes and bring out detail. Another thing that I now recommend is to go without dithering, because it's easy to use, but hard to use good. Don't be afraid to just add another color (just don't go overboard). If you're having trouble picking colors, don't be afraid to go borrow someone elses and tweak them to your needs. When you're Selectivly Outlining (where you make the outline something other than black), you don't have to make the outline the same color all the way around. This can be seen in http://www.dragonflycave.com/rssprites/004charmander.png - pokemon sprites , where most of the outline is black, and it's SelOut'd only on the highlighted parts of the creature. I think the background is okay, but you could do without it. It's seaweed, right? I think if you looked at some pictures of seaweed and tried to draw it like you see it, it would some out much better. ------------- |
Posted By: gogglecrab
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 12:06pm
Here's the update: I removed the dithering, tweaked the colors and tried to add some shades of brown and some texture, I decided to go transparent with the background, I still think it need more work but i can't put my finger on exactly what. What do you think? |
Posted By: skeddles
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 1:13pm
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Outlines need to stick out, the red outline is now too close to the brown, and it looks muddy. I actually think it looks better without that brown. I'd also make your highlights a little warmer in color (oranger). Also, I think you tried to cram too much detail into the glasses, as well as didn't use enough contrast. Sometimes you gotta figure out how to do things in the simplest way, especially in pixel art where space is important, here's how I would do the goggles:  ------------- |
Posted By: gogglecrab
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 1:39pm
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I totally see what you're saying! I actually love how you did the goggles very much, Well the only way to get better is to learn from you're mistakes, and sometimes less is more! I'll see what I can do |
Posted By: Manupix
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 2:02pm
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I think the crab design itself could be made more interesting. I'd also recommend to avoid doing it isometric, which adds a layer of complexity. Here are some examples of pixel crabs from the PJ gallery:   < http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/1880.htm - both by http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/1865.htm - iSTVAN ;  < http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/37444.htm - PixelKiwi  < http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/56444.htm - albertov ;  < http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/28323.htm - womped from Arachne's lineart.I'm not saying you should imitate one of these in particular, but study them (and others) to try to see what makes them interesting, each in its own way. Look for other types of refs too, actual photographs of crabs. I'd try to emphasize 2 things which are very crab-specific: the body shape (yours is a very generic round shape), and the claws which should be much bigger. Also the eyes are usually wide apart and on stems. Maybe leave the goggles out of the picture for now, I understand why you want them in there but they're probably hindering more than helping atm. |
Posted By: gogglecrab
Date Posted: 26 January 2012 at 3:23pm
I see what you guys are saying I enlarged the claws a bit, and changed the goggles, here's the update: |