CHALLENGE 1/30/2012: Longscape
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: Pixel Art
Forum Name: Collaborations/Challenges
Forum Discription: Submit pixel art project ideas/templates or contribute to an existing pixel art collaboration.
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13772
Printed Date: 06 September 2025 at 12:47pm
Topic: CHALLENGE 1/30/2012: Longscape
Posted By: administrator
Subject: CHALLENGE 1/30/2012: Longscape
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 12:01am
Replies:
Posted By: Xamllew
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 10:31am
|
I love me some 'scapes. WIP so far.  |
Posted By: philippejugnet
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 4:33pm
My wip so far:
that black thing is going to be a dragon |
Posted By: Delicious
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 4:47pm
|
Originally posted by philippejugnet
My wip so far:
that black thing is going to be a dragon You should focus primarily on the landscape, not the sky and a dragon. Looks good though, but it's not what the challenge asks. |
Posted By: dpixel
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 5:23pm
Long farm scene WIP
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Posted By: _Connor
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 8:18pm
| Does it have to be a square pixel aspect ratio? =D |
Posted By: cure
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 10:13pm
|
I don't know what that means but if you're asking if the canvas must be rectangular then the answer is yes, as transparency is not allowed for this challenge. If you're asking if you can use longpixels or widepixels then I see no reason why not. @philip: landscapes typically include... land. |
Posted By: Levaunt
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 11:15pm
Here's what I'm going for.  This may may fall into the category of "more than you can chew" |
Posted By: a3um
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 11:27pm
| The challenge description doesn't clearly states that we have to pixel a landscape for me. Anyways, I'm in :] |
Posted By: cure
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 11:34pm
| Good point, landscape isn't required, just scene. Carry on. |
Posted By: CPearson
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 2:24am
| philippejugnet's piece reminds me a lot of a3um's piece for the mimic me challenge. |
Posted By: CPearson
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 2:27am
| I have no idea why that's underlined. |
Posted By: a3um
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 3:05am
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@CPearson - yeah, somewhat.
random shapes wip: 
|
Posted By: takikazama
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 5:29am
Here's my wip so far. I have no clue how to make that waterfall look right yet... I'm planning to add some clouds and other things, will see how it goes. Canvas 100x300 I used this http://i55.tinypic.com/213q63o.jpg - palette from Drawbringer and my sceen is based on/inspired by the videogame El Shaddai ( http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/67285.htm - again ... references*). I hope it's alright as the description ("Pixel a scene") doesn't say the sceen had to be completely original or that you have to pick all the colours yourself. ^^" *http://i.imgur.com/qIMrA.jpg *http://i.imgur.com/TxvL3.jpg (copied the links as i can't make these work somehow) |
Posted By: Trick17
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 7:58am
Well, I never pixeled or drew any landscape before, but I want to give it a try. I'm not happy with the clouds, will definitely change them. |
Posted By: dpixel
Date Posted: 31 January 2012 at 3:11pm
WIP 2 
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Posted By: Argyle
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 4:34am
Gonna go ahead and call this masterpiece http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/68165.htm - done . |
Posted By: Xamllew
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 9:59am
| I saw this dot on my screen and it took me a second to realize it was a 9x3 pixel scene, haha nice. |
Posted By: philippejugnet
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 10:52am
solved the "problem" for using a3um's colors and maybe the landscape problem |
Posted By: takikazama
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 11:19am
|
@philippejugnet: it doesn't have to be a landscap, you just have to
"pixel a scene". Originally posted by cure
Good point, landscape isn't required, just scene. Carry on. On the other hand I like the colours of this version better because it doesn't give me the usual sunset feeling =) As for my own wip, I have a feeling that I won't be able to finish it in time due to work :/ (even if the theme is allowed, I won't post it half-done) |
Posted By: Nevercreature
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 1:29pm
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Hello! I'm new at Pixel Joint. What I have to do to submit my picture to the challenge? Thanks! |
Posted By: Xamllew
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 2:33pm
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Nevercreature, while submitting it to the gallery check the box at the bottom that says "Submit to weekly challenge". If you're not sure how to submit it's under the "Gallery" tab on the main website. |
Posted By: Nevercreature
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 3:28pm
Thank you, Xamllew! 
|
Posted By: ||||
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 4:48pm
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Phillipe, there is still a lot of time until the deadline. Just do something new and more original. The background's too much of a copy of A3um's piece, imo, even with the color changes.. |
Posted By: a3um
Date Posted: 02 February 2012 at 2:54am
wip2.
MtG-ish panorama. Going to crop it afterwards |
Posted By: ||||
Date Posted: 02 February 2012 at 6:40am
|
I'm delirious now so I'll add in more brush tomorrow night. I saw some were going for 600x200.. I didn't wan't to go quite that size so ended up with 480x160. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/ds1z.png/">  |
Posted By: Graindolium
Date Posted: 02 February 2012 at 1:28pm
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http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/ds1z.png/"> I like your psychedelic mountains  |
Posted By: ||||
Date Posted: 02 February 2012 at 2:29pm
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/ds3c.png/"> Is this why they're psychedelic? Kidding. Thank you Graindolium. |
Posted By: clefairykid
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 4:00am
| Um, I need a little help it seems, getting my entry to appear in the challenge submissions area? I made sure to check the box for "submit to weekly challenge" when I submitted it, but I can't see it with the other entries? Sorry, I'm still very new to understanding how this site works, so if there's something else I've missed I apologise. My entry is here; http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/68203.htm#c385078 |
Posted By: jeremy
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 4:09am
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That occasionally happens when a mod picks another category (e.g. "scenes"). Sorry, I normally check. |
Posted By: philippejugnet
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 5:23pm
damn late pic, couldnt finisht he other one =/ it wasnt soo good for this challenge: this is also not good I will try more contrast |
Posted By: moogleymog
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 6:29pm
| Wow, there are so many good WIPs, can't wait to see the final results! :) |
Posted By: moogleymog
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 6:31pm
|
Originally posted by Levaunt
Here's what I'm going for. This may may fall into the category of "more than you can chew"
I hope you don't scrap this altogether, I really like this! :D |
Posted By: Hiuru
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 7:01pm
Well, i started something earlier today...Not really sure about what else to add. I kind of like the empty atmosphere, but i'll probably add something here and there later.
|
Posted By: Xamllew
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 7:39pm
| Maybe you could add some hills or a treeline in the distance? A perfectly flat horizon seems unnatural, even for plains. Also it might help to add some variation to your grass highlights, like some areas with sparse highlights and others with more dense amounts. |
Posted By: cure
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 9:21pm
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could add a small mammal, flowers, areas of tall grass, patches of dirt, a stream, etc. agree with xamllew as well. lookin' smooth so far though. |
Posted By: jeremy
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 10:15pm
I'd tone down the grass. Might not even need the lightest highlight, you could add a couple of flowers or something: (but less terribly) Posts, sky and grass are all quite saturated, fighting for attention. Perhaps make the posts less brown? |
Posted By: puffinpunch
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 4:25am
|
Hi everyone! I've never made pixel art before, but all my friends up and went to Thailand last week and I've been needing something new to distract me. Here are 3 WIPs. I may be making a lot of rookie mistakes. WIP1 - Rough sketch for composition and light values  2. Details and some more dithering.  3.) Sky gradient and reduced/adjusted colour palette.  Not sure if theres much more I can do with it. Would love to know what I'm doing wrong. Sorry I can't offer much in the way of criticism myself. I can draw and stuff but I'm super green to pixels. Wish I could get my clouds to look cool like member_profile.asp?PF=27628&FID=1 - Hiuru 's. If you're worried that there maybe not being enough going on with the grass, you could try letting the sky take up more of the space in the image, and have a lower field of view, so the fence posts jut up out over the horizon line into the sky area, just to break the symetry a little. |
Posted By: puffinpunch
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 8:11am
Put a character in. Colour pallete is 31 but photoshop is saying that its 34 when I save it >:| I think this is finished? |
Posted By: Xamllew
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 10:36am
|
Puffinpunch, this is promising work but your further progress shows some pretty common newbie mistakes. -There are a lot of hard edges that could use some AA, otherwise it really makes the whole piece feel unfinished and more like Oekaki (unrefined painting with pixels). - Ugly hues, the rocks are all the same greenish gray hue from light to shadow, makes them look more like modelling clay then hard rock formation. Get some hue-shifting going on. -Dithering can work against a picture and make it look bad, I think this is the case with your sky right now, the dithering is very noticeable. -Rocks on the left are blobby, and look pillow shaded. Anyway you can learn a lot by browsing some of the WIP threads and reading peoples constructive criticism. You can also learn a lot by just trying to mentally take apart other people's pixel art, try to see how they make things. |
Posted By: philippejugnet
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 12:22pm
| I wont do this anymore look how many good wips =/ |
Posted By: Friend
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 8:50pm
|
Originally posted by philippejugnet I wont do this anymore look how many good wips =/ don't give up dude. You're a great artist and can do anything with enough time and effort |
Posted By: puffinpunch
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 8:50pm
Thanks Xamllew. I couldnt really think of a way to dither the sky apart from a pattern. I went back and removed the cloud overlay and turned the sky into a sort of cloud texture to give it more variation. cooled down the colour of the stone, reshaded it and AA'd the outlines in the foreground.  You're right everything was way too sharp, and I couldnt figure out how to shade the guys face while keeping it smooth. Some parts still are but I think i got most of it. Still not dynamite but I'm happy with it for a first shot. Thanks for your help. And hey, philippejugnet, its about developing, not about showing off. If you're feeling insecure then that means you should post more, not less! I like the idea behind your one. It looks like it could maybe be made even smaller while keeping most of the detail. |
Posted By: Friend
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 9:02pm
| puffin, I think the dithering on the shirt and trees and water is highly unnecessary. The dithering in the sky doesn't really make sense to me, because I get sort of a cartoony sense from the person, clouds and overall form factor, and the dithering in the sky gives an unnecessary age to the piece. I think you're piece is getting there, but it would really benefit now with smarter color choices also. Make the colors a little more realistic and lively? The human blends in way too much with the cliffs behind. The piece would look great with AA, it seems like the type of piece that would warrant at least a little AA. |
Posted By: cure
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 9:40pm
| yeah, most of that dithering is unnecessary (common newbie mistake to over-dither, should be used sparingly really). the skintones are kinda dead as well, he looks grey-complected. |
Posted By: Hiuru
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 3:03am
Errr...update
Thanks guys for the crits, and the tips. Updated it a bit more. Can't seem to work on it any longer so i went ahead and submitted it. |
Posted By: Jetrel
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 4:25pm
|
Originally posted by puffinpunch
Thanks Xamllew. I couldnt really think of a way to dither the sky apart from a pattern. Try to avoid dithering as much as you can. A common newbie mistake in pixel-art, is that people look at pixel art, and they form a sort of "checklist" of what you need to do to be pixelart. Many of these things that they recognize are correct - such as recognizing that pixelart typically has a low color count. The problem comes with dithering - they see that pixelart has dithering in it, so they think "oh, okay, I want to put dithering into my art if I want it to look like pixelart." Dithering is actually not a good thing, because it adds texture and noise to otherwise smooth surfaces in a drawing. It gives everything this weird, grainy look. Dithering, instead, should be viewed as a necessary evil - you want the least possible amount of dithering that you can get away with. If you're really clever, when you absolutely have to dither, you can co-opt the texture it adds by dithering in a pattern that matches the intended texture of the material you're drawing. On your tree, for example, you could make your dithering resolve into little shapes that look like chunks of bark. Usually this means avoiding dithering that's single-dots, and grouping it into slightly larger chunks. Pixelart is fundamentally an optimization problem, where you're trying to limit your work with a bunch of different factors that actively contradict each other. For example you want as low of a color count as you can get, but you also want as little dithering as you can get. The lower your color-count gets, the more you need dithering - if it was as easy as just saying "hey, don't do X" - you have to balance it. You have to juggle two contradictory things, and that's the art - defying the catch-22, and coming up with something that uses quite a low color-count, and yet manages to get away with very little dithering. |
Posted By: Friend
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 5:13pm
|
Originally posted by Jetrel Originally posted by puffinpunch
Thanks Xamllew. I couldnt really think of a way to dither the sky apart from a pattern. Try to avoid dithering as much as you can. A common newbie mistake in pixel-art, is that people look at pixel art, and they form a sort of "checklist" of what you need to do to be pixelart. Many of these things that they recognize are correct - such as recognizing that pixelart typically has a low color count. The problem comes with dithering - they see that pixelart has dithering in it, so they think "oh, okay, I want to put dithering into my art if I want it to look like pixelart." Dithering is actually not a good thing, because it adds texture and noise to otherwise smooth surfaces in a drawing. It gives everything this weird, grainy look. Dithering, instead, should be viewed as a necessary evil - you want the least possible amount of dithering that you can get away with. If you're really clever, when you absolutely have to dither, you can co-opt the texture it adds by dithering in a pattern that matches the intended texture of the material you're drawing. On your tree, for example, you could make your dithering resolve into little shapes that look like chunks of bark. Usually this means avoiding dithering that's single-dots, and grouping it into slightly larger chunks. Pixelart is fundamentally an optimization problem, where you're trying to limit your work with a bunch of different factors that actively contradict each other. For example you want as low of a color count as you can get, but you also want as little dithering as you can get. The lower your color-count gets, the more you need dithering - if it was as easy as just saying "hey, don't do X" - you have to balance it. You have to juggle two contradictory things, and that's the art - defying the catch-22, and coming up with something that uses quite a low color-count, and yet manages to get away with very little dithering. That's a great way to put pixel art and the evil of dithering into perspective! But it kinda begs the question of why did you dither the skin on your fabulous piece here? http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/66267.htm - http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/66267.htm (just curious) |
Posted By: AirStyle
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 5:35pm
| OOOOOOHHHHH GOT YOU THERE!!! |
Posted By: jeremy
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 7:44pm
| "A gaudy, perhaps vulgar experiment with color saturation, dithering..." |
Posted By: AirStyle
Date Posted: 05 February 2012 at 8:03pm
| I don't know about you guys, but I kind of enjoy the sky being dithered in that way. Now, granted, the rocks in the area could use some work, but the sky's alright with me. |
Posted By: puffinpunch
Date Posted: 06 February 2012 at 2:04am
| The rocks are a little hellish, yeah. I brought the colours in the sky a lot closer together to make the dithering less obvious. Not sure how to go between colours in the sky when clouds arent present to break it up. Will work on it. Thanks for the help. This forum is great! Will start contributing more. |
Posted By: Friend
Date Posted: 06 February 2012 at 6:47am
| I wasn't trying to call him out or anything, just a question for my own benefit. Thanks Jeremy for pointing that out |