4 color game conflict character/background
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=25842
Printed Date: 11 September 2025 at 8:12pm
Topic: 4 color game conflict character/background
Posted By: Nr. 2698
Subject: 4 color game conflict character/background
Date Posted: 10 July 2017 at 7:36am
Hello,
i have a very important question. I create a adventuregame such as Monkey Island in 4 colors. Well its good for me to handle the low color count. But now i am be streched to my limits.
How i can create a character, which is totally integrated to the game and dominate the screen with just these colors. Well i have a concept with colors and decided to make the sky dark the ground fair and the interface dark dominated. So i hope the character dont disappear.
But how i can solve the problem if background is dark, or background is too disturbing the character?
Have anybody a clue??

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Replies:
Posted By: eishiya
Date Posted: 10 July 2017 at 8:39am
Check out Wario Land for inspiration. The trick to using small palettes like this is to keep any parts of the background that the character is likely to overlap limited to just 1-2 colours (either your lightest two or your darkest two, and to use the full range of values on your characters so that they can stand out against all the backgrounds.
Your 2nd lightest colour is very similar to your lightest colour, so it's not really helping. Try making it a little darker (and maybe darkening the 3rd lightest a tad too). Since you're working in monochrome, you'll most likely have an easier time if your colours cover your value range evenly. As-is, you're essentially working in 3 colours, not 4.
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Posted By: Nr. 2698
Date Posted: 11 July 2017 at 2:00pm
Hey Eishiya, thank you very much for your helpful feedback. I think i get it theoretical.
Just worked on a rough sprite, which i will shade the way you said and with much accurate shape. Searching also for the right color-tone, atm.

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