Pixel Joint Forum: Two questions

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Hola

I have 2 questions I hope seasoned veterans can answer.

Now I understand some or many of you do your line art via the pencil too to get the outline then scrub the extra pixels. However, would usinga pen tool be easier in photoshop and then using outline with the pencil tool create the same results?.

Second question which maybe about aliasing or line colorting I'm not sure which. However, when I see some game sprites I notice the line art isn't always solid but broken up into different shades so how does one know which to approach this if this makes sense?

For example here:

The tree outline isn't made of one shade of green but broken up into different shades. So I was wondering what is the thinking behind this?, from an artist view its trying to recreate light and shadow areas?

Edited by acronym - 30 July 2010 at 8:00am

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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Topic: Two questions Posted: 30 July 2010 at 7:59am
	Hola I have 2 questions I hope seasoned veterans can answer. Now I understand some or many of you do your line art via the pencil too to get the outline then scrub the extra pixels. However, would usinga pen tool be easier in photoshop and then using outline with the pencil tool create the same results?. Second question which maybe about aliasing or line colorting I'm not sure which. However, when I see some game sprites I notice the line art isn't always solid but broken up into different shades so how does one know which to approach this if this makes sense? For example here: The tree outline isn't made of one shade of green but broken up into different shades. So I was wondering what is the thinking behind this?, from an artist view its trying to recreate light and shadow areas? Edited by acronym - 30 July 2010 at 8:00am
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greenraven Commander Joined: 08 September 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2598	Posted: 30 July 2010 at 9:52am
	I'm not sure I understand the first question, sorry. Having one outlining color means you want something to stick out and be noticed. Breaking something up into several shades means you want it to blend in with the surroundings. In this case the tree, which should blend into the surroundings.
	"pwnage comes with patience, practice and planning." ~ Jalonso
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cure Commander Joined: 23 March 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2859	Posted: 30 July 2010 at 11:31pm
	the lighter areas have a lighter outline, the darker areas have a darker outline. if you used a dark outline for both the light and dark areas, it would probably flatten the image since the outline has no relationship with the light source. the idea behind it is for the outline to be a certain level darker than what it outlines, and for this to be consistent, lighter areas would require a lighter outline, so that the contrast would not be greater than in darker areas of the image. hope i understood the question correctly and was clear in my response.
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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 01 August 2010 at 8:10am
	Thanks for the replies guys, here's a small attempt at doing curves using the pen as a bezier curve. What do you think, sure circle is wonky but getting there?. I'm having trouble with curves and how many pixels are needed to make a smooth line.
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greenraven Commander Joined: 08 September 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2598	Posted: 01 August 2010 at 12:38pm
	Make your circles one pixel at a time and it should be perfect. As for smoothing things out, that's what AA is for.
	"pwnage comes with patience, practice and planning." ~ Jalonso
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A.B. Lazer Commander Joined: 21 July 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 310	Posted: 01 August 2010 at 3:24pm
	I think at larger (maybe starting at 32x32) images circle tool is more useful than making it by hand. In MS Paint you can draw perfect circles when holding Shift key. There is no point to spend time on it because it is mechanical work that steals from creativity. When needing smaller circles you can draw a section and then multiply it by copying, rotating, mirroring etc.
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PixelSnader Commander Not a troll! Joined: 05 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3194	Posted: 01 August 2010 at 3:49pm
	*Originally posted by cure* the lighter areas have a lighter outline, the darker areas have a darker outline. if you used a dark outline for both the light and dark areas, it would probably flatten the image since the outline has no relationship with the light source. the idea behind it is for the outline to be a certain level darker than what it outlines, and for this to be consistent, lighter areas would require a lighter outline, so that the contrast would not be greater than in darker areas of the image.hope i understood the question correctly and was clear in my response. It doesn't only have to do with the actual color, I think, but also with line thickness. Consider it subpixeling. Imagine the line is half a pixel wide. Then you would get this: Whatever the specific reason, it looks good, and that's why it's used so often. If it doesn't make the image nicer, don't use it.
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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 01 August 2010 at 3:50pm
	Cheers, this is what I done freehand at the moment. Noob alert so be nice but on the right path?.
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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 02 August 2010 at 12:43pm
	OK guys, need some help once more. Ok having problems working with curves and angles, does anyone have any suggestions?. This was done with the pen tool but not sure if this is correct or not
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PixelSnader Commander Not a troll! Joined: 05 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3194	Posted: 02 August 2010 at 1:09pm
	*Originally posted by acronym* the right path? Yes, but also no. You've got a good pixely style going on, but you seem to have a crapload of (wasted) colors. Try doing the same portrait in no more than 8 colors, post it in the WIP section, and we'll go from there. As for the curves, those are nice and smooth, for the most part. I've made an edit for you, red were your lines, green is how I'd change them. Some things are minor or just preference, but the orange areas are a bit messy and show bumps. Your smallest circle was squished a bit, so I fixed that too.
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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 02 August 2010 at 1:37pm
	Thanks Snader for taking the time to correct my mistakes. So I guess with a bit of editing the pen tool can be used as some form of bezier?. However, what I really like to know is if anyone could help was if there's a rule or guideline to follow creating curves?. Thats my only trouble at the moment trying to create curves at doing angles.
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Eva2010 Seaman Joined: 12 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 03 August 2010 at 3:23am
	nice..you are great..
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acronym Seaman Joined: 30 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 03 August 2010 at 5:27am
	*Originally posted by Eva2010* nice..you are great.. Don't know if thats sarcasm.... Anyway, anyone help please with my last question if possible. Apologies in advance I know people are busy.
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Eva2010 Seaman Joined: 12 July 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 04 August 2010 at 9:10pm
	it's difficult for me to do that
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