Pixel Joint Forum: big pixel art

--super lazy AA tutorial that I just now came up with and kind of works (but doesn't look too good)--

I assume you're using a program with similar layer controls as photoshop. Layer masks are important for this.

Step 1: Draw a shape of any size or shape, preferably on a layer with a transparent background and preferably a single color with no outline.

Step 2: Select all of the pixels of that shape. You can do this with the magic wand easily enough if it's just a few colors. If it's too complicated to do this but you left all the pixels outside of this shape transparent, just hold down the option key (I think it's alt on a pc) and click the layer icon to select all of the pixels on that layer.

Step 3: Make a new layer above that and on it make a layer mask. In photoshop the mask will automatically include whatever you have selected when you make it.

Step 4: Reselect that mask by clicking on it's icon the same way as in step 2, invert the selection (command+shift+i on mac, I think ctrl+shift+i on pc), and then on the actual layer fill it with the color you want for the AA. If done right you shouldn't be able to see it yet, because the filled pixels will all be outside the area revealed by the mask. It might be a good idea choose the background color around the shape you're AAing to fill this layer with. You can then set the layer opacity to something like 50% so it blends the background color with the color of the shape.

Step 5: Click the chain link icon that's between the layer icon and the mask icon. This makes it so you can move the layer without moving the mask. Switch to the move tool and press either the left or right arrow to move that layer one pixel to the side. The opposite side should have a width of one pixel now peeking out from under the mask.

Step 6: Make a copy of this layer by dragging it onto the new layer icon. Move it to the opposite direction as the previous layer by clicking the other arrow twice (once to move it back to the starting position and once to move it one pixel further). You should now have the AA pixels peeking out from under the mask on the other side of the shape.

There's probably some variations to this that you can try, but that's basically it.

Author	Message
t3nshi Midshipman Joined: 07 May 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Topic: big pixel art Posted: 15 March 2011 at 6:02am
	I was wondering if someone knew some trick that I could use to make a really big pixel art canvas. I have to do this 640x480 background, with moon and clouds. since it's REALLY big, I'll have to do an enormous quantity of AA and stuff, so I wanted to know if there's a way of -like- reducing the work by some kind of trick :O
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skamocore Admiral Joined: 07 April 2021 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3866	Posted: 15 March 2011 at 6:14am
	(320 x 240) x2. Can you give us some more details on what it is?
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t3nshi Midshipman Joined: 07 May 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 15 March 2011 at 6:43am
	this is a WIP. I barely started, I have to add some clouds here and there and some stars. But the more I do it the more I think that AAing all this stuff will kill me x____x edit: for instance, it would be nice to know how to crate a pattern brush on photoshop :O another edit: second WIP Edited by t3nshi - 15 March 2011 at 8:06am
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tanuki Commander Joined: 01 April 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 333	Posted: 15 March 2011 at 9:31am
	--super lazy AA tutorial that I just now came up with and kind of works (but doesn't look too good)-- I assume you're using a program with similar layer controls as photoshop. Layer masks are important for this. Step 1: Draw a shape of any size or shape, preferably on a layer with a transparent background and preferably a single color with no outline. Step 2: Select all of the pixels of that shape. You can do this with the magic wand easily enough if it's just a few colors. If it's too complicated to do this but you left all the pixels outside of this shape transparent, just hold down the option key (I think it's alt on a pc) and click the layer icon to select all of the pixels on that layer. Step 3: Make a new layer above that and on it make a layer mask. In photoshop the mask will automatically include whatever you have selected when you make it. Step 4: Reselect that mask by clicking on it's icon the same way as in step 2, invert the selection (command+shift+i on mac, I think ctrl+shift+i on pc), and then on the actual layer fill it with the color you want for the AA. If done right you shouldn't be able to see it yet, because the filled pixels will all be outside the area revealed by the mask. It might be a good idea choose the background color around the shape you're AAing to fill this layer with. You can then set the layer opacity to something like 50% so it blends the background color with the color of the shape. Step 5: Click the chain link icon that's between the layer icon and the mask icon. This makes it so you can move the layer without moving the mask. Switch to the move tool and press either the left or right arrow to move that layer one pixel to the side. The opposite side should have a width of one pixel now peeking out from under the mask. Step 6: Make a copy of this layer by dragging it onto the new layer icon. Move it to the opposite direction as the previous layer by clicking the other arrow twice (once to move it back to the starting position and once to move it one pixel further). You should now have the AA pixels peeking out from under the mask on the other side of the shape. There's probably some variations to this that you can try, but that's basically it.
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t3nshi Midshipman Joined: 07 May 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 15 March 2011 at 10:44am
	I see what you mean, but that method would need an ammount of reworking to make it more similar to AA and not to an over-bended glow effect, so working the AA manually wil take pretty much the same time. Still, I figured a way to speed up the dithering process so I think I can do it speedier than I though. thank you for your help ^^
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