Various Pixel Questions!
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: The Lounge
Forum Name: Resources and Support
Forum Discription: Help your fellow pixel artists out with links to good tutorials, other forums, software, fonts, etc. Bugs and support issues should go here as well.
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12454
Printed Date: 22 February 2026 at 5:29pm
Topic: Various Pixel Questions!
Posted By: PixelOdd
Subject: Various Pixel Questions!
Date Posted: 03 July 2011 at 1:37am
Hello fellow pixel-artists. I'm new to this forum (and to pixel art, admittedly) and mainly came here to ask some questions of you guys.
First of all: The program. I love the art of Paul Robertson (some call him a waste of talent because of some of the art he makes) but I was wondering if anyone knew what program he used?
Myself, I've grown accustomed to photoshop and I quite love Pixen. Like love love it, but I can't deal with it crashing. Is it wrong to use Photoshop? I've heard some people advise against it.
Second of all: How do I present pixel work in a portfolio? With such small images, I can't quite fathom how to fill an 11x17 or really any portfolio size with my pixel art. Am I supposed to blow it up?
Another: What's a proper size for pixel art? I've just been using whatever, honestly... I could use some guidelines. Thank you guys for all your help in advance!
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Replies:
Posted By: tanuki
Date Posted: 03 July 2011 at 7:23am
I've never heard of paul robertson, but I looked him up and there's nothing he does that can't been done with just any regular pixel program. Sure, some things make life easier (layer controls, blending modes, levels adjustments, etc.) but you can technically make any pixel art in MSPaint (except animations, I think). I wouldn't recommend it, but it can be done. There's nothing wrong with photoshop, and it's what I use. The only two reasons I can think of to NOT use photoshop is that it's expensive and has a ton of tools and features you'll never ever ever ever use in pixel art (and shouldn't).
You can blow up pixel art, but make sure that in photoshop you go to the "image" menu, then "image size" and instead of something like "bicubic resampling" make very double extra sure you choose "preserve hard edges" and then choose a number for the dimensions that's an exact multiple of the numbers already there.
For example, if it's a 50x50 image you can easily make it 100x100, 450x450, 123450x123450, etc., because they're all multiples of 50. If it was a 200x200 image then you could make it 400x400, but not something like 450x450 since it's not a multiple of 200. If you don't make it an exact multiple of the current size then you'll have an issue where some pixels don't get blown up the same as others and will basically become like rectangles instead of squares.
I don't think there is a proper size for pixel art, as long as it looks good to you and is how you want it presented.
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Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 22 September 2011 at 2:05pm
Paul Robertson uses Photoshop, I use Photoshop, anyone with a Mac pixels with Photoshop (layers is the only plus so even the cheap assed mini Photoshop that comes free with any camera "Elements" is good). If you use a Mac, the apple site/store has lots of free pixel apps like 'Paintbrush' and "Seashore'.
Portfolios are a personal choice. Blowing up pixels is ok. Anything goes. Look at other artists portfolio for inspiration. Not very inspiring but you can check out my portfolio site.
*I miss Pixen and thought it had promise, especially its sister app Reptile. Sadly I lost too much art :(
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Posted By: cure
Date Posted: 22 September 2011 at 6:27pm
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Originally posted by jalonso
anyone with a Mac pixels with Photoshop
Grafx2 is also available on the Mac. I don't think it supports animation though, which is most of the charm in Paul's work.
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Posted By: MyO
Date Posted: 23 September 2011 at 2:41am
I myself was quite charmed with the work of Mark Ferrari.
Have you ever seen http://www.effectgames.com/demos/canvascycle/ - this? That's his work made in DeluxePaint. All the animation there is pallette-swapping, as in the originals.
The "Mountain Stream - Morning" animation almost makes me cry, so good it is. Click the right arrow two or three times to see it.
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Posted By: Hapiel
Date Posted: 23 September 2011 at 5:31am
Wow MyO, that link is priceless!
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