What is Pixel Graphics?
Pixel graphics are an old school technique that where used in video games before game technology became heavily 3D based.
The difference between pixel graphics and modern Photoshop processed graphics are easy to see. Shades and pixels in Photoshop processed graphics are smooth and form a synthetic shape. It is the same phenomenon seen in movies that uses a lot of computer generated graphic effects, things look to clean and to perfect.
The traditional way of working with pixel graphics used to be in a proper 2D art package and in a minimal amount of color, 16-256 colors. To simulate the use of more colors graphic artists used a technique called “dithering” where they mix two pixels of different colors one after another to give the impression of a third or fourth color between two defined colors in the palette. To dither a picture is time consuming but gives the image a much more organic look.
The color restrictions that used to apply for graphics in games is not relevant anymore thanks to true color graphic boards. In the old days there could be only four or five colors free for a sprite in the game, this could lead to a challenge for the graphics artist.
Another task which gives an image a much more natural look was to add shades to the image by hand. Today it is very easy and fast to shade an image in Photoshop but in the old day’s graphics artist had to add the shade by hand.
In modern time not many are working with pixel graphics anymore because it is very time consuming and the market is relatively small. Games for cell phones are a popular place where pixel graphics shows up. Pixel graphics have also shown up on various web sites and there are small firms working with the ancient graphics technique.
Traditionally pixel graphics where done on an Amiga in a program called Deluxe Paint. Deluxe Paint came in five versions on the Amiga and where also released on the Atari and the IBM-PC but never reached more than the second version on those systems. During the nineties many video game companies used Deluxe Paint to create textures for their 3D games.
In recent times Photoshop have also become an alternative to making pixel graphics. However once you learn the different functions in a good 2D paint package it is painfully obvious that Photoshop is not a good alternative for pixel based graphics productions.
In a dedicated 2D paint package as Deluxe Paint or Perfect Paint you can select areas, twist and turn them with simple keyboard shortcuts and zoom into an area. These paint packages where dedicated to making these kind of graphics so they are the best solution but may be tough to learn if someone do not have experience working in the Workbench environment.
Modern pixel graphics are symbolized by isometric pixel images. These images can be gigantic and often portraits a huge city with many details that goes unnoticed if one do not look at the finer parts of the image. Isometric pixel art as we know it today where not common before the Internet so it can be called a net phenomenon. But it makes us wonder if older pixel styles will make a comeback in the future?