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earthcult In reply to Kasvei [2016-03-09 01:42:44 +0000 UTC]

ahh yes small pixels like icons can be really difficult to figure out! i hope i can help a bit ^^ 

the program i use is gimp 2.8.10 (i think there's an even more updated version by now xD) and it's really great for pixeling! ^-^
here's the download; www.gimp.org/downloads/

something i do if i'm struggling to work with the 50x50 canvas is i will actually do the sketch on a 100x100 canvas, then i will cut/ paste/and resize it onto a 50x50 canvas if that makes sense? c': keep in mind some details will be lost when shrinking it down though but that doesn't matter too much since it's just the sketch xD

then i use the pencil tool and do a sloppy lineart, then go back and clean it up. to clean it up, you pretty much just don't want too many pixels touching each other? this tutorial explains a bit better what i mean / Pixel icon tutorial   / and this>> pixels
BUT sometimes for fur/ hair i will let the pixels touch each other like this>> fur
ALSO when cleaning up your pixels on gimp, you have to set the eraser to "hard edge" so that it doesnt blur out your pixels when you erase ^_^

then on a separate layers i do the coloring, shading, lighting, etc. for shading i do multiple layers, first i will just do regular shading. next layer i will add some dithering in the larger shaded areas, here is a good tutorial for dithering>> DITHERING   (on bigger pixels dolls, i dont use dithering for shading BUT i do use dithering to blend and it makes a really smooth effect!) 

then after the shading, i merge the color layers and the shading layers together onto one layer. then i pick up color (usually the shade colors) and color the lineart ^.^ to do this easily in gimp, you can use the "select by color" tool so i just select all the black lineart on the lineart layer, THEN on a separate layer add the color to the lineart (i also make sure i have a copy layer of the black lineart for later) then after all that i organize the line layers like this:

>Black lineart (set on overlay or multiply and adjust opacity to your liking)
>Colored lineart (set on normal)

and that is how i color the lineart! THEN sometimes i take that copy layer of the black lineart, erase all the inner lines so that i just have an the very outer outline and do the same thing so that my icons have the darker outer rim if that makes sense :') that part isnt necessary though ^.^ then i also add a white outer line!


some tips on making large/ complex characters fit into a pixel icon is usually i will position their legs somewhat folded or bent instead of straight like these>>

and this gives you a litter more room for the rest of the body! for really long tails, you can draw them partially behind the body kinda like this>
Flower   

and for characters with complex designs or small details, it's okay to simplify the markings so it fits onto the small pixels ^-^

hmm i can't think of what else to address if you have questions i'll be happy to answer!! here's some icon pixel tutorials i like a lot: Pixel Icon Tutorial   / Pixel Tutorial  / Anti-Aliasing Tutorial  / pixel fur shading tut  / 

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Kasvei In reply to earthcult [2016-03-09 08:00:59 +0000 UTC]

Omg thank you! I have to try again when I got the time !!

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earthcult In reply to Kasvei [2016-03-09 18:28:37 +0000 UTC]

no problem! ^-^ happy pixeling!

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earthcult In reply to amberisrad [2016-03-05 19:18:20 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much!! ;v; <3

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amberisrad In reply to earthcult [2016-03-05 22:41:54 +0000 UTC]

no problem!! c:

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