How To Make Pixel Art: 40+ Free Video Tutorials For Beginners
How To Make Pixel Fine art: 40+ Free Video Tutorials For Beginners
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Designing your ain pixel art is super fun and can fifty-fifty profitable.
Merely information technology's a tough style to brand coin since in that location'due south non much demand nowadays, although the gaming industry is growing with far more indie titles using pixel graphics.
You tin learn to make pixel fine art just for fun as a hobby or with a applied purpose in game blueprint. Both are dandy reasons to study & follow these free pixel art tutorials on YouTube.
All of these videos are targeted at beginners but some get into more detail than others. Either way this is a brilliant collection of tutorials for anyone starting to explore the wonderful world of pixels.
Photoshop For Pixel Art (For Beginners)
Adobe built Photoshop for basic photo editing. These days it seems similar it's used for anything but that.
Photoshop can exercise everything from blueprint work to digital painting and yeah, even pixel art. That'south what this gratuitous video is all about.
Yous'll learn how to setup a Photoshop workflow to create pixel art from the very start. Information technology's perfect for novices who desire to learn fast and start drawing pixels the right way.
Pixel Art In PS
To get a little more specific have a expect at this short video totaling about eight minutes.
It really is the perfect intro to pixel fine art for Photoshop(CC or before). But information technology's also extremely basic and it won't push you likewise far across the raw fundamentals.
Still an excellent place to start if y'all're intimidated to depict pixels or to study pixel art in general.
OpenGameArt Pixel Fine art Tutorial: The Basics
The OpenGameArt projection is incredible and it'southward one of the most admirable resources for free game art.
They release some great learning guides to help artists develop their skills, also totally gratis. Most notably is this video on pixel art from their "basics" series.
In this 20 minute video you'll learn how to design a elementary character using pixel techniques in Krita. Certainly ane of the meliorate guides out there and it uses open source software to boot.
Make Pixel Art Tiles for Video Games
Aside from graphic symbol designs you'll ofttimes find yourself needing tileable assets for game backgrounds.
These can work as scroller backgrounds or top-downwardly BGs that the thespian walks over. And with this costless video you tin can pick up some handy techniques for designing tiled artwork for games.
Over 10 minutes this beginner's video will take you through the bare bones procedure of crafting tileable panels.
This uses a brick wall as the example but one time y'all understand how tiling works you can apply this strategy to your own work likewise.
Beginner Photoshop Tutorial
Digital creative person Nick Casale teaches you how to create awesome pixel artwork in his xx-minute instructional video.
The entire process guides y'all along the mode with a voiceover explaining each part.
Granted this isn't the only guide to pixel art and it focuses on Nick'south specific style. Only if y'all like the style you can always stick with information technology or make adaptations every bit you progress on your pixel art journey.
3 Pixel Art Techniques & Common Mistakes
Granted this may not be a specific "tutorial" video but it will help to amend your pixel workflow.
Check out these 3 techniques mentioned in the video to help you not just improve the craft only avoid some mutual pitfalls.
Beginners oftentimes experience discouraged when they tin't make a pixel art piece work. The tips in this guide are incredible and it'due south 1 video that'll build your conviction working with this medium.
My Secret To Improving Fast
YouTuber MortMort publishes tons of pixel fine art content for his 50k+ subscriber base.
Many of these are guided tutorials only this video specifically outlines Mort'southward process for improving fast. Isn't that really what we all want?
This quick v minute video is certain to modify your perspective on pixel art and how y'all approach the medium. Worth a quick watch if yous're a complete beginner simply starting out.
Character Design
The techniques of character blueprint get pretty complicated when yous move into pixels.
Painting & drawing techniques don't exactly employ in this realm, but thankfully this video is detailed plenty to help you lot get started.
Over a 15 minute instructional video you'll learn how to design a shrouded figure from scratch in Pyxel Edit. Really valuable for anyone fix to start tackling their own characters.
Tileset in Photoshop
It'due south crucial to balance character designs with tilesets to become a well-rounded pixel artist.
Have a quick look at this tutorial and you'll detect plenty of guidelines for designing tileable assets. This works primarily in Photoshop and it focuses on pixel artwork that tin be used in a real-world scenario.
Excellent video for designing tilesets for your own games or merely for fun.
Intro To Top-Downwards Game Tilesets
If y'all've ever played the original Legend of Zelda games or the old Pokémon games then you know near meridian-downwardly gameplay.
This is a design style that looks downward over the world and your playable graphic symbol moves over that second filigree.
Information technology was a popular choice for NES and SNES games that relied heavily on pixel art, and with this tutorial you'll learn how to blueprint a stellar peak-downward tileset based off the original Zelda game.
Simply note this video is long totaling over 90 minutes of runtime. But the longer the video the more you can learn and so it'south worth watching it through to the stop.
Stardew Valley Tileset Tutorial
The popular Stardew Valley brought farming sim lovers back to their roots with 2nd pixel art.
Information technology has apace become one of the most pop indie titles and it has some of the best pixel fine art yous'll observe in modern gaming. Check out this tutorial that shows yous how to design a replica tileset from the Stardew series.
Y'all likely can't use this in your ain game but it's a nice exercise to hone your skills.
Isometric Pixel Art Tutorial
The practice of isometric art isn't as mutual with gaming today. It can be used in concept artwork simply rarely for pixel art.
Withal yous might endeavour out this video teaching you how to blueprint perfect isometric pixel art from scratch.
With this video it's not so much the concluding design that matters, but rather the process of learning isometric design from start to cease.
Pixelart Shading and Colors
Shading your artwork is often the toughest stage to really learn.
It's true with traditional art and it's truthful of pixel art too. If yous're struggling with colors or matching shadows check out this amazing video running about 40 minutes long.
You will absolutely pick upwards some valuable skills from this tutorial no matter what your skill level.
Although it helps if you're already familiar with basic pixel techniques, yous can go right into shading if you desire and push through the difficult parts.
Pixel Rock Tutorial
I'thousand a sucker for pace-by-step tutorials and this video is one of the best for beginners.
In this 20 infinitesimal tutorial by artist Jimzip you lot'll learn how to design a pixel art rock from scratch. It's part of a pixel art series on his channel and this is perhaps the easiest identify for beginners to pick up without losing their temper.
Keep in mind this is however hard! But information technology's one of the easiest projects to offset as a newbie because you're learning bones shapes, shading, and dithering all in one place.
Pixel Tree Tutorial
If yous'd rather outset with a larger project why not design a custom tree?
That's exactly what you lot'll find here with 15 minutes of instructional fabric on a pixel art tree. Seems crazy just this is a very common project for indie developers.
All the littles houses, trees, paths, rocks, grass… all of that is designed past hand with pixel fine art.
The more you practice these seemingly mundane items the more than comfortable y'all'll get with full pixel art scenes.
Tile Basics
Speaking of background styles you might also like this tiling tutorial since it focuses on ground tiles.
Over 10 minutes you lot'll design a custom dirt/rock pathway that can exist used as a tileable game asset.
The results are pretty decent only the real value is in the process. One time you internalize how to design tiles you tin mess around with any texture like grass, lava, or fifty-fifty water(which makes a great segue to the adjacent vid!)
Water Tutorial (Uncomplicated)
Dual Cadre Studio has a pretty sweet tutorial on designing water tiles from basic pixels.
This water tutorial is very simple and it's really meant for beginners. Besides worth mentioning y'all can pattern water in many dissimilar ways so this isn't the but way to approach it.
However if y'all are struggling with realistic tileable water and then follow this guide to a tee. It'll give you lot a nice starting point.
Draw Pixel Fine art Clouds
From down on the ground to upwardly in the sky, a pixel artist's chore includes everything in betwixt.
And yes that does include pixel clouds for your skyline. YouTuber GDquest teaches you how to design clouds in Photoshop along with some basic PS tips.
Too note the GDquest website is massive and full of awesome tutorials for game artists, many focusing just on pixel techniques.
How To Create Pixel Art For Games
If you lot take a await at this video y'all'll find some handy tips for designing echo pixel backgrounds.
Granted this isn't the about detailed video or the most practical for learning all the best pixel fine art skills. But it is slap-up for newbies who want to learn the ropes without much of a struggle.
It's but near 12 minutes long, runs exclusively in Photoshop, and teaches y'all the process of designing a pretty overnice sunset background.
Dithering: How To Create Linear Gradients
The more pixel art you lot endeavour the more y'all'll run into dithering. This is the process of designing realistic "gradients" that alloy colors together in a believable way.
This is one of the hardest techniques to master in pixel art so information technology'due south going to accept some practice.
But to go you started I suggest this tutorial covering the accented basics of dithering in just two minutes.
Character Animation & Background Tutorial
So what good is a bunch of pixel art if you tin't utilise it? Well, maybe nostalgia.
But many artists want to breathing their pixel art to relive that 90s feeling again.
With this animation tutorial y'all'll learn how to animate a grapheme and a background for your custom pixel work. Whether you're doing a personal projection or a existent game, this is a solid guide to pixel fine art animation.
It's most 30 minutes long and does piece of work all-time if y'all already accept some pixel art knowledge. But really anyone could become started on this video and larn a lot by the end.
Pixel Fine art in Illustrator
Very few artists talk about pixel piece of work in Illustrator because it'southward a vector program.
Merely did yous know it'southward possible to design pixel artwork with a vector epitome editor? Seems crazy merely this tutorial can guide you lot.
It'due south very curt and probably not what most people are looking for. Still I think it belongs here equally an choice for those who have Illustrator but no Photoshop(and for people who don't want to use open up source, for whatsoever reason).
Setup Krita For Pixel Art
And then let's say y'all really love open up source software and you lot want to piece of work with Krita.
In that example yous might have a wait at our huge list of Krita tutorials, all totally gratis. But that list is by and large for digital painting.
If you're exclusively looking into pixel art then check out this awesome video. Information technology's probably ane of the best intros for setting up Krita to work with pixel art.
You don't need much of any prior skills and if you're already somewhat comfortable with the software information technology'll be a snap to get started.
GIMP Pixel Art Setup Tutorial
Another very pop pick for digital artwork is the costless GIMP software.
Again this is by and large used for photo editing and/or digital painting. And one time once again we did cover a list of awesome free tutorials for artists learning GIMP.
Only compared to this tutorial you'll barely detect whatever other series touching on pixel art to this level of detail.
This 15 minute video is perfect for learning the basic GIMP tools, configuring a pixel workflow, and getting started with your very starting time pixel art projection.
Depict Isometric Pixel Fine art in Photoshop
I mentioned isometric pixel fine art earlier and it really is pretty cool. It doesn't take as much practical use today but information technology's a dainty method for laying out your ideas.
If you piece of work exclusively in Photoshop then have a await here at this free 16 minute pixel art guide focused on isometric pattern.
The most Impressive affair nearly this video has to exist the setup. One time you get PS configured for pixel piece of work you're basically off to the races.
How To Breathing Pixel Art
Very few people realize but how much work goes into animation.
There are countless books on 2D blitheness and those barely even scratch the surface.
So I won't promise that you'll larn everything yous need just from this video on pixel art animation. Information technology is detailed and it does cover a lot, but nothing covers everything and people learn at different speeds.
Notwithstanding I volition promise that you'll walk away with a much stronger understanding of animative pixels from scratch if you follow that video to the cease.
How I Make Pixel Fine art Animations
Here's a similar animation tutorial by YouTuber Poncho Pilgrim presented in a much different light.
This quick 5 minute video just covers Poncho'due south individual procedure of animating pixel art.
Don't consider this "the method" for animation or the only option for pixel work. But go along it equally ane method to employ to your toolbox while working on pixel projects.
Duelyst Assault Animation Tutorial
For a more than pragmatic approach to pixel animation have a look at this video guiding you through a sword swing animation.
This would exist super mutual for RPG games where characters make the same battle maneuvers.
Note this video is slimmed down quite a bit to merely explain the overall blitheness process. Simply the artist Adam Kling says it took over 7 hours to complete the whole matter so don't expect to master this technique right away.
Pixel Art Walk Bicycle
Let'due south get even simpler with this tutorial on a bones walk wheel animation.
Outside of a bouncing ball this is perhaps the easiest animation to attempt.
And this is even easier in pixel art because you're designing just the movements of the legs and artillery while the torso remains mostly stable.
Don't go me wrong: this is tough.
But a defended pixel artist(or aspiring artist) will put in the effort to figure this out.
Aseprite Animation Timeline
The incredible Aseprite software is used by professional pixel artists effectually the world.
It lets y'all pattern, animate, and produce high-level pixel art gear up for a game or for use as a portfolio slice.
Granted the software does cost money so unfortunately it'south not gratuitous & open source. But if y'all want to learn Aseprite you lot tin do and so for free with YouTube at your side.
I specifically recommend this video on animative in Aseprite. It's pretty brusque but covers a lot of what you lot'd demand to become comfy with the interface.
Wood Grain & Wooden Crate Tutorial
Talented artist Peter Daniel Berg shares this fun tutorial on how to design realistic crate patterns.
The wooden pattern is easy to repeat but tough to really recreate on your ain. With Peter'south video you'll learn how to craft a 2nd wooden palette box and apply that anywhere you lot like.
One time you become familiar with this process you can even use it to design a custom crate icon from scratch.
Overworld Pixel Painting Brush Effect
Games with a top-downward view oftentimes have a type of "overworld" setup. This is often outside the playable game where you tin can select your next location.
Well this tutorial explains the overworld setup all likewise well and helps y'all pattern a usable interface with brush techniques.
You'll learn to piece of work with grass & sand textures along with tileable water patterns too.
Scale & Resize Pixel Art In Photoshop
So you lot've designed your pixel fine art and you desire to use information technology for a final slice. But peradventure you've designed it also small or you want to upscale it for a larger resolution image.
How the heck practice you resize pixel-perfect artwork?
This free video can assist. It's a three-infinitesimal guide to resizing pixel art in Photoshop and information technology's the all-time style for beginners to empathize the resizing process(in uncomplicated terms).
Keep in mind this is certainly non the just way to resize your piece of work. But it's a strong starting betoken that should make sense to everyone.
Sprite Icon Tutorial for RPG Maker
I've never personally used RPG Maker but I know it'due south a actually popular program for pixel art.
If yous're familiar with the software or take access to an older version then check out this intro video for beginners.
It'll go you lot super familiar with the interface and the process of designing pixel art inside the RPG Maker program. Definitely valuable for young & upcoming game artists.
Shading Sprites
I've yet to notice the single "best" pixel art shading tutorial on the web, but I will say this i is pretty darn shut.
Over l minutes you'll learn how to shade a Pokémon creature with detailed precision. And yep, I did say almost an hour of watching someone shade their pixel art. It'south either grueling or captivating based on how much yous honey this medium.
Naturally this process is quite different than drawing a Pokémon so this shading guide virtually feels like you lot're learning the foundations of low-cal all over over again. The bones fundamentals of light & shadow are the aforementioned, but the process will experience incredibly strange to artists.
Nevertheless this is one video you'll really want to watch if you're struggling with realistic shading.
Delight note in advance this tutorial does not assistance you create the monster from scratch. Instead yous start with a creature that'south more often than not colored and you're watching a 50 infinitesimal guide on altering those colors with proper shading.
Aqua Pixelart Timelapse
Speedpainting videos are non really tutorials. But they are educational if you can watch & learn from them.
That's why I still desire to include a few in this listing. First is this Aqua pixel pattern created with some crazy old software you'll probably never find: Graphic symbol Maker 1995.
So I won't say this is easy to follow with the same exact steps. Information technology runs about v minutes and the process moves fast.
Simply if you can watch and run across how they're designing Aqua you lot can replicate your own Kingdom Hearts pixel artwork in a like style.
Super Mario World 3 Pixel Fine art Speedpaint
The DYA Games YouTube channel is total of phenomenal speedpaints. They oftentimes have older games and reimagine them in a different pixel art style, or take 3D games and convert them into 2D pixel fine art.
One of my favorite speed videos is this 1 designing a restyle of the SMB3 NES graphics.
You get to sentinel the unabridged blueprint with each trivial icon you'd usually run across on the screen. The coins, the mushrooms, the overworld views, everything.
Over again: non a tutorial but still useful if y'all can follow what they're doing.
Crash Bandicoot Pixel Art Speedpaint
Some of you were probable around during the PS1 days of Crash Bandicoot. Or peradventure you're familiar with the HD remake of those classic games.
That whole series is just incredible and the game'southward creators Naughty Dog even released a fun documentary about the game'southward blueprint & the studio'southward history.
Well cheque out this crazy video fabricated by DYA Games. They design their own reimagined screen of Crash Bandicoot entirely in pixel art.
Granted this is merely one scene of the game merely information technology'southward more than than plenty to accept your jaw driblet when you see the final effect.
Platformer Tiles in Adobe Breathing
Very few artists remember of Adobe Flash(now Animate) for pixel art.
But with Adobe's sleek rebranding it really does feel like a focused program just for digital animation. And with this crawly tutorial by your side you can easily pick upwards Adobe Animate for pixel art.
This tutorial only teaches you to design a elementary platformer only it'south a dandy way to learn the software.
As well it'south worth mentioning that Bloop Blitheness has their own Adobe Animate course for beginners. It's not gratuitous merely might be worth the price tag you desire a really stiff starting point with this software.
You can learn more in our full review of Bloop'due south course system and meet what yous think.
Grass Hills and Grass Slopes
Sloped pixel graphics are tough considering you're designing individual pixels at an angle. Yous desire to go on the angle realistic while designing clean edges.
Nobody would be able to figure that out first endeavor and it really helps to have someone guide you.
That'due south the value of this tutorial published by Overbound Game Studio.
It's actually pretty brusk totaling about 6 minutes of didactics. But considering this topic is pretty tough it'south a video you should cheque out if you're struggling with backgrounds or sloped objects.
Blithe BG Tutorial in Photoshop
Nosotros finally come up to the 1000 Photoshop animation tutorial for pixel art. This is the crème de la crème for background art, pixel animation, or anyone doing pixel work in Photoshop.
Artist Jaysen Batchelor published this hour-long video as a guide for newbies who want to sympathise pixel art animation techniques.
The goal is to animate a background in Photoshop and design the entire affair from scratch. Yep it's quite an undertaking.
But if you're really hoping to utilise Photoshop for most of your piece of work and then it's a no brainer to at least save the video for subsequently.
Information technology can be challenging but in my stance information technology'due south well worth the effort.
Wall Texture Tutorial
This final Photoshop video tutorial teaches y'all how to design tileable wall backgrounds with brick or concrete textures.
This design is meant for use in a dungeon with grey bricks littering every corridor. But the techniques can be applied to all tileable backgrounds so what y'all'll learn here shouldn't feel limiting.
If you lot're brand new to pixel fine art peradventure focus your energy on the earlier tutorials I mentioned at the start of this listing. You need to understand how to setup Photoshop before you lot tin acquire to really blueprint pixel art with information technology.
Only the more you exercise the meliorate y'all'll go and the faster you'll get a truthful pixel art prodigy.
Source: https://conceptartempire.com/pixel-art-tutorials/
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