Interested in learning
 

I'm quite interested in learning how to make graphics for graal and I have no idea where to start and what to do. I know the basics but I'm just interested how some of you pixel artists out there started out and if there are any tips and tricks of the trade I should know.

Anything to increase my knowledge would be helpful.

Thanks :)

First of all, as far as i know, and have been told, the lineart, or the outline, is just as important, if not more important then the shading, you can't get something to look good if the lineart is just bad.
I've made some tutorials for shading. i'm not sure if they're that good, but i think they cover some of the basics, and some techniques you can apply.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...g?t=1262619371
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...g?t=1262619468

I will also pm you a link to a pixelart site, and directly to a page with al sorts of tutorials.

programs to use:

I prefer MSpaint myself, as it is simple to use, and has no auto AA(anti-aliasing), but there are all sorts of programs to use, and you could probably google stuff like gimp, paint.net, photoshop, stuff like that, everything is suitable.

I hope i haven't been saying too basic stuff for you, and that most of this is useful.

I thank you for your input :)

Much thanks :D

Practice, practice, practice, patience, and more practice. Seriously.

Traditional art(pencil and paper) will take you a long way.

this

*bump*

Because this is a good tutorial. However, Liberated, you might want to mention your use of an 'add noise' tool in Step 8. When you say 'shade like this,' you omit the explanation for how one shades 'like that.' Don't be ashamed of using a shortcut, but you should at least explain how it works.

Doesn't really look like it. I agree that "shade like this" is not sufficient though.

I did not use "add noise",
i use paint ;)
pasted the tutorial together in photoshop.

with "this way", i ment the way of going from your middle colour, onto your darker and lighter colours, that i explained earlier in the tutorial. I guess i haven't been clear at all in this tutorial.

I appreciate the fact that you think this is a good tutorial tho :).

The main part that appears that way is the butt of the gun, where all the red is.

yeah i was pretty sure you ment that part, it is all just manual.
And i personally do mind using tools like add noise, because you cant predict how it looks, as it uses a randomizer.

Well, there is a difference between responsible and irresponsible use of add noise functions. The problem is, once newbie spriters discover it, they have the tendency to abuse it in all the wrong ways. I may address that in a new blog article I've started on writing, though.

Also, some programs support uniform, gaussian, and random noising, which helps to control how noise is distributed. So there is a good way to do it, but it should only be done sparingly.