From d4c835c33ed4ed9add5a13f0a4745cdc8491fcaf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Akshay Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2020 21:37:20 +0530 Subject: new post: Pixel art in GIMP --- docs/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP/index.html | 194 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ docs/style.css | 2 +- posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP.md | 134 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 329 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) create mode 100644 docs/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP/index.html create mode 100644 posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP.md diff --git a/docs/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP/index.html b/docs/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP/index.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3122f13 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,194 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Pixel Art In GIMP · peppe.rs + +
+
+ ⟵ Back + View Raw +
+
+ 09/04 — 2020 +
+ + 53.54 + + cm +   + + 4.7 + + min +
+
+ + Pixel Art In GIMP + +
+

I've always been an admirer of pixel art, because of it’s +simplicity and it's resemblance to bitmap font design. +Recently, I decided to take the dive and make some art of my +own.

+ +

I used GIMP because I am fairly familiar with it. Aseprite +seems to be the editor of choice for animated pixel art +though.

+ +

Setting up the canvas

+ +

Picking a canvas size is daunting. Too small, and you won’t +be able to fit in enough detail to make a legible piece. Too +big and you've got too many pixels to work with!

+ +

I would suggest starting out with anywhere between 100x100 +and 200x200. Here’s a sample +configuration.

+ +

Sometimes I use a 10x10 grid, View > Show Grid and Edit > +Preferences > Default Grid > Spacing, but that can get +jarring at times, so I throw down a couple of guides, drag +right or down from the left or top gutters for vertical and +horizontal guides respectively.

+ +

Choosing a Brush

+ +

The most important part of our setup is the brush. Use the +Pencil Tool (n on the keyboard) for hard edge drawings. +Here's a small comparison if you don't know the difference +between a hard edge and a soft edge:

+ +

hard edge vs soft edge

+ +

I turn the size down all the way to 1 ([ on the keyboard). +Set Dynamics off. Here’s a +sample brush configuration.

+ +

Laying down the pixels!

+ +

With the boring stuff out of the way, we can start with our +piece. I usually follow a three step process:

+ +
    +
  • draw a rough outline
    • +
  • fill in the shadows
    • +
  • add highlights
    • +
+ +

But this process are better explained with an example: an +onigiri. Let us start off with a 100x100 canvas.

+ +

Drawing the outline

+ +

For the most part, our figure will be symmetric. If you are +on GIMP 2.10+, you can take advantage of the Symmetry +Painting feature. Go ahead and enable vertical symmetry, +Window > Dockable Dialogs > Symmetry Painting and +Symmetry Painting > Symmetry > Mirror > Vertical. Your +outline might look something like this:

+ +

rice_outline

+ +

Go ahead and fill it in with the fill tool (Shift + b on +the keyboard), add in some seaweed as well, preferably on a +different layer. You can toggle symmetry on and off to save +yourself some time.

+ +

with_seaweed

+ +

Shadows

+ +

For now, let us focus on the shadows on the object itself, +we'll come back to the shadows cast by the object on the +surface later.

+ +

Shadows on any surface always follow the shape of the +surface. A spherical onigiri would have a circular shadow:

+ +

riceball_shadow

+ +

A couple of noticeable changes:

+ +

Layers: The layer containing the seaweed has been hidden.
+Color: The color of the shadow is just a slightly +lighter version of the original object (reduce the Value on +the HSV scale).
+Area: The shadow does not go all the way (notice the bottom +edges).

+ +

The shadow does not go all the way because we will be +filling in that area with another, darker shadow! An image +might explain better:

+ +

shadow_all

+ +

To emulate soft lights, reduce the value by 2 to 3 points +every iteration. Notice how area 1 is much larger than +area 4. This is because an onigiri resembles an oblate +spheroid, a sphere that is slightly fatter around the +middle, and areas 1 and 2 catch more light than areas +3 and 4.

+ +

Do the same with the seaweed. The seaweed, being a smaller, +flatter object, doesn't cast much of a shadow, so stop with +1 or 2 iterations of the gradient:

+ +

shadow_weed

+ +

We're getting there!

+ +

Highlights

+ +

This step handles the details on the strongly illuminated +portions of the object. Seaweed is a bit glossy, lighten the +edges to make it seem shiny. The rice is not as shiny, but +it does form an uneven surface. Add in some shadows to +promote the idea of rice grains. Here is the finished +result:

+ +

highlights

+ +

Finishing Touches

+ +

Some color correction and a e s t h e t i c Japanese text +later, our piece is complete!

+ +

small_onigiri

+ +

Hold on, why is it so tiny? Well, that's because our canvas +was 100x100, head over to Image > Scale Image, set +Quality > Interpolation to None and scale it up to +700x700, et voilà!

+ +

big_onigiri

+ +
+ +
+ Hi. Subscribe +

I'm Akshay, I go by nerd or nerdypepper on the internet.

+

+ I am a compsci undergrad, Rust programmer and an enthusiastic Vimmer. + I write open-source stuff to pass time. I also design fonts: scientifica, curie. +

+

Send me a mail at nerdy@peppe.rs or a message at nerd@irc.rizon.net.

+
+ + ⟵ Back + View Raw +
+
+ + diff --git a/docs/style.css b/docs/style.css index f95623f..898cbee 100644 --- a/docs/style.css +++ b/docs/style.css @@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ img { max-width: 100%; border: 2px solid var(--dark-white); border-radius: 0.4rem; - box-shadow: 0 0 1.5rem 0.5rem rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15); + box-shadow: 0 0 1.5rem 0.5rem rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10); } hr { diff --git a/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP.md b/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd9e7ad --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/pixel_art_in_GIMP.md @@ -0,0 +1,134 @@ +I've always been an admirer of pixel art, because of it's +simplicity and it's resemblance to bitmap font design. +Recently, I decided to take the dive and make some art of my +own. + +I used GIMP because I am fairly familiar with it. Aseprite +seems to be the editor of choice for animated pixel art +though. + +### Setting up the canvas + +Picking a canvas size is daunting. Too small, and you won't +be able to fit in enough detail to make a legible piece. Too +big and you've got too many pixels to work with! + +I would suggest starting out with anywhere between 100x100 +and 200x200. [Here's](https://u.peppe.rs/u9.png) a sample +configuration. + +Sometimes I use a 10x10 grid, `View > Show Grid` and `Edit > +Preferences > Default Grid > Spacing`, but that can get +jarring at times, so I throw down a couple of guides, drag +right or down from the left or top gutters for vertical and +horizontal guides respectively. + +### Choosing a Brush + +The most important part of our setup is the brush. Use the +Pencil Tool (`n` on the keyboard) for hard edge drawings. +Here's a small comparison if you don't know the difference +between a hard edge and a soft edge: + +![hard edge vs soft edge](https://u.peppe.rs/kz.png) + +I turn the size down all the way to 1 (`[` on the keyboard). +Set `Dynamics` off. [Here's](https://u.peppe.rs/Fs.png) a +sample brush configuration. + +### Laying down the pixels! + +With the boring stuff out of the way, we can start with our +piece. I usually follow a three step process: + + - draw a rough outline + - fill in the shadows + - add highlights + +But this process are better explained with an example: an +onigiri. Let us start off with a 100x100 canvas. + +#### Drawing the outline + +For the most part, our figure will be symmetric. If you are +on GIMP 2.10+, you can take advantage of the Symmetry +Painting feature. Go ahead and enable vertical symmetry, +`Window > Dockable Dialogs > Symmetry Painting` and +`Symmetry Painting > Symmetry > Mirror > Vertical`. Your +outline might look something like this: + +![rice_outline](https://u.peppe.rs/mn.png) + +Go ahead and fill it in with the fill tool (`Shift + b` on +the keyboard), add in some seaweed as well, preferably on a +different layer. You can toggle symmetry on and off to save +yourself some time. + +![with_seaweed](https://u.peppe.rs/xu.png) + +#### Shadows + +For now, let us focus on the shadows on the object itself, +we'll come back to the shadows cast by the object on the +surface later. + +Shadows on any surface always follow the shape of the +surface. A spherical onigiri would have a circular shadow: + +![riceball_shadow](https://u.peppe.rs/FU.png) + +A couple of noticeable changes: + +**Layers**: The layer containing the seaweed has been hidden. +**Color**: The color of the shadow is just a slightly +lighter version of the original object (reduce the Value on +the HSV scale). +**Area**: The shadow does not go all the way (notice the bottom +edges). + +The shadow does not go all the way because we will be +filling in that area with another, darker shadow! An image +might explain better: + +![shadow_all](https://u.peppe.rs/Br.png) + +To emulate soft lights, reduce the value by 2 to 3 points +every iteration. Notice how area `1` is much larger than +area `4`. This is because an onigiri resembles an oblate +spheroid, a sphere that is slightly fatter around the +middle, and areas `1` and `2` catch more light than areas +`3` and `4`. + +Do the same with the seaweed. The seaweed, being a smaller, +flatter object, doesn't cast much of a shadow, so stop with +1 or 2 iterations of the gradient: + +![shadow_weed](https://u.peppe.rs/T3.png) + +We're getting there! + +#### Highlights + +This step handles the details on the strongly illuminated +portions of the object. Seaweed is a bit glossy, lighten the +edges to make it seem shiny. The rice is not as shiny, but +it does form an uneven surface. Add in some shadows to +promote the idea of rice grains. Here is the finished +result: + +![highlights](https://u.peppe.rs/VE.png) + +### Finishing Touches + +Some color correction and `a e s t h e t i c` Japanese text +later, our piece is complete! + +![small_onigiri](https://u.peppe.rs/cn.png) + +Hold on, why is it so tiny? Well, that's because our canvas +was 100x100, head over to `Image > Scale Image`, set +`Quality > Interpolation` to `None` and scale it up to +700x700, et voilà! + +![big_onigiri](https://u.peppe.rs/CH.png) + -- cgit v1.2.3