YUS!*

[Helm]

http://www.sylpher.com/helm/c641.png

Did anyone of you own a c64 back in the day? Well this is FLI mode c64 artwork, done in 2004, which is funny in a perverse way. 16 colours palette, about like hmm 12 used? Don't remember. Double aspect ratio and everything. YUS!

*jixby is credited.

[MLE]

YUS :)

[FS]

That is some beautiful pixel art. WIIIIIIIIIIIDE pixels.

YUS

[Spectre X]

It's beautiful in its simplicity.

And it looks shiny.

It's hypnotic, really. I'm going to stare at it for a while.

EDIT: Whoooo, gettin' dizzy.

[AChimp]

:love

[pjalne]

I just figured out a way to do that, but it's a lot of work. Is there a simple filter you can use?

[Jixby Phillips]

i like what you've done with yus! hes looking real sharp!

[Anonymous]

I just figured out a way to do that, but it's a lot of work. Is there a simple filter you can use?
Uh, no.

[pjalne]

Nice work, then.

[Helm]

Use a program that supports custom brushes. (I used Pro Motion) set the brush to x = 2 pixels, y = 1 pixel. Then set an invisible grid to the same x,y. Do not move diagonically when placing pixels or you will break the grid (if using Pro Motion, just use the setting 'Dotted Paint' which doesn't move diagonically anyhow). Use the c64 palette. Do not use more than 5 (4 is too hardcore for me) different colours in each 8x8 tile. Pixel.

Edit: Just thought of this. If you feel like an asshole, pixel something in the regular way, but really compressed, vertically. Use the c64 palette, and obey the 5 colour per 4x8 tile rule and then when you're done, double the horizontial size of the whole image. But it will look like crap unless you really know what you're doing.


I'm glad you like, jixby. I'll send you a copy of the comic when it comes out, you'll be credited as creator in there too.

[pjalne]

Yeah, that second one was what I had in mind.

[Helm]

http://www.sylpher.com/helm/c642.png

New shit. This is with an added restriction. only 4 colours per 8x8 tile, and one colour (black in this case) is universal. So if black isn't used on a tile, you get only 3 colours. I think it turned out alright.

[Spectre X]

It's marvelous.

[Helm]

He just won't stop! Here's a self portrait:

http://www.sylpher.com/helm/c643.png

[Anonymous]

holy fucking shit

[FS]

I agree. That's amazing.

[Spectre X]

God damnit those are some totally rad sideburns.

[Helm]

I'm glad you like it! The c64 palette is easily the best 16 colour palette for this sort of thing. EGA destroys eyes. This is pretty unsaturated and nice.

[Dole]

Go back in time and make loads of cool games for the C64. GO ON!

[Mockery]

Helm, I don't comment too often cuz I always get sidetracked with other shit, but I love these pics. The fact that you take it to the extremes of working with the various classic game color palettes makes it that much cooler.

:rock

[jin]

Those defy the limits of even being awesome. :O

[Helm]

http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox14.png

This is 16 colours (out of 41354 machine palette or how many the amiga had) square pixels. Man, it's so easy to work like this after c64 stuff. Anyhow, this is the distortion I've been using for the last what? 4 years? Anyhow, I love it so I thought I'd draw it. There it is. Step on it.

[Sacks]

I... I love you. :(

[FS]

Do you have any specific method of making these? Like, posterizing/reducing colors on a photo and using that as reference? Or do you get a picture and just do it?

[Helm]

I'm afraid you do this sort of thing the hard way, FS. No picture base. I have the pedal but it's not like I modeled it to get it just right. Basically from memory and by sneaking peeks down on the floor. No posterization. You go at it pixel by pixel.

Basic shapes, basic palette made in advance:
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox1.png

Now, in regular art, most teachers can't stretch how important is to go from general to specific. In pixel art we piss on that concept and go for the detail right off:
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox4.png

More detail, dithering:
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox7.png

Detail. Detail. Smudges. Tinting. Headache:
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox10.png

Detail amost all in place. Sort of done with the pixel placement:
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox12.png

Anti-aliasing every little bit. Done otherwise.
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox12.png

Final palette. I never use simple lightness colour ramps. I like to tint stuff. Doesn't this look better than the step before it?
http://www.sylpher.com/helm/stompbox14.png

[Guitar Woman]

Even I have to admit, that is pretty cool. :rock

[AChimp]

It looks like Fall-Out. :eek

[liquidstatik]

Fuck those are awesome. :o