Piskel | Getting Started Pixel Art Drawing

TJ FREE
13 Feb 202008:57

TLDRThis tutorial introduces the basics of pixel art and sprite animation using Piskel. It covers the essential drawing and color changing tools, including the pen, paint bucket, eraser, and selection tools. The video demonstrates how to create, edit, and move pixel art, as well as how to change colors and use the stroke tool for straight lines. Viewers are encouraged to experiment with Piskel's features and look forward to the next video on creating animations.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Piskel is a pixel art and sprite animation tool available for Windows, Linux, Mac, and as a web app.
  • 🔍 The initial workspace is a 32x32 pixel canvas, with zoom capabilities using the mouse scroll wheel or keyboard shortcuts.
  • ✏️ Drawing is done by left-clicking to place pixels, with the option to hold and draw or fill multiple pixels at once.
  • 🎨 The paint bucket tool can fill closed areas with a selected color, and transparency is available for erasing or modifying artwork.
  • 🖼️ Users can create new projects or frames, and erase frames using the trashcan icon for a clean slate.
  • 🖌️ The pen tool allows for drawing with primary and secondary colors, with the option to switch between them for different effects.
  • 🔄 The eraser tool and the ability to right-click with the pen tool in transparent mode provide flexibility in editing pixel art.
  • 📏 The rectangle and circle drawing tools offer the ability to create basic shapes within the pixel grid constraints.
  • 🔄 The selection tool enables moving and manipulating specific areas of the artwork, with the Shift key for more precise control.
  • 🔄 The lasso selection tool allows for freehand selection of pixels, useful for detailed or irregular shapes.
  • 🎨 The 'paint all pixels of the same color' feature simplifies changing multiple colors at once across the artwork.
  • 📏 The stroke tool facilitates drawing straight lines with adjustable thickness, enhancing the precision of pixel art.

Q & A

  • What is Piskel and what can it be used for?

    -Piskel is a pixel art drawing tool that can be used for creating pixel art and sprite animations. It can be downloaded for Windows, Linux, and Mac, or run in a web browser at Piskelapp.com.

  • How can I download and install Piskel on my computer?

    -You can download Piskel for Windows, Linux, and Mac from the official website. Alternatively, you can run it in your web browser by visiting Piskelapp.com.

  • What is the default drawing area size when you first open Piskel?

    -The default drawing area size when you first open Piskel is 32 pixels wide by 32 pixels high.

  • How can I zoom in and out in Piskel?

    -You can zoom in and out in Piskel by using the scroll wheel on your mouse or by pressing the plus and minus keys on your keyboard.

  • What is the basic action of drawing a pixel in Piskel?

    -In Piskel, you can draw a pixel by left-clicking once to draw a single pixel or by left-clicking and holding to draw and fill in multiple pixels at once.

  • How can I fill an entire area with a specific color using the paint bucket tool?

    -To fill an entire area with a specific color, select the paint bucket tool, choose the color, and click on the area you want to fill. It will fill in everything in that color within a closed area.

  • What is the purpose of the eraser tool in Piskel?

    -The eraser tool in Piskel allows you to erase pixels by left-clicking on the areas you want to remove. It can be used to correct mistakes or modify your pixel art.

  • How can I change the color of the pixels I am drawing with?

    -You can change the color of the pixels you are drawing with by left-clicking on the color palette and selecting a new color.

  • What is the difference between the pen tool and the eraser tool in Piskel?

    -The pen tool is used for drawing pixels, while the eraser tool is used for erasing them. The pen tool can also have a secondary color set, allowing for right-clicking to draw with the secondary color, effectively acting as an eraser for the primary color.

  • How can I select and move specific parts of my drawing in Piskel?

    -You can use the selection tool to select specific parts of your drawing. Once selected, you can hold down the Shift key and move the selection to reposition it within your canvas.

  • What is the stroke tool in Piskel and how can I use it?

    -The stroke tool in Piskel is used to draw straight lines. You can adjust the thickness of the line by changing the pen size. To draw a line, left-click and hold, then drag your mouse.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Pixel Art with Piskel

This paragraph introduces the video tutorial on using Piskel for creating pixel art and sprite animations. The speaker, Rendon, provides an overview of the basic drawing and color-changing tools available in Piskel. The video covers how to download and install Piskel for various operating systems and how to access it through a web browser. It begins with the basic interface and functionality, such as zooming in and out, drawing individual pixels, and using the paint bucket tool for filling areas with color. The importance of color selection and the use of the undo function are also highlighted.

05:01

🖌️ Advanced Drawing Techniques in Piskel

The second paragraph delves into more advanced drawing techniques within Piskel. It discusses the use of the pen tool for detailed pixel-by-pixel drawing, the eraser tool for corrections, and the utility of having a primary and secondary color for alternating between two shades. The paragraph also covers the use of the selection tool for moving drawn objects, the lasso selection for freehand selection, and the paint all pixels of the same color feature for batch color changes. Additionally, it introduces the stroke tool for drawing straight lines with adjustable thickness, the shape selection tool for selecting and moving objects of the same color, and the color picker tool for quick color changes. The paragraph concludes with a teaser for the next video, which will cover frame-by-frame animation and additional tools.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pixel Art

Pixel art is a form of digital art where images are created on the pixel level. It is often used in video games and animations, characterized by a blocky, low-resolution style reminiscent of early video games. In the video, the host is teaching viewers how to create pixel art using Piskel, starting with the basics of drawing individual pixels and using tools to form shapes and patterns.

💡Piskel

Piskel is a free online pixel art editor that allows users to create pixel art and sprite animations. It is accessible through a web browser or as a downloadable application for various operating systems. The video script mentions Piskel as the tool used to demonstrate the creation of pixel art, highlighting its features such as offline functionality and web-based accessibility.

💡Drawing Tools

Drawing tools in the context of pixel art refer to the digital instruments used to create artwork on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The script introduces various tools available in Piskel, such as the pen tool for drawing individual pixels, the paint bucket for filling areas with color, and the eraser for removing pixels. These tools are essential for the pixel art creation process.

💡Color Changing Tools

Color changing tools are used to modify the colors of the pixels within a pixel art project. The video explains how to use the color picker to select new colors and the paint bucket tool to fill areas with the chosen color. These tools are vital for adding depth and detail to pixel art by allowing artists to experiment with different color schemes.

💡Sprite Animations

Sprite animations refer to the process of creating moving images or characters within a video game or animation. The script hints at a future tutorial on creating sprite animations using Piskel, which involves adding multiple frames to represent different stages of motion, a key aspect of bringing characters to life in digital media.

💡Zoom

Zoom is the ability to adjust the magnification level of the artwork being created or viewed. In the script, the host demonstrates how to zoom in and out using the mouse scroll wheel or keyboard shortcuts to navigate the pixel canvas more precisely, which is particularly useful in pixel art for detailed work.

💡Pixel

A pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image, essentially a single point of color that contributes to the overall picture when combined with other pixels. The script frequently mentions pixels, emphasizing the granular level of control required in pixel art where each pixel is deliberately placed.

💡Eraser Tool

The eraser tool is used to remove pixels in pixel art, effectively 'erasing' parts of the image. The video script describes how to switch to the eraser tool and use it to delete specific pixels or areas, which is an important function for correcting mistakes or refining artwork.

💡Selection Tool

The selection tool allows artists to select a group of pixels within their artwork to move, edit, or manipulate as a single unit. The script explains how to use the selection tool to isolate certain areas of the pixel art for precise movement or editing, showcasing its utility in organizing complex images.

💡Lasso Selection

Lasso selection is a tool that enables freehand selection of pixels, allowing for more organic or irregularly shaped selections. The video describes using the lasso tool to select a group of pixels for movement, which is particularly useful when dealing with intricate or detailed areas of pixel art.

💡Stroke Tool

The stroke tool is used to draw straight lines in pixel art. The script mentions adjusting the thickness of the stroke to create lines of varying widths, which can add emphasis or define edges within the artwork. This tool is useful for creating clean, defined shapes and structures.

💡Shape Selection

Shape selection is a feature that automatically selects all pixels of the same color that are adjacent to one another, either horizontally or vertically. The video script illustrates using shape selection to move or recolor groups of pixels efficiently, streamlining the editing process in pixel art.

💡Color Picker

The color picker tool allows users to select a color from anywhere on the screen, updating the currently active color for drawing or editing. The script shows how the color picker can be used to quickly change colors by simply hovering over and clicking on a desired color within the artwork.

Highlights

Introduction to Piskel, a pixel art and sprite animation tool.

Piskel can be downloaded for Windows, Linux, and Mac, or used online at Piskel app.

Basic navigation includes zooming in and out using the mouse scroll wheel or keyboard shortcuts.

Drawing tools allow for pixel-by-pixel drawing or filling in multiple pixels at once.

The paint bucket tool fills in entire areas with a selected color.

Undoing actions with Ctrl+Z and changing colors for the paint bucket.

Creating new projects or frames for animation.

Erasing pixels with the eraser tool or right-clicking with the pen tool.

Setting primary and secondary colors for drawing and erasing.

Drawing shapes like rectangles and circles within pixel constraints.

Using the selection tool to move drawn objects within the canvas.

The lasso selection for freehand drawing of selected pixels.

Changing all pixels of the same color using the paint all pixels of the same color tool.

Using the stroke tool to draw straight lines with adjustable thickness.

Shape selection tool to select and move all adjacent pixels of the same color.

Quick color changes with the color picker tool and maintaining a color palette.

Upcoming tutorial on creating frame-by-frame animations and exploring additional tools.