AtomWords Insights:
Pixel art is a digital image created by precisely placing individual square pixels on a grid, often with a limited palette, giving it a blocky, retro video‑game look.
- Lean into the grid. Pixel art lives on strict integer boundaries; turn off anti‑aliasing and force hard edges — any blur kills the aesthetic.
- Less is more with color. A palette of 8–16 hues creates that authentic 8‑bit feel; too many shades and it reads as a low‑res photo, not craft.
- Canvas size is your resolution. Work at tiny dimensions (32×32, 64×64) and upscale with nearest‑neighbor — that’s where the chunky silhouette sings.
- Use jaggies narratively. Diagonal lines show the blocky steps; embrace them as a feature for hair, fur, or architectural edges.
