Pixel Art Cross Stitch

Tutorial: Pixel Art Paint a Cross Stitch Look

PhotoImpact v.8

Could be done in earlier or higher Version.

Easy to intermediate

Tools: Paint Brush

Description: Learn how to paint a cross stitch look in Pixel Art in two different look and ways to do it.

Extra needed: lots of patient.

In this tutorial, we are going to look at two different result of Cross stitch, and different ways to achieve it. As I did play with it more, I did try to find short cuts and a faster way for making those. Also this type of pixels art are big enough when you compose a graphic to be print on a note card, that is what is very interesting about it. OK let's started.
First I have prepare my design. I have decide to make violet flower with ribbons and leafs, this is an old cross stitch design that my Grand Ma use to do. Once I have my design done I'm able to choose my colors. In order to make my color palette I prepare some rectangles big enough so I could write down the hex number on it, since the color picker is not always accurate, this way if I want to make further design with the same type to match I'll have the exact color to match, and also save in my easy palette as well as a gif image for backup. Below you will see the color palette I did use. It is very important when you choose your colors to keep the same tone shade. Since mostly embroideries threads for cross stitch are not shiny and I wanted to reproduce Grand Ma's heirlooms this is where in the window color picker I did choose most of my tone color, inside the black rectangle, the higher it is the brighter the color would be. Once I decide of the tone value ( color) I decide for the shade and then, on the bar on the side I decide if I want a dark , medium or a light color from it. Once that is settle I add to my custom color. I fill in one of my rectangle and right click on Ulead color picker to pick up my hex number and highlight copy and paste with the text tool selected and active on my rectangle. So this way I have my color showing and my hex number as well for my color palette. It may takes some time to do this, but sure is a lot worth, specially if you want to do a matching set design.


There is different ways to do a shading to obtain a cross stitch look, it all depends what result you want to achieve and where you would like to use your pixels art. The first type of shading zoom at 400% is a 3 x 3 pixels, this one is for small pixels projects, but for bigger projects would required lots of work. The second type of shading, zoom at 800% is a 4 x 4 pixels. This one is my favorite, since I can do small and big projects with this one and have a lovely result on what ever size graphic I want to do. And the third one, zoom at 800% is a 6 x 6 pixels. I prefer this one for bigger projects and for a different look, it is a matter of taste and depends of the end result you would like to have.
The examples here are done with the 3 x 3 pixels shading.
Here I did use the 4 x 4 pixels.
And finely, the 6 x 6 pixels. As you could see, they all look like cross stitch, but have a different end result. It all depends of the result you want to have and what you want to use your pixels art for. The choice is yours.
	The example on the left was done with a 4 x 4 pixels shading and zoom at 50% in the example on the left. They could make lovely note cards and web sets as well. Now let me show you different ways of painting those cross stitch. Let's go to the next page.