Pixel Art Cross Stitch 3

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.

We all like easy and fast ways to do things, well as for me I always like to make it easier and fast. One of the neatest feature that PhotoImpact has is the Grid. Since we are using a 3 x 3 pixels, we need to set up our grid. This is under file and preferences. Click on grid and you choose pixel and set them to be 3 x 3 pixels. Also I did change my color grid for a dark grey, this way I'm able to see my grid over very dark color and I don't have that grey color in the pixels art I want to make. Once you have set your grid click ok. Hey I don't see my grid!! Well you will have to click on view , then guideline and grid, and click on grid. Hum, your grid had darken your canvas, that's ok, when you zoom in at 800% you'll be ok and see your canvas very well.
	This example on the left is our violet we just made on the previous page with the grid view.
	Let's prepare for our short cuts. As you could see, from my color palette, I have prepare each color pattern with the shading on my 3 x 3 pixels. Each one of them were paint in mode, then the dark and light color shading pattern were merge as single object in order to have a nice little square shading pattern 3 x3 pixels. Did this for all my color shade of the flower. Next I did my outline in mode. You have to remember when making your outline that you are doing a 3 x 3 pixels square for your shading pattern. What I do suggest here, is that you save all your little square pattern in your Easy Palette and one as a ufo for backup. You may want to save your outline too.
	OK, Let's the fun begin. Click on your yellow square pattern, right click and duplicate. Now the only thing you have to do is position them in the center for your pistils. Do the same for the orange ones. Select the pistils and send to back.
	Next, I choose the darker square pattern, duplicate as many time as you need and position them for your darkest shadow. It is faster to select your outline and bring to front then to select all your little squares pattern to send to back.
	And we keep going with our cast shadow color, duplicate as many time you need and position.
	And we repeat our step with the next darkest color we have left.
	And so on.
	And finely with the last color. Select all object and merge as single object, you may want to save one of your final result in your EP.
	Cool hey, that was pretty fast. Now you just have to hide your background and save as transparent gif.
	This is an example of leafs I did made.
	And here did duplicate the violet, use the flip transform tool, remember no rotation, I did position them over the leafs. The possibilities of design are endless, flowers, animals, peoples, scene, you name it and they could be done. Hope you did enjoy the tutorial and have learn new ways to have fun with pixels art. Don't forget to post your result in the Pixels Art Workshop at PhotoImpact International Board. You must be a register member and the good news it is free. Here is your Award, don't forget to grab it.