Pixel artist

A pixel artist is a graphic designer who specializes in computer art and can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines which focus on visual communication and presentation.cite web
last = Stacey
first =Patrick
coauthors = Andrew Brown, Joe Nandhakumar
title=Making Sense of Stories: the development of a new mobile computer game
publisher=IEEE Computer Society; 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS'07)
date=2007
url =http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/HICSS.2007.328
accessdate=2008-08-05 [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22pixel+artist%22&hl=en&lr=&btnG=Search "On reflection, he said that 'I would have preferred to have brought in a more professional pixel artist.'"] [http://csdl.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/2007/2755/00/27550051a.pdf PDF version] ] cite web
last = Wiedemann
first =Julius
title=Taschen's 1000 Favorite Websites: Style Surfing
publisher=Taschen
isbn = 3822825867, 9783822825860
date=2007
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=Czn7dPUJYgwC
accessdate=2008-08-05] cite web
last = Middleton
first =Chris
coauthors = Luke Herriott
title=Instant Graphics: Source and Remix Images for Professional Design
publisher=Rotovision
isbn = 2940361495, 9782940361496
date=2007
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=IcCOu8nLV04C
accessdate=2008-08-05] Similar to chromoluminarism used in the pointillism style of painting, in which small distinct points of primary colors create the impression of a wide selection of secondary and intermediate colors, a pixel artist works with pixels, the smallest piece of information in an image. The technique relies on the perceptive ability of the eye and mind of the viewer to mix the color spots into a fuller range of tones. Pixel art is often utilitarian and anonymous. [cite web | last=Currie | first=Nick | title=Design Rockism | url=http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/design-rockism |] Pixel design can refer to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated.cite web
last = Hall
first =Branden
coauthors =Christian Cantrell, Mike Chambers, Phillip Torrone, Andreas Heim, Glenn Thomas, Steve Leone, Craig Kroeger, Fred Sharples, Bill Perry, Robert Hall, Markus Niedermeier
title=Flash Enabled: Flash Design & Development for Devices
publisher=New Riders
isbn = 0735711771, 9780735711778
date=2002
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=5w4cpMAZyAcC
accessdate=2008-08-05]

Common uses of pixel design include print and broadcast media, web design and games.cite web
last = Swanepoel
first =Kevin
coauthors =The One Club
title=One Show Interactive: Advertising's Best Interactive and New media:
publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
isbn = 0929837215, 9780929837215
date=Volume VI
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=nWOBIGPYY0IC
accessdate=2008-08-05] For example, a product package might include a logo or other artwork, organized text and pure design elements such as shapes and color which unify the piece. Composition is one of the most important features of design especially when utilizing pre-existing materials or using diverse elements. Pixologists can also be a specialist in computer animation such as Computer Animation Production System users in post production of animated films and rendering (computer graphics) images like raster graphics.cite web
title=So You Want to Be in Pixels: Glenn McQueen
publisher=PBS/Nova
date=November 2000
url =http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/mcqueen.html
accessdate=2008-08-05] cite web
title=So You Want to Be in Pixels: Ellen Poon
publisher=PBS/Nova
date=November 2000
url =http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/poon.html
accessdate=2008-08-05] cite web
title=Picture Revolution: Special Effects
publisher=McNeil Lehrer Newshour
date=12 February 1998
url =http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june98/movies_2-12.html
accessdate=2008-08-05]

In the 2000s, pixel artists such as Tyler West, Stephane Martiniere and Daniel Dociu have gained international notoriety and artistic recognition, due in part to the popularity of computer and video games.cite web
last = Snider
first =Mike
title=More Video Game Art is Now Museum Quality
publisher=USA Today
date=16 July 2008
url =http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2008-07-16-game-art_N.htm
accessdate=2008-08-05] cite web
title=Into the Pixel: Submission Qualifications
publisher=Into the Pixel
date=2008
url =http://www.intothepixel.com/artists/index.asp
accessdate=2008-08-05] For instance the E3 Media and Business Summit, an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry, has a concurrent juried art show, [http://www.intothepixel.com/ "Into the Pixel"] starting in 2003.cite web
last = Marchesano
first =Louis
coauthor = Davidicus
title=Into the Pixel video game art
publisher=BBC
date=18 July 2008
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7514493.stm
accessdate=2008-08-05] [cite news | title=Advisor | date=2009-07-09 | publisher=Into the Pixel | author=Ted Backman, Jeremy Bennett, Tristan Reidford | url=http://www.intothepixel.com/artwork-details/winner_details.asp?idArtwork=757 | accessdate=2008-07-14 ] [cite news | title=The first concept art from Half-Life 2: Episode Three | date=2008-07-10 | publisher=GamesRadar | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/half-life-2-episode-three/preview/the-first-concept-art-from-half-life-2-episode-three/a-20080710155756131049/g-20080710154921839018 | accessdate=2008-07-14 ] Jurist and Getty Research Institute curator Louis Marchesano noted that most of the works were concept pieces used in the development of games.

Pixel artists are also used in digital forensics, an emerging field, to both create and detect fraud in all forms of media including "the courts, politics and scientific journals". For instance, the Federal Office of Research Integrity has said that the percent of allegations of fraud they investigated involved contested images has risen from less than 3 in 1990 to 44.1 percent in 2006.cite web
last = Dreifus
first =Claudia
title=Proving That Seeing Shouldn’t Always Be Believing
publisher=New York Times
date=2 October 2007
url =http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/science/02conv.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
accessdate=2008-08-05]

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History

Computer art started in 1960s and by its nature is evolutionary since changes in technology and software directly effect what is possible. The term "pixel art" was first published by Adele Goldberg and Robert Flegal of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in 1982. [Adele Goldberg and Robert Flegal, "ACM president's letter: Pixel Art", "Communications of the ACM", Vol. 25, Issue 12, Dec. 1982.] Adobe Systems, founded in 1982, developed the Postscript language and digital fonts, making drawing painting and image manipulation software popular. Adobe Illustrator, a vector drawing program based on the Bezier curve, was introduced in 1987 and Adobe Photoshop followed in 1990.Wands, Bruce. (2006) Art of the Digital Age, Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-23817-0] Adobe Flash, a popular set of multimedia software used to add animation and interactivity to web pages, was introduced in 1996.

In the 2000s, pixel artists have been employed increasingly in video games and, to a lesser extent in music videos. These artists have remained somewhat underground until the mid-2000s.cite web
last = Pogue
first =David
title=Art, One Click at a Time
publisher=New York Times
date=15 September 2006
url =http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/15pogues-posts-2/
accessdate=2008-08-05] In 2006 Royksopp released "Remind Me", illustrated completely by pixel art, which the New York Times cited as amazing and hypnotic. (See video [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Royksopp+-+%22Remind+Me%22&search_type=&aq=f here] .)

Background

A pixel artist is one of the new media artists that employs technology while also utilizing traditional media and art forms.cite web
last = Adams
first =Cameron
coauthors =Mark Boulton, Andy Clarke, Simon Collison
title=Web Standards Creativity
publisher=Friends of ED
isbn = 1590598032, 9781590598030
date=2007
url =http://books.google.com/books?id=vtSnpFSx-lAC
accessdate=2008-08-05] They may have a fine arts background such as photography, painting or drawing but self-taught designers and artists are also able to accomplish this work. They are are often required to employ imaging and a full range of artistic and technological skills including those of conceptual artists.cite web
last = Remo
first =Chris
title=Interview: Nokia's Scott Foe - A Member Of The Reset Generation
publisher=Games On Deck/Think Services
date=28 July 2008
url =http://www.gamesondeck.com/feature/3747/interview_nokias_scott_foe__a_.php
accessdate=2008-08-05]

In digital imaging, a pixel ("pict"ure "el"ement) is the smallest piece of information in an image.Cite book | author=Rudolf F. Graf | title=Modern Dictionary of Electronics | date=1999 | publisher=Newnes | location=Oxford | isbn=0-7506-4331-5 | pages=569 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=o2I1JWPpdusC&pg=PA569&dq=pixel+intitle:%22Modern+Dictionary+of+Electronics%22+inauthor:graf&lr=&as_brr=0&ei=5ygASM3qHoSgiwH45-GIDA&sig=7tg-LuGdu6Njypaawi2bbkeq8pw] The word "pixel" is based on a contraction of "pix" (for "pictures") and "el" (for "element"); similar formations with "el" for "element" include voxel, luxel, and texel. [cite book
last = Foley
first = James D.
coauthors = Andries van Dam, John F. Hughes, Steven K. Feiner
title = Computer Graphics Principles and Practice
publisher = Addison-Wesley
series = The Systems Programming Series
year = 1990
isbn = 0-201-12110-7
chapter = spatial-partitioning representations
quote = These cells are often called "voxels" (volume elements), in analogy to pixels.] [cite book
last = Foley
first = James D.
coauthors = Andries van Dam, John F. Hughes, Steven K. Feiner
title = Computer Graphics Principles and Practice
publisher = Addison-Wesley
series = The Systems Programming Series
year = 1990
isbn = 0-201-12110-7
chapter = surface detail
quote = This approach is known as "texture mapping" or "pattern mapping"; the image is called a "texture map", and its individual elements are often called "texels".] Pixels are normally arranged in a regular 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using dots, squares, or rectangles. Each pixel is a sample of an original image, where more samples typically provide a more accurate representation of the original.cite web
last = Edwards
first =Teon
title=NOVA scienceNOW: Kryptos
publisher=NOVA
date=August 2007
url =http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/viewing/0301_03_nsn.html
accessdate=2008-08-05] The intensity of each pixel is variable; in color systems, each pixel has typically three or four components such as red, green, and blue, or cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Neuroplasticity is a key element of observing a many pixel images. While two individuals will observe the same photons reflecting off a photorealistic image and hitting their retinas, someone whose mind has been primed with the theory of pointillism may "see" a very different image as the image is interpreted in the visual cortex. [cite book
last =Schwartz
first =Jeffrey M.
authorlink =
coauthors = Begley, Sharon
title =The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force
publisher =Harper Perennial
date =2003
pages = 337
isbn = 0060988479]

Techniques

The total number of pixels ("image resolution"), and the amount of information in each pixel (often called "color depth") determine the quality of an image. For example, an image that stores 24 bits of color-information per pixel (the standard for computer displays since around 1995) can represent smoother degrees of shading than one that only stores 16 bits per pixel, but not as smooth as one that stores 48 bits. Likewise, an image sampled at 640 x 480 pixels (and therefore containing 307,200 pixels) will look rough and blocky compared to one sampled at 1280 x 1024 (1,310,720 pixels). Because it takes a large amount of data to store a high-quality image, computer software often uses data compression techniques to reduce this size for images stored on disk. Some techniques sacrifice information, and therefore image quality, in order to achieve a smaller file-size. Computer scientists refer to compression techniques that lose information as lossy compression.

Modern computer-monitors typically display about 72 to 130 pixels per inch (PPI), and some modern consumer printers can resolve 2400 dots per inch (DPI) or more; determining the most appropriate image resolution for a given printer-resolution can pose difficulties, since printed output may have a greater level of detail than a viewer can discern on a monitor. Typically, a resolution of 150 to 300 pixel per inch works well for 4-color process (CMYK) printing.

Drawings usually start with what is called the line art, which is the basic line that defines the item the artist intends to create. Line arts can be either traced over scanned drawings or hand drawn on the computer itself by the use of a mouse or a graphics tablet and are often shared among other pixel artists in diverse websites in order to receive some feedback. Other techniques, some resembling painting, also exist, such as knowledge of the color theory. The limited palette often implemented into pixel art usually promotes the use of dithering in order to achieve different shades and colors(when necessary); hand-made anti-aliasing is also used for smoother purposes. A pixel artist will exponentially increase the zoom of whatever they are working on to make adjustments as needed and then view the results until desired changes are achieved.

ee also

* Pixel art
* Demoscene
* Digital illustration
* Digital painting
* Fixed pixel display
* Onion skinning
* Pixel art scaling algorithms
* Quantization error
* Spriting

References

Further reading

* Dabbs, Alistair - [http://books.google.com/books?id=lQ54VMjLMsYC "Interface Design"] ; Watson-Guptill (2002); ISBN 0823025160, 9780823025169.
* NFGMan - [http://books.google.com/books?id=CoxRAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "Character Design for Mobile Devices"] ; Focal Press (2006); ISBN 0240808088, 9780240808086.
* Raimes, Jonathan; Malcolm Garrett - [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZbBPAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "The Digital Canvas"] ; Abrams publisher (2006).

External links

* [http://www.pixelmuseum.com/ Pixel Museum]
* [http://www.pixelfreak.com/ Pixel Freak, a portfolio of pixel art]
* [http://movie.nascimpact.com/ NASC Impact, animation employing pixel art]