I'm sure you noticed that the title of this post is a line from a Fleetwood Mac song ("Temporary One"). Okay, probably not. As anyone who knows me well (and probably anyone who's ever met me) could tell you, I love me some Fleetwood Mac. Anyway, on to this week's Gruedorf entry.
I'd like to start off by apologizing for last week's terrible post. No, please don't go back and read it to see just how terrible it is. My only excuse is that I had a migraine and only 30 minutes remaining before the Gruedorf scoreboard deemed me a capital-L Loser. The pressure got to me! As of this post, I maintain my 0% Loss, 0% Lame standing--I think that means I win, or something! Wait, no, I probably have to finish a game first.
Well, McGrue gave me a pass, this week, to fulfill our ancient pact instead of showing progress on my own game, Starlight. You heard me, an ancient pact. Is your interest piqued? Read on to discover how I can stretch out an entire blog entry about a pixel-bridge!
I'd like to start off by apologizing for last week's terrible post. No, please don't go back and read it to see just how terrible it is. My only excuse is that I had a migraine and only 30 minutes remaining before the Gruedorf scoreboard deemed me a capital-L Loser. The pressure got to me! As of this post, I maintain my 0% Loss, 0% Lame standing--I think that means I win, or something! Wait, no, I probably have to finish a game first.
Well, McGrue gave me a pass, this week, to fulfill our ancient pact instead of showing progress on my own game, Starlight. You heard me, an ancient pact. Is your interest piqued? Read on to discover how I can stretch out an entire blog entry about a pixel-bridge!
Some years ago (hey, that's ancient as far as the internet is concerned), I contracted McGrue to implement his webcomic system on my site, and in return I agreed to draw a pixel-art bridge for The Sully Chronicles. Well, he half-assed his side of the deal, so I completely forgot to draw him a bridge.
And then, last week, Grue asked for his bridge.
Step 1: Outline the basic shape of the bridge. I had the perilous rope bridge from Temple of Doom in mind while I drew the silhouette.
Step 2: Add basic colors, using the black and white image as a mask. Usually at this stage I try to keep it to one color per element. But as you can see, I got a little ahead of myself, and added texture to the rope and wood posts.
Step 3: Add texture detail using shadows and highlights. I ended up with 16 unique colors (not counting transparency, here represented by dark teal). This is the most time consuming part of pixel art.
Step 4a: Reduce the number of colors by half. You see, McGrue is using an indexed color palette, so he is limited in the total number of unique colors he can simultaneously display on the map. This is because he is still living in the mid-1990s.
Step 4b: To finish it off, add the near-side posts and rope. Voila! Not my best work, but not bad for using only 8 colors (all of them brown).
Updated: Step 5: Apologize to McGrue for assuming that VERGE still used 8-bit graphics and upload a version of the bridge that uses 16 colors (all of them still brown).
Next time on Gruedorf: Back to work on Starlight, where I have the freedom to use every color of the imagination! Even Snurple!
And then, last week, Grue asked for his bridge.
Step 1: Outline the basic shape of the bridge. I had the perilous rope bridge from Temple of Doom in mind while I drew the silhouette.Step 2: Add basic colors, using the black and white image as a mask. Usually at this stage I try to keep it to one color per element. But as you can see, I got a little ahead of myself, and added texture to the rope and wood posts.Step 3: Add texture detail using shadows and highlights. I ended up with 16 unique colors (not counting transparency, here represented by dark teal). This is the most time consuming part of pixel art.Step 4a: Reduce the number of colors by half. You see, McGrue is using an indexed color palette, so he is limited in the total number of unique colors he can simultaneously display on the map. This is because he is still living in the mid-1990s.Step 4b: To finish it off, add the near-side posts and rope. Voila! Not my best work, but not bad for using only 8 colors (all of them brown).
Updated: Step 5: Apologize to McGrue for assuming that VERGE still used 8-bit graphics and upload a version of the bridge that uses 16 colors (all of them still brown).Next time on Gruedorf: Back to work on Starlight, where I have the freedom to use every color of the imagination! Even Snurple!
You obviously don't know how Gruedorf works :3
Neither Sully nor SotS are using indexed palettes. Where did you get that idea from?
Also, I didn't half-ass the website! I finished it and you were like "meh, I don't want this system you finished. I'll have Austin do it instead!"
And then he half-assed it.
And you promised me the sully bridge because I was pissed.
Jerk. >:D
Is that what happened? Huh. I'd publish a retraction, but I'm too lazy. :D