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This may help some people that are new to ISO work.

Hope this is not repeated.

Finally, there is an online gif animator from the cool cats at www.iaza.com.
This brand new online tool with all the needed features is available.
Just make your frames and upload, set timing and thats it.

A true pixelart visionary is interviewed for NFG Games.
Many sample screens  and a good read too.

From challenge winner tomic comes this very interesting challenge. Re-pixel the first pixelart that you've submitted to your pixeljoint gallery. If your first pixelart was your avatar then your second pixel. Nothing newer.

rules:
- recognizable improvement in shading, dithering etc. must be evident. No entry will be allowed that does not show this.

ADDED: If your first gallery was sent back for revision or deleted. You may use this for your challenge entry but must include a direct link to it for comparison when voting.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

From Equilibrix the winner of the 12 Days of Xmas comes this week's challenge.
Pixel your favourite scene from your favourite movie.

Palette limitations:
Movie from 40's or older - grayscale (max 12 colors)
Movie from 50's or newer - 12 colors

Canvas Size: Any
Animation: No
Isometric: No
Transparency: No

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

... Literally!
Adarias the winner of the Food Warriors challenges you to create a monster of sorts using a household object as the main inspiration.  Try to think of something original (the killer vaccum has been done guys :P) and pick something totally out there (but still found in many houses).

    Size: 64x64 - 96x96
    Animation: Yus! (4 frame minimum)
    Transparency: If you can make a square canvas into a fluidly animated sprite WITHOUT transparency, you deserve to win hands down!  Otherwise, it's a must.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Challenge winner dakael challenges you to pixel these words as played in a major part in human history. Pick up at least any two of these abstracts and illustrate them. Be creative! This time imagination is the key.

Canvas size:
 - Minimum resolution: 25.6 kpx (for example: 160x160, 256x100)
 - Maximum resolution: 64 kpx (for example: 640x100, 320x200)
Maximum number of colors: 32
Animation: allowed
Transparency: not allowed

Have fun!

PS. What is kpx? It's a prefix 'kilo', so kpx means kilopixel, and it stands for 1000 pixels. "

*PJ Staff note, dakael is a nerd XD

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

This week's challenge comes from Gas 13 and is a study on showing pixelling steps and procedures. Its a 5 frame minimum step animation.

1. Use this template. (frame 1)
    
2. When you see something in the template, make the lineart. (frame 2)
3. Find the shapes and volumes and develop them. (frames 3 & 4)*
4. Refine and finished piece. (frame 5)
5. Canvas size is fixed but may be on transparent background.
6. Color palette is unlimited but must be shown in the animation.
7. Create the WIP animation (from the above frames), 5 frame minimum.
* You may make more than 2 frames on #3 as needed.

Link(s) for free/demo/shareware PC animation programs:
1: http://www.gamani.com/  demo 30 days
2: ProMotion   limited demo
3: EasyGif  limited demo, 20 uses only !!!!!
4: Gif construction  demo, looks easy

For MACs
gif builder  100% free ;)

You may also try posting your frames in the challenge thread for another PJ member to animate for you once finished. If you do this please keep your frame count to a minimum. Ask for help and give yourself enough time and be patient (its a favor).

For a visual example of this challenge see the image shown in the page below:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59238378/

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

TITLE: Top Pixel Art - February 2008

---

The following pixel artists produced Pixel Joint's top rated pixel art for February 2008. Many thanks go out to this month's top pixel artists and all the members who took time to rate.

Pixelart based on the game Clue/Cluedo.
Pixel a scene/sprite/mockup representing... who with what weapon in which room.

Rules: No limitations this week, if its not written its allowed.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

The lovely MashPotato challenges you to pixel a sprite that would be at home in a non-stop-action-packed, side-scrolling 2D platformer... taking place in an art gallery!

Pick a famous sculpture or painting and bring it to life by transforming it into an enemy or hero sprite
People paintings do not have to stay in their canvas.
For example. the Mona Lisa can have leg and arms and does not need to be in the frame.

Animation: required; must be an attack, idle, walking, or death animation
Transparency: required only if you only make the sprite. Mockups do not need transparency.
Canvas Size: no restrictions
Colours: 24 (includes transparency)
References: please link to the original artwork, regardless of how well-known you think it is.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

From challenge winner Stickman comes this challenge.
Choose the title of an existing book or novel (from the bible to Harry Potter) and pixel an original cover (no refs) for it emulating this vintage console using the Amstrad CPC palette and using only a 1x2 pixel brush (no single pixels).

The book title must be included in your entry, author may be included



Size template with 1x2 grid (vertically only, grid goes the other way for landscape)

This means 160x200 measured in single pixels but pixelled using double pixels (1x2) as a coloring unit.



Color Palette - 16 colours from fixed palette (no 1 bits ;)
Canvas Size - 160x200 horizontal or vertical
No transparency
No Animation

Reference Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/pf-cpc.htm
http://www.gfxzone.org/articles/cpc_graphics-article_01.html

There is a link to a tutorial about making 1x2 brushes in MSPaint, see the links page.
*many unnoticed links are there too so no direct links, ya lazy bums :p

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

The A Real Work of Art pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the A Real Work of Art forum thread for more information.

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Wide Pixels.

VOTE NOW!

This week's challenge is a combined idea from challenge winner Lackey and countach.
Remake or re-envision an existing Album Cover in pixelart.

JUST THE COVER
(first silly question goes to skamocore )
(second silly question goes to 7even )

(first whiny comment goes to skeddles )

Canvas Size: 100x100minimum , 200x200maximum
Colors: 64 maximum
Animation: no
Transparency: No, as all the square canvas must be used.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Pick a number from one to 7even below.



Pixel a medieval knight* (yes, we know, the page and the squire are not technically knights yet :p)
from one of the 7even titles and palettes (no mixing around).
(This portrait may be realistic or cartoony.
It may be a game sprite, a stand alone piece or a scene (this may include a background)

RULES
• Must use the 7even colors in the palette
(no black and white).
• You have 7even days to complete the challenge
(not 7even days from when you read this or begin pixelling. Sunday at midnight)
• Canvas Size 7even pixels by 7even pixels
(jk, 100px x 100px exactly)
• No Transparency allowed.
(a perfect square full of opaque pixels)
• No animations.
(nothing moving but motion may be implied)

In case its not obvious this challenge comes from 7even

This week also has a background competition, the first 7even members
with a stupid question will be eligible for a 7even day and 7even night vacation to...

...BANSVILLE!!!

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Challenge winner mobichan  this week challenges you to choose a hero, creature or God from Roman or Greek mythology and pixel a scene showing them in a private moment.
For example, Zeus could be in the toilet, Venus could be putting on curlers. Mercury could be cross-dressed, a drunk Neptune, etc.

GOOD HERO/CREATURE/GOD LIST IS IN THE FORUM THREAD

Canvas Size: Fixed 128 wide x 90 high (no smaller, no bigger)
Colors: 12 or less
Animation: May be used
Transparency: None

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

We are very sorry to inform the pixelart community that this coming Friday will be Pixeljoint's last day on the interwebs.

Double wide pixel challenge winner surt challenges you to pixel a scene in which depth of field (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field) plays a major role.

Subject matter and execution is up to you and your imagination.

Rules:

• Colours: 32 max
• Canvas Size: 256 x 256 max
  
• Transparency: No
• Animation: Allowed

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Adam, winner of the You Rad-Tad Misfits! challenge wants you to create something based on a fictional sport or on an existing one in a fictional setting.

Colors: exactly 32! No more, no less
Canvas size: 160x120 minimum, 320x240 maximum, horizontal or vertical
Transparency: not allowed
Animation: allowed

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Challenge winner mobichan challenges you to choose your favorite fighting game character from any video game and pixel them in their old age.
A link to the original or mentioning the character (if well known) is required.

Canvas size: Less than 160x160 (meaning 160x160 maximum size)
Color Palette: Roughly those of the original (young) game version used for reference (not too strict here)
Transparency: Highly desired
Animation: Allowed

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Challenge winner iSTVAN challenges you to pixel a game screen mock up for an existing TV show of your choice.

   1. Must be a real TV show, not just a made up one. (Ref link in description)
   2. Must be a dynamic scene (eg. Including multiple characters)
   3. Live action shows only not animated series.
   4. TV show can be from any genre (eg. drama, action, comedy, reality).
   5. Canvas Size: 160x120 OR 320x240 horizontal.
   6. Colour restrictions: 32
   7. No transparency
   8. Animations not allowed.

EDIT: Canvas size, blame Wolverine

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Aren't you tired of all those vegetarians eating those poor veggies, and fruits. "How many plants had to die for your salad, you heartless bastards!!!"

This challenge consists of casting life into any plant of your choice. The plant chosen can be depicted as some sort of humanoid, or alien-esque creature. The point is to depict them filled with as much emotion as a human is capable of (yes, it is known that plants are alive, just not in the common man's eyes), with an attached emotion or sub-emotion, such as anger, sadness, humor, confusion, etc....

Example: Pixel a Rose who resembles a woman that is dancing (excitement, romance), a giant redwood tree-beast/barbarian that terrorizes lands (anger), or a Bonsai Tree who is meditating over a sunset (tranquility, calmness), etc...

Rules:

• Colors: No restrictions, but don't be silly.
  
• Canvas Size: 200 x 200 max.
• Transparency: allowed (www.iaza.com or giffy.com is your friend, children)
• Animation: If you're a glutton for pain, then sure, It's allowed.
• Can be a single character, or character in a scene, as long as the plant creature is the focus of attention.
• There must be a banner,sign, or caption anywhere in the piece that indicates the feeling the plant is emoting.
• Fruits and vegetables can't be used by themselves as the centerpiece. However the plant or tree from which they derive from can.
• Plants must be an actual plant of this planet,  with species in the description (any real life plant or shrubbery is fair game.). NO fictional crap.

Tips: Wikipedia.org is a good reference.

Challenge by B.O.B. winner of B.O.B Challenge a.k.a Mr.Vain

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

SNOB WARNING: This news deals with iso pixelart.

Pixeldam has just gone live with V3 of the city project.
The city is real now with a coast and islands using a SimCity styled navigation map.
New tourist accounts now mean you don't have to make a block to be a member too.
Citizen communications and blog are also new.
The best part is the integration between Pixeldam and Pixelmoon.

Check it :)

From Equilibrix the winner of the 12 Days of Xmas comes this week's challenge.
Pixel some pleasant dream you've recently had (no nightmares :-))

Palette: Grayscale + 1 other color with it's shades (Sin City style), max. 8 colors
Canvas: Any
Transparency: No

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

The Pixel-graphy pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Pixel-graphy forum thread for more information.

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Iconic Photo.

VOTE NOW!

Challenge winner tomic, challenges you to pixel a flower or flowers as being electric.
Think of sunflower lanterns, Tulip lampshades, household plants etc., be creative.

colors: 32 max.
canvas: 256x256 max.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

The Flower Power-ed pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Flower Power-ed forum thread for more information.

'The Sporting Life' challenge winner MashPotato challenges you to pixel a scene that involves a character(s) using a mask or other type of disguise.

Canvas size: any size square (i.e. equal length and width)
Transparency: none
Animation: allowed
Colours: 16

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Force Fighters' is a group of people which feels like a team who work together, to relax and have fun or to reach particular objectives. Force Fighters main interests include gaming, game development, modding, graphics, writing, music and creativity in general. Apart from games, various kinds of contests are held, often as part of bigger projects.

Not much pixelart but they do have online versions of Metal Slug 1 & 2

Recently they contacted us to feature pixelart to the Fighters and their mailing list.
Fool, zi-double, Gas13 and other PJ members are featured.

http://www.forcefighters.com

http://www.forcefighters.com/magazine/ffmagazine2.pdf

The Face Your Fears pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Face Your Fears forum thread for more information.

Nitrome has a new platform game out and it looks and plays as well as all the Nitrome games always do. The pixels by Markus Heinel are all cute and very well made. This one contains twenty levels that only get tougher and tougher. All you must do is escape the caves before they crumble. Fun!

Play it here!

This is a very interesting article written by Aaron Smuts.
In this article Aaron argues that by any major definition of art many modern video games should be considered art. Rather than defining art and defending video games based on a single contentious definition, Aaron offers reasons for thinking that video games can be art according to historical, aesthetic, institutional, representational and expressive theories of art. Overall, the argument is that while many video games probably should not be considered art, there are good reasons to think that some video games should be classified as art, and that the debates concerning the artistic status of chess and sports offer some insights into the status of video games.

Read the whole thing here

http://www.contempaesthetics.org/newvolume/pages/article.php?articleID=299

Jay is Games is sponsoring another game competition. First Prize is US$1,000.

Design a game that incorporates a given theme (see link). It doesn't have to be complex nor large in scope. You may use any browser-based technology platform you are comfortable with (Flash, Unity, Shockwave, Javascript, etc.).

http://jayisgames.com/archives/2009/08/game_design_competition_6.php

The deadline for entries is
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 11:59PM (GMT-5:00).

So, start the brainstorming, pixelling and coding ...!

Yet another way to bring pixelart to life.

This one is cheap, cool and easily created, even from your own art.

LINK

The Monumental pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Monumental forum thread for more information.

The Fairy Tales pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Fairy Tales forum thread for more information.

The Haiku Pixels pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Haiku Pixels forum thread for more information.

The Game Boy Turns 20 pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Game Boy Turns 20 forum thread for more information.

The Gates of Heaven/Hell pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge! Check out the Gates of Heaven/Hell forum thread for more information.

FrostPumpkin challenges you to pixel an abstract feeling or emotion.
It can be anything, an abstract work, an allegory, just show your emotional nature by pixeling an abstract feeling or emotion.

Rules:
Canvas Size: Minimum 100x100
Colors : 16 colors max but you can't use any grey or neutralizers
Transparency : none
Animation : allowed

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

"Long ago, there were tales of a monster, who lurked the meadows of the scared inhabitants of the Pixel Joint Village. Unfortunately, it only came out during the nighttime. And at that time, the mist and fog tend to flood the air, so a sharp eye was never cast upon it. However, though many lives it's claimed, some have survived to live and tell of the ghastly sight.
   A soldier who tried (and failed) to exterminate the beast, said it had 4 legs, and a hairy tuft upon its back, shoulders and head. Almost like a lion's mane!
   A disgruntled farmer whose cows and sheep had fallen victim to the beast, claimed its eyes were dormant and bright blue when hazing, but as soon as he raised his shot gun to fire at it, it's eyes turned a bright red, and its mouth frothed with madness. He also said it had THREE horns protruding from its head, where as smoke emptied from its nostrils.
  Finally, the crazy old woman of the west said the beast is a calm beast if not disturbed, and enjoys the smells of her potted plants, which he visits some nights. She claims it does have giant, hairy arms, but only has 3 fingers for each hand, with one finger carrying a giant, sharp claw on each hand as well. Not to mention, it tends to sometimes knock over her plants with it's tentacle-like tail, making her believe it to be slightly clumsy.
   Nonetheless, this beast has never been fully captured or seen. Maybe a brave soul can one day find and show us just what exactly haunts our meadows this time of year!!"

   Alright, so your mission is capture this beast with your trusty camera, and bring it back to us, so we can see just what exactly this thing is! The challenge is to pixel a piece of what this monster looks like, by using the above story and anecdotes as the monster traits, while at the same time making it look as if it's a photo, that was taken. As long as it doesn't conflict too much with the description above, its look is totally up to you!
Rules:
size: 200x200 max
colors: 32 max
animation: no
transparency: no

Your entry has to be a scene since it's supposed to look like a photo, capturing the monster. Bonus for making your entry look like a photograph :)

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Haiku poems require the precise and thoughtful picking of each word, making sure that each is carefully placed to give the desired effect. In this way haiku are similar to pixel art. Therefore skamocore challenges you to pixel a scene based off one of the haiku from the list provided below.

Colours: 17 max
Canvas Size: exactly 50(height) x 70(length)
Transparency: No
Animation: No

Haiku to choose from:
• 1. An old pond!
A frog jumps in-
The sound of water.

• 2. No one travels
Along this way but I,
This autumn evening.

• 3. Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.
(by Matsuo Basho)

• 4. A mountain village
under the pilled-up snow
the sound of water.

• 5. A lightning flash:
between the forest trees
I have seen water.
(by Masaoka Shiki)

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

This week's challenge by Arachne  calls for pixelart where an animal is shown out of proportion to its surroundings.
This animal must be a true living animal which is not extinct.
For example, it could be a tiny giraffe eating your tulips, or an aquarium with whales in your living room or even enormous slugs coating the streets in slime.
Rules:
Canvas Size: No Restriction
Colors Palette: 16 colors Max.
Animation: No

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

Challenge winner Mirage challenges you to pixel the strange things that happen at the zoo at night, when the humans aren't watching.

Colours: 16 max
Canvas size: 256x256 max
Transparency: allowed
Animation: 2 frames max

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

You are challenged to create a sprite based on one of the characters found on the court cards in a standard deck of playing cards.
You may base your sprite on any of these cards:

Jack of Hearts-Diamonds-Spades-Clubs
Queen of Hearts-Diamonds-Spades-Clubs
King of Hearts-Diamonds-Spades-Clubs

Information and images of court cards

Edit: Depict just the character that is on the card and not an image of a playing card itself.

Canvas Size - Maximum 70 (width) x 100 (height).
Colours - Maximum 12.
Transparency - Required.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

surt challenges you to pixel a scene that could be captioned with the word "Egads!" using only the default EGA 16 colour palette.

A caption containing "Egads!" in the image is encouraged, but optional.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egads

Subject matter and execution is up to you and your imagination.

Canvas Size - Max 320 (width) x 200 (height).
Colors: Max 16. Use only colors from the default EGA palette:

Transparency - No.
Animation - No.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: View From A High Place.

VOTE NOW!


*NOTE: As there are only 3 submissions in this challenge, it may be best to only vote for only 2 selections then hit submit,
so it's easy for us to rank afterward*

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Fairy Tales.

VOTE NOW!

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Haiku Pixels.

VOTE NOW!

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Proportion Play.

VOTE NOW!

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Side Ship.

VOTE NOW!

It's time to head on over to the forum and vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Circled.

VOTE NOW!