Quick reference
Pixel Art Reference
Use this page when you need a fast reminder while drawing. The rules are starting points, not limits—break them only when the result becomes clearer.
Canvas sizes
8×8 vs 16×16 vs 32×32
8×8
Best for symbols and silhouette drills. Almost no room for texture.
16×16
Best beginner constraint. Enough room for identity, shading, and material cues.
32×32
Useful for characters and props after your clusters are already controlled.
Palettes and ramps
Choose roles before choosing more colors
- Outline: the darkest structural value; it does not need to be pure black.
- Shadow: separates planes and usually shifts cooler or warmer than the base.
- Base: carries most of the local color and should occupy the largest clusters.
- Highlight: describes material and direction; use it more sparingly than the base.
Shading
Shade planes, not individual pixels
Good cluster
A connected shape that follows the surface and strengthens the silhouette at normal viewing size.
Noise
Isolated pixels that do not describe a plane, edge, texture, or controlled transition.
Dithering and anti-aliasing
Use edge techniques only when they solve a visible problem
Dithering alternates two colors in a deliberate pattern to suggest a transition or texture. At 16×16 it can quickly overpower the subject, so begin without it.
Manual anti-aliasing places intermediate colors along selected edges. Keep clusters short and avoid blurring the entire silhouette.