Ben Harris created several practice games in Photoshop to experiment with pixel art and animation techniques. He found the pencil and eraser tools useful for creating and modifying pixel art. Layers helped add depth and detail to backgrounds and allowed hiding/showing objects. The paint bucket tool helped speed up coloring objects but requires closed shapes. Reflections discussed including shading, layers, and object sizing to add depth and professionalism.

1. Experiments
Ben Harris

2. Process
The process of creating my practice games was very easy as we
have done quite a lot of work on Photoshop now as well as already
created pixel art using Photoshop as well as an animated game. I
did this with the Irn-Bru project creating my advergame, therefore I
have had lots of practice at using the Photoshop tools. After setting
up the settings for my page I started with changing the pencil tool
to block so that I could create pixel art. I did the same with the
‘eraser’ tool so that I could delete parts that I didn’t want or where
I made mistakes. I created this one first but decided that it was too
difficult too animate so I created a more simplistic design that
resembles more of my original idea.

3. Reflection
I will include the separate layers that I used in all of my experiment this will make production easier as when it
comes to animating my character I won’t have to make the exact character again deleting the legs and re
creating them for example. It will make animating easier. Layers also will build up my background allowing for
me to create a detailed game. It also allows me to hide certain objects and props in some parts of the level, and
allows me to show them when they are needed. Layers also build up scene not just adding detail but depth to
an image it makes the image feel like its not flat. It can also make an image look so detailed that the image
barely looks like it was created with pixel art. However, I am not going to make it that detailed. I will make it
minimalistic yet detailed, I still want you to be able to tell that it has been made using pixel art.

4. Process
When creating my second practice version which is the finished one, I found that I used the paint bucket tool a lot.
This helped me fill characters, and props in with colour instead of taking forever hand colouring it. I found that
without this tool, I would have taken a lot longer to create my practice version. How I used this tool was by first
selecting the paint bucket tool. Before using it I always made sure the colour that I wanted to use was selected or I
chose a colour that I wanted to use. Then once I selected the colour I wanted to use as well the paint bucket tool, I
clicked on the place, image or prop I wanted to fill with that chosen colour and it filled in that area. However I found
when using this tool you have to be very careful as if you have any gaps in the object it will spill out and cover the
entire page. You need to make that the object you want to colour has no gaps in which I mean no pixel blocks
missing, it all has to be attached.

5. Reflection
• I will include the shading details in my final product as I think this makes your game look a lot more
detailed and without this, my game would look minimalistic and a bit bland. If I do this for every object
then my whole game will look a lot more detailed, giving it a more professional look. I will do this by
always having a darker and lighter shade of a colour that I have used, so that when it comes to shading I
can place them in spots I think will look good and make the image I am shading stand out more.

6. Process
This was another one of my experiments at
making a mutated spider monster for my original
concept of making a horror, survival game. I used
lots of tools for this creature, such as the paint
bucket tool, pencil tool, and eraser tool. I also
used lots of layers as I was going to animate it,
until I decided not to use it. The pencil tool is
very useful as it lets you draw out what you
want. I set the pencil tool to blocks to allow me
to create pixel art. This tool is essential for
creating pixel art as without it, you will not be
able to create any pixel art whatsoever.

7. Reflection
• When it comes to the creation of my final product I will change the size of objects I have created for my
game so that they seem further away from the player or close to the player. This will add depth to my
video game making it look less flat and visually boring. I think this will make my game look more
professional standard. I used this technique in my practice version of my game with the trees and rocks.