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Tools and ProgramsFirstly, I want to quickly give a few examples of programs that you can use, in order to show that there is no especial advantage in using one or the other, because the great thing about Pixel Art is that you can achieve the same results regardless of how advanced the program is, so long as you have patience.
Programs
Microsoft Paint (MS Paint)
Although I haven't used it in a long time, I can strongly recommend it, as it has all the basic tools needed to create even the biggest and most complex Pixel Art masterpieces. In fact, some prefer to use this because of it's usually minimal interface, it can be less daunting as a program with fewer buttons and options and more forward in making Pixel Art. The program should support transparency, although it does lack the ability for animation frames to be strung together and also lacks layers and colour/contrast adjustment sliders. Basically a simple and solid option for those with a Windows OS, and for free. :dummy:
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PapercuttingsPapercutting is an art form that has been seen all over the world, adapted to regional styles based on cultures. It should come as no surprise that the Chinese have the earliest forms of papercutting currently known to us as the 'ancestor to paper' has been found in China. This was dated as far back as 2nd century B.C. and is considered as important as their discovery of printmaking, gunpowder and the compass.

~Thessatoria's It's Your Life
Naturally as paper spread throughout the world this art form evolved, spreading all over the Far East through to the Middle East. For example Japanese Kirigami where origami folds are cut and Indian Sanjhi. 
This art form is popular to this very day, take renowned British artist Rob Ryan, which I am sure many of you here would have at least seen his work before! His work has been seen printed over everything you can think of, kitchenware, clothes, books and probably more!
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Famous Photographs: The Afghan GirlIf you run a google search on what are the top famous Photographs of all time, The Afghan Girl is sure to appear. She is truly a face from History and one that many across the globe have tried to capture within others time and time again. But what exactly has made this image and its photographer so captivating?
Source: Daily Mail/National Geographic/Steve McCurry
Eyes, they say, are the window to the soul. And capturing such a piercing and expressive look in a photograph is a highly sought after skill. The Afghan Girl exhibits suspense, suspicion and a sense of distrust at the person behind the lens, she gives off an air of maturity, a foreboding feeling - a vulnerability behind years of strength. That, is what makes her so captivating.
Sharbat Gula is her name, although few even know this rather important detail. Sh
Art History: Pixel Art in Real LifeWelcome to the first article of Digital Art History Month!
People around the world are re-inventing pixel art from the digital world into real life. Today, we'll look at a few ways people have made pixel art from every day items.
(Please note that I'm not saying the following ARE pixel art, but only an adaptation. :))
For instance, Zach King on YouTube has created a pixel-styled Super Mario stop-motion using only Sticky Notes.
Wasn't that cool?
The next adaptation brings pixel art into 3D. Lego! We've all played with it at some point in our lives, but believe it or not, it's one of the most common adaptations in pixel art. Check out this LEGO sculpture by Nathan Sawaya.

Almost anything can be used to create pixel art in real life, even shot glasses, as demonstrated by Thomas Hoel!
<i wytiwyg="1">
Deviousness Award Interview with ThiefoworldWhat is this Awesome Achievement?
The Deviousness Award is an accolade which is traditionally handed out
on the 1st of every month to one truly outstanding deviant.
The Deviousness Award for August2012 goes to ^Thiefoworld.
Thank you so much to ^Athos-of-Light for conducting this interview!


So, Don Jon, would you like to tell the world who you are and the things you do IRL and stuff?
Hi! My name is Jonathan but everybody calls me Thiefo, yeah even IRL. I'm a Graphic Designer doing some marketing work for a living. I also do some freelance work as illustrator. I've had the opportunity to work on some independent projects, children's books, mascots and a little concept art. I
A History of Photography (Mostly)Art History Photography Month has begun and where better to start than with the History of Photography! I appreciate not everything is included, but here are some key main events and features, images and happenings that have impacted Photography across the years. If you don't want to read it all, scroll to the bottom for my tl;dr handy summary ;)
1000AD
This is said to be where it all began with Alhazen inventing the first pinhole camera - known as Camera Obscura. Heard the phrase before? Now you know where it originates from! Aristotle observed and noted in around 330BC the optic laws that made pinhole cameras possible and questioned why the Sun could make a circular image when it shined through a square hole.
Source:LOC
1794
The First Panorama opens - the forerunner of the movie house invented by Robert
Celebrating Deviousness - February 2013    
        
Deviousness Award
    
    
    
        
            
Congratulations to `Krissi001
    
    
    
     Project get connected    
Project Animal Emotes 3
Apple Alien
What is this Awesome Achievement?
The Deviousness
The Definition of Pixel ArtUnfortunately, what seems at first to be the simplest and shortest section is one that has actually taken a lot of debate, experience and consideration for me to bring to you in some written form, and even now I'm sure there are ways it can be further developed in the future. The issue arises that the older definition may have been a little difficult to understand and was perhaps too brief for those starting out to understand to it's full extent. It may be that people just didn't read it or forgot to. Or it could be also that the medium itself is changing and developing with the technology around it. It could even be a combination of those things, but regardless of which, there is a lot of confusion around what Pixel Art really is, what goes there and what doesn't and how to make it and when it's no longer classified as Pixel Art. Therefore to really get an understanding of the definition, you need to go back through the history of the medium, a subject I'm as yet not well versed in, a
Did You Know? - DD categories, Searching devMEETs
Studio GhibliA Tokyo based animation studio that needs no introduction! Studio Ghibli is best known for their traditionally animated anime films. It was originally founded by the legendary pair,  Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, back in 1985. Ghibli is named  after an Italian war plane that was used for scouting, this reflected Miyazaki's love for not only airplanes but also Italy. The name itself means  "hot wind blowing through the Sahara Desert".
Takahata and Miyazaki 
It was formed after the great success of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which both Takahata and Miyazaki worked on. Their first feature film hit was Laputa, or some of you may know it as Castle in the Sky. Most of the films that Studio Ghibli produces is by Miyazaki, followed by Takahata, although they have worked with other film producers and directors as well.
Family favourite, My Neighbour Totoro
Walt Disney later acqui
An Absurd Interview with thelasth0peWelcome to Absurd Interviews: The best invention since toilet paper

It is said that the last thing you lose is h0pe right? Well this isn't the case, because h0pe is not lost and actually, h0pe is here, doing his most cute duck face ever.  What can be better than h0pe doing a duck face? H0pe doing a duck face while being interviewed of course!
So girls, boys, ducks, and every combination between those, today we interview:
^ladygagz
Hello Bradley. How are you today?
Excellent! :iconmrburnsplz:
Everytime I see your icon feel like I'm talking to Gaga. Have you ever mistaken a person with another and had an awkward situation from that?
Yes, all the time. :dummy:
My father is bald, and if you know bald people, you'd know that they all look semi-identical from the back. Anyway, we were at a shopping centre and I got lost - so I wandere
CSS Did You Know? - November 28th, 2012
November ThankstivityIt is easy to point out the flaws....
Cliques, lack of communication, bad art that gets too many views, good art that doesn't get enough views, crappy DDs, and on and on and on. The complaints people have about deviantART could fill a book the length of the Bible, but November is a month for remembering what we have to be thankful for and so I challenge you, Solutions Seekers, to take a look around and find at least three things about deviantART that make you thankful for the community.
The Challenge
Create a deviation or journal that explores at least three reasons you're thankful for deviantART. It can be anything from tutorials and other resources to friends you've made to great art you've stumbled across to a favorite group. Whatever it is that keeps you coming back, I want to know about it.
Rules
:bulletpurple: One entry per deviant.
:bulletpurple: For this challenge, no mature content please. Let's make
PE: Interview with ^ClefairyKid:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid
Hello ^ClefairyKid, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
You can call me Clefairy or CK, I’ve been here with this account for about 3 or 4 years now. I started using Photoshop in high school to try and retouch photos, and that lead into Photo-manipulation.  After I got more comfortable with PS, I started branching out into a huge range of things including Digital Art, Fan Art, Pixel Art (which I’ve now become CV for), Emoticons, Artisan Crafts, Flash, Photography and so on…
I like rainbows, but I’m sure most people already know that ;D
How did you first get into Stamps?
I suppose I just wanted to get a support stamp to help promote my account in general, but was too shy/embaressed to get one made by someone else, so I just gave it a shot. I still have my first one here:

I then went on to make support stamps for a range of my favourite
AH: Film and Animation FeatureThe Traveller by ~Elena-Ciolacu
Yo(r)u and I by ~1-k-0
ANIMA by ~MichalTokarczuk
GIRL AND IT - Trailer by *mohdfikree
The Dark Forest by ~penguina-mica
5 second day 2013 by *Guts-N-Effort
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What is Pixel Art? [Index]

Sun Dec 9, 2012, 3:35 PM
This as initially going to be one very large article, but I decided it might be easier for everyone if I split it up, it means I can get onto releasing bits that are done without people having to wait for the slower sections, and hopefully means you'll end up with a neat little index of resources that you can go to for almost anything Pixel Art related. It also makes it much easier for new sections to be added later, if new ideas come up. This will be updated with links to each part as I get them up (please be patient if the section you want isn't up yet, I'll do my best!).

The Definition of Pixel Art


What is Pixel Art? What tools "count" and what don't, and what sorts of differences are there between normal Digital Art and other areas?

Tools and Programs


What programs are useful, and what features do they have? What tools can I use and which do I need to stay away from?

Anti-Aliasing - Manual VS Automatic


What is AA and how do you go about using it the Pixel Art way?

Dithering


What is it and how can I go beyond the usual checkerboard pattern?

Hue Shifting and Picking Colour Palettes


How to make the most of the colours you use and how to make them vibrant and contrasting.

Things to Avoid: Banding & Pillow Shading



Isometric VS Non-Isometric


How do I know if my piece is Isometric and if it's not?

Pixel Art Mis-catergorisations


What goes in Pixel Art and what does not?

Tutorials and Resources


Learn new techniques and ideas for shading, outlines, dithering, AA, animation and so on.

What does Pixel Art look like?


Does it all have to look the same? Examples of different styles which express the variety and creativity that can be achieved despite the limitations and restrictions sometimes imposed on Pixel Art as a medium.

Pixel Art Groups


The Pixel Art community and how you can get involved.

Pixel Art Beyond DeviantART


Other places where you can become a part of Pixel Art communities and see great Pixel Art.

Pixel Art DDs


How to suggest and what is looked for in a potential DD piece.

Pixel Art Myths


Getting to the bottom of myths of rumours about Pixel Art.



:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid


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What is Pixel Art? [Index]by ^ClefairyKid

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©2012-2013 ^ClefairyKid
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:iconiridescentstardust:
`IridescentStardust Mar 8, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
I support all these and hope to see mroe of them in the future ;u;
Reply
:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid Mar 11, 2013
Urp I've been feeling so bad, my mind hasn't gotten into the right space to plow through them yet and I really want to get a move on //major guilts
Reply
:icon21stuser:
~21stUser Dec 18, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Do you mind if I use this in a squidoo lense? I'll put a link and credit it.
Reply
:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid Dec 19, 2012
Umm.. I'm not super sure what that is, but this is just an index of articles I'm writing, there's nothing actually here XD I'd rather my dA writing was kept within dA regardless though.
Reply
:icon21stuser:
~21stUser Dec 19, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Alright thanks anyways ^-^
Reply
:iconarichy:
`Arichy Dec 9, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
:la:
Reply
:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid Dec 10, 2012
:la:
Reply
:iconmiontre:
`miontre Dec 9, 2012  Hobbyist Photographer
Excited! :eager:
Reply
:iconclefairykid:
^ClefairyKid Dec 9, 2012
:giggle:
Reply
:iconichitoko:
*Ichitoko Dec 9, 2012  Hobbyist Artist
This is going to look epic! I'm excited. :'D
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