What Size is Pixel Art? (Intro to Sprite and Canvas Size)

Ok sure, a pixel is one square…but how many of them should you use to make pixel art? In this video, we walk through a few different sizing options based on retro video games to give you an idea of where to start!
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/ bjgpixel
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I commissioned the music in this video from these fantastic artists:
Title sequence theme music by Failpositive:
failpositive.bandcamp.com/
/ failpositive
All other background music by mcguy215:
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/ mcguy215

[@t3hr00tb33r]

*turns down to 144p to save on data* > genius.

[@Joseph-do9ue]

its mandatory ! i couldn´t even change the px !! lol!

[@thedudethatneveruploads2617]

I’m okay with down to 360p

[@JustJory]

if its 240p im fine its just 144p is to low for me to even see

[@artist_vlogg7163]

great idea, this will definitely help save some hard drive space, I can also fit a lot more in my floppy disks ^^

[@officersoulknight6321]

You genius

[@gilla2092]

“I make pictures of the tiny squares for fun” say no more, subbed

[@MelanieWebb112]

Ikr? 🥰😂

[@Edengar86]

when he said that i paused because i wanted to quote it, because it's an amazing quote xD thank you for doing it already lol

[@nursegilbey]

"out of tiny squares," but yes :)

[@lusr2923]

Hendecimal Squares 4: Grrrrr 9: Grrrrr 15: Grrrrr 23: Grrrrr 33: Grrrrr 45: Grrrrr 59: Grrrrr 74: Grrrrr 91: Grrrrr 100: Grrrrr 121: Grrrrr

[@richardspillers6282]

Same. Sold on the spot.

[@BJGpixel]

Yup, dropped a couple "merry-o"s in this vid. I thought I hid my Canadian well but it creeps out on occasion 😅

[@VivaMidnight]

It sounded about right, I think people over-do it on the aarr because he has a silly voice :P Great vid!

[@tehshingen]

I thought you were talking about Mary O from Super Mario Maker /s

[@clcsqueejy04]

You're just displaying your Canadian-ness ;)

[@pintaridergaming]

I love that you knew we would comment about this. I was going to say who the hell is Merio lol but I like Merry-o better 😂you got my sub mate 👍🏼

[@clcsqueejy04]

@@tristunalekzander5608 The name changes pronunciation across regions. Italians will pronounce the name Mario differently than those from the USA. Additionally, Canadian raising is a thing that has been discussed a lot in linguistics and could probably account for the raise from /a/ to /Ɛ/. You say it's "literally never pronounced merry-o" but a *lot* of Canadians or others with northern accents pronounce it that way.

[@theravenmonarch9441]

"it has a mouse with a left and right click on it" Apple: Is it possible to learn this power

[@Kyle-hf2hk]

Pokemon devs made a 2 click mouse with 5x5 pixels and Apple still can't do it irl Sadge

[@FiveFingerOutfit]

@@Kyle-hf2hk I'm sure they're not incapable of doing it, apple just gets off on their proprietary differences and closed-source bullshit even if it's stupid as shit.

[@ericpratt984]

Of course you would make this awful joke

[@Lone.Willow]

"Is his name the Pokéman?" Red: "....... ........"

[@tintinaytung]

Well he is kind of right tho

[@neB282]

Not trying to be rude but he also says “mayrio”

[@trizyurx]

YES. PREACH

[@joaolira3384]

but hes actually green

[@i_hate_my_past]

"What size is pixel art?" Undertale: *Yes*

[@minxjunkoenoshima2744]

I don't rly get it. Edit I get it now

[@Best_Rauru_Simp_1997]

@@minxjunkoenoshima2744 10/10 character arc

[@alex_mula]

I have that exact comic! He even signed it with my name on it. That was probably my most memorable stampede experience.

[@Blaineworld]

Every time I hear Maerio, I want to mama my mia outta the window.

[@nixel1324]

Merio and Looigi

[@SpinkleBope]

Tod

[@tannerq8900]

I saw this comment and was dreading hearing it. Fuuuejdhwbdhsj ahahaa he keeps saying it! Ahhhhh no! It's not! It's Mario! It just doesn't sound right. I feel bad for getting mad about how he says something but he says it wrong!

[@Crustydusty8937]

*meroo*

[@powerofthec5908]

Same

[@ahmednasser8214]

As someone who's working on their first game ever (pixel are of course) I couldn't thank you enough for all these great videos! Seriously I started off painting literal stick figures and now I can actually put some meat on them lol

[@daelsan1909]

I feel the same. I have been leaning the basics around all the things involve with making a game and this channel got to my life as a gift sent by heaven.

[@rafaelbordoni516]

This thing about size and resolution is also very important on the game design department as well. The small characters usually leave a lot of space on the screen to show more stuff, like enemies and obstacles. These are very good for platformers, where you want to see where you're jumping to, or for exploration games like the 2D Zeldas. The big ones were very good for fighting games, where animation and details are very important, and the only things that matter on the screen are you and your opponent. Artists and game designers have to work together for these details.

[@elizabethgall5327]

This is such a good insight! Thank you for sharing.

[@philvan5191]

This is awesome dude! It’s so evident that you live for this kind of stuff and are genuinely passionate about your craft. Thanks a lot for making this channel, it’s awesome to hear you talk about it. I’ve been following some other animation and art channels so it’s great to be able to add this one to the list :)

[@BJGpixel]

Thanks so much, I'm glad that comes across! Thanks for your support and I hope you enjoy! :D

[@Flowtail]

@@BJGpixel these videos have legit inspired me to try and make pixel art on my own! (after school is done, of course) ive already posted this question on some of your other things, but i'd be interested to know if you've heard of an art program that can be controlled using the keyboard? my fine motor skills aren't very good, and i've found that my wrist ends up hurting if i end up sitting down and drawing for extended periods (which, given the minutia of pixel art, tends to happen ^_^;), so a program that lets me make pictures with tiny squares using the arrow keys instead of my crappy trackpad would be a huge help

[@chrism7067]

@@Flowtail Windows already has this feature. If you have a number pad you can go to ease of access and enable it, the arrow keys on the 2,4,6,8 are used for down, left, right and up and can move your curser around for you. it may not snap to the squares on an art program, but it will let you hold the button down and move the cursor along the axis with out having to keep pressing it.

[@cocodevs]

"Is his name the... Pokeman" Red and Green: (angry silence noises)

[@tintinaytung]

LOL

[@demp11]

Red and blue

[@cocodevs]

You play as red and green in the pokemon games, blue is your rival

[@Solesteam]

3:40 I prefer 256, it's in the 8x multiplier thingy and so it makes it if you decide to use tiles to make the scenery you won't have to cut any off halfway if you don't want to.

[@dexterquinn9896]

This was exactly what I need right now in pre-production. I use to push pixels in the 90s, so it's fun to see the craft evolving. Thanks again!

[@thomaspeisel]

Dude, your videos are so professional and your personality is so accessible. Thanks so much for all this.

[@sarnav94]

omg I am sooo glad that I found your channel. explanation, colours, video editing, contribution to the video with your own works, language and humour... bro I was looking for a channel like that for pixel art apparently! please keep making videos. seems that there are much to learn from you for me :)

[@NotAngi]

I love how visual this video is !! It helps to understand it much better than just the numbers themselves

[@russeldelgado9550]

This video of yours, is by far the greatest resource, for pixel art I've ever come across, i revisit it regularly, whenever i need to re-familiarize myself, with the fundamentals.

[@doodledrew3661]

Your videos are incredible. Just discovered pixel art and it’s your style of art/enthusiasm that makes me wanna really go for it 👍

[@vjm3]

I want to create a pixel based RPG like early Final Fantasy/Undertale, but I was having a hard time deciding on the size of my character when not in combat (I want to use high quality pixel art for in combat animation, and hand drawn art for dialogue portrayal/combat specials). This actually helped out a lot. Related: One of the things I enjoy the most is hand drawing a character with however much detail I want, then redrawing it to a pixel art equivalent. The results is always a simpler, more effective, and unique looking character. Good for general character designing.

[@IKARIking67]

I've watchedother explainers, but this video was the most helpful for me. Especially the sizing categories to explain the challenges and restrictions with each. THANK you!

[@lalaloxx44]

Love your vids!! Trying to start my pixel art journey and this is all VERY helpful!! 🌻

[@Oxmond]

Wow! Great pixel art tutorial. Love the historic approach. Cool soundtrack too! 👍🤓

[@meowmeowmeow-7040]

You're so awesome I love how you're so passionate about an amazing form of art that has impacted my childhood in an amazing way, thank you good sir!!!

[@pomeroytv895]

This is awesome. I wish I had found this sooner! Haha. I just started doing pixel art for game design your video essays and tutorials are brilliant, inviting, and warm. I learn so much. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.

[@ryangmackeen]

Very well done here, a lot of levels of details, and a fun video. Thank you so much, I am getting back into pixel art for the first time in 15 years haha, this is a great re intro for me.

[@riiprafa]

Bro, this were a beutiful study about pixel art. Damn. I don't usually make any comment on tutorial videos but yours really deserves everty gratitude posible.

[@albyx]

I just started looking into pixel art for a game project I want to work on; this was super informative and fantastic!

[@GameArts1]

This was a cool introduction to pixel art :) I love Seiken densetsu 3, Chrono trigger, Tales and star ocean sprites, especially SD3 is so full of character.

[@Luminousplayer]

this is one of the best videos youtube randomly suggested me, excellent editing man!

[@vegetarobertson]

This Channel is amazing. The Slick Presentation and beautiful art work. Thanks! I've learned alot.

[@MattJonesTech]

Just finished my first game jam a few months back and I've been looking for this information. Amazing video, fantastic information, and exactly what I was looking for. Instant sub.

[@yuhikochan1952]

thank you so much Brandon! I love your enthusiasm btw.

[@nathan_sketches6999]

It has been around 3 years since this video came out, and now it stands as one of my most favorite for revision. I have been a pixel artist, ever since early May 2020, and has followed BJG ever since Brandon James Greer knew what he was doing when he started, but all he knew was how to start! Never once did he ever say he wasn't "expertised" enough in one thing to do another, and I know he had done a Graphics class before so he might have atleast done one or two things before. However, to end this comment, I want to thank Brandon, for all the videos, the posts, animation, tutorials, and especially. How to take care and keep it square 🎉🎉🎉

[@asemabuelhija4501]

putting aside the great content, man your video editing skills took this to a whole new level, Im impressed!

[@Harrison42]

I just stumbled on to your page, because recently I’ve gotten the urge to finally make a game that I’ve wanted to create and I just wanted to say your work is incredible!

[@ElPabloHoney]

Wow! I used to do a lot of pixel art a while ago but stopped due to my job and other stuff. I'm a graphic designer and I've been wanting to try new stuff like a bit more realistic approach to character illustration and maybe 3D. But seeing your videos just gave me this big urge to start creating pixel art again, I love your work man, and its really inspiring and helpful. Even if you think it was an information blast it is a gooood information blast.

[@psychomaniks]

This was amazingly informative, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much for making this so well organized.

[@artist_vlogg7163]

been binge watchin your video, great stuff!

[@levimadison8087]

Great video! This has just been a recent idea that i've had to start pixel art and this was a great bite-sized intro.

[@leonoliveira8652]

The size differences and canvas size thing at the end were REALLY enlightening!

[@Ivyplaygamez]

Game art student here, thank you so much the detailed explanation, the module I'm studying now is pixel art and I'm loving it, probably one of the few because everyone is interested on 3D, but I love the classics ^^

[@HelloMrPerezTv]

THANK YOU! I've never seen this explained so simply. 🙌🏽

[@ZeCatnipRainbow]

This is amazing, thank you. I could never figure out where and how to start because of canvas and sprite size.

[@ruthpol]

Very cool video, and no unnecessary fluff, straight to the point. Perfect :)

[@andregraca6532]

I just love how many times I just come back to this video :) It really, really is helpful

[@puixel]

Amazing video Brandon! thx for sharing the word!

[@tony_ficado]

Dude you are a master at this subject! love tou found your channel!

[@Azure_Flame]

Thank you! I've been looking for a tutorial/video/reference, anything! referring to character sprite sizes for ages!

[@Dereliction2]

Absolutely fantastic breakdown.

[@marcoscruzherran7385]

THIS is the kind of tutorial i was looking for, thank you so much

[@seppohovinseurassa]

Really well made video and clear explanation. Thank you for this!

[@Jusangen]

Great information man! Loved it. Looking forward to checking out your other videos!

[@catherinepangilinan6735]

the effort you put in creating content is really amazing. creating just one video must have take you sooooo long. you deserve more views and subscribers

[@batatasa6960]

We really have to make you bigger on youtube... Your work is awesome!

[@stochasticthots]

Thank you for creating such great informative and creative content

[@-beee-]

So informative and great examples. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

[@zerobugado9570]

Extremily helpfull and informative! Amazing work!

[@CrimOudin]

Very entertaining. Love the bit where you talk about 0 or 1 pixel sprite size. So funny.

[@andresgarro9095]

This video es EXACTLY what I needed, thanks a lot!

[@-Blender]

Really useful information. Thank you !!!

[@tristanwegner]

I just started creating pixelart for the Divoom devices, which is a lot of fun. I only have 16x16 to work with, but at least millions of color to choose from, and each pixel can have different one. Your video is a nice start.

[@idle.observer]

What was very enlightening, thank you for teaching!

[@cookerd8593]

Very fun to watch and great editing too!

[@Neuromindart]

First video I've seen from you and I subscribed and liked immediately. Well done!

[@Vinula]

Such a well and also beautifully done video!

[@varunshivaram711]

Amazing job breaking down a kind of confusing topic especially when you are new to pixel art I will definitely share to get you more subs, keep up the good work

[@cubalib]

Excellent video as always! They are becoming an inspiration and an important source of information, thank you!

[@BJGpixel]

Glad to hear, thanks for continuing to watch through a lot of them! :D

[@MrFedX]

This is the video I’ve been looking for. Thank you very much for this much needed information.

[@albertoandresrojas6863]

Best explanation video ever to understand size and resolution in pixel art 👏

[@uraxii2944]

Awesome video! Thank you for making it.

[@Psionetics]

Ristar was my jam back in the day! I'd completely forgotten about it until I saw this, thx

[@Lambda_Ovine]

You know, I always wondered what resolution should one go for... never in my life did I ever think about taking the resolution of older consoles... It makes so much sense, why didn't I think about that.

[@tantan7392]

This just saved my whole project, thanks bro

[@kipz]

perfect starting point. thanks!

[@tiberiusfdaapproved5350]

This is a very helpful video, you just made pixel art really understandable, only in the first 2 minutes. what a genius

[@racheltadeu1692]

Going to show this to my video game design class! Thank you for making this!

[@ROBINHUOOD]

Man...that class was AMAZING. i'm surelly your brand new pupil. Thanks a lot

[@WelcomeFellow]

Thank you again Brandon, your videos are very helpful!

[@vandalion]

Thanks for the video. Very straightforward and helpful.

[@alan.icg203]

Que grande Brandon, veo tus vídeos con diccionario y traductor en mano, ahora aprendo inglés y pixel art al mismo tiempo jajajaja

[@daelsan1909]

Todos los hacemos bro. Saludos.

[@AnasMations]

man you put so much effort in your videos!

[@Kathayne636]

This video is pretty amazing. Well done.

[@rm709]

I don’t even make pixel art, but the way you explain it, I’m fascinated!

[@nirtheart]

Ayy your videos are amazing, keep it up

[@hajisaiku]

This is just a great vid im definitely going to add this vid to my pixel art discord..it's mainly for people to learn/teach each other pixel art for any kind of media of choice

[@kuta_kuma6456]

Honestly helped me just to get started so thankyou :)

[@madda8594]

this was such a helpful video! thanks so much!

[@TheGlenofKrokot]

Your videos are really helpful, thank you kind sir

[@khrissxander]

Excellect Video My Guy!!! Loved eet

[@ghostlack]

usefullll! I enjoyed your video and jotted down some notes. Thanks.

[@savager9936]

This video was amazing, thank you!!

[@danieldelewis2448]

I've watched a lot of videos trying to learn how to turn my character design art into pixel art and I have to say none of the videos I have watched has given me close to the understanding of what needs to be done as this video has

[@joseroman120]

really nice video. i feel really impressed knowing that characters as original pokemon guy were only a few pixels detailed

[@Solesteam]

7:56 I usually map out chunks of the body with an outline and a random internal colour (any colour that isn't white so I can tell if I put stray lines anywhere against the transparency background), then I shape the body part I'm working on and add simple colour it and move onto the next part, I separate the body parts by Left arm, right arm, head, and torso+legs, if I'm imitating someone elses style I separate each leg and the torso, after each part is made I tweak the colours and add detail and as I go along adjust the sizes and proportions and sometimes reshape the lines and whatnot. and then after all that I do some finishing touches and like that, the base is completed, if the character has a hat or a tail or an extra limb I do that after the last step by repeating the process from step one with the extra pieces I plan to add.

[@phen-themoogle7651]

Very very nice reference point for me, thank you so much 😊 loved this video xD

[@yoyoyonasa]

excellent and amusing video. pls keep on

[@MrKGSlayer]

Thank you been looking for this forever

[@fabiolapaonessa1791]

hi! I just started pixel art for work, and oh my GOD THANK YOU!!! I've just been winging it!

[@freya-r4904]

This is quite useful info and great reference what detail of pixels I would go for