Piskel: Basic Tools and Interface

Web Craftie
27 Jul 201611:21

TLDRThis video introduces Piskel, an online and offline graphic editor that offers a variety of tools for creating pixel art. It highlights features like frame animation, symmetrical drawing, color selection, and layering. The editor's convenience is emphasized through its intuitive tools, such as the paint bucket, mirror pin, and shape selection, which simplify the creation process. The video also mentions the export options available, including GIF and PNG, and promises a follow-up on integrating the art into game creation software.

Takeaways

  • 🌐 Piskel is an online editor and graphic software that can also be downloaded for offline use.
  • 🖌️ It offers a variety of tools such as a paint bucket, mirror pin, stroke, rectangle, and circle tools for creating graphics.
  • 🔄 The software allows for frame manipulation, including adding, duplicating, and changing the speed of animation.
  • 🎨 Users can adjust the color palette, including using RGB values and hex codes for precise color selection.
  • 🔧 Piskel includes editing features like lighten, darken, and dithering tools to create highlights, shadows, and partial transparency effects.
  • 🔄 The interface supports common hotkeys for scaling and other shortcuts familiar to users of graphic design software.
  • 🔄 It also offers transformation tools like flipping, rotating, and cloning for editing and positioning graphics.
  • 🎨 Piskel supports multiple layers, which is useful for creating complex graphics without affecting underlying elements.
  • 💾 The software provides an exporting option for different formats including GIF, PNG, and sprite sheets, which are convenient for game development.
  • 👾 An upcoming video will demonstrate how to create a simple character in Piskel and import it into game creation software like Stencil.
  • 🛠️ The interface is user-friendly, with features like a pixel grid and preferences that can be customized to suit the user's needs.

Q & A

  • What is Piskel and how can it be accessed?

    -Piskel is an online editor for creating pixel art and animations. It can be accessed by typing 'piskel' into a search engine or directly by visiting piskelapp.com.

  • Is there an offline version of Piskel available?

    -Yes, an offline version of Piskel is available for those who may not always have access to the internet, such as when using a laptop in areas without Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.

  • What are the basic components of the Piskel interface?

    -The Piskel interface includes tools on the left, a workspace, a preview area, and different frames which can be added or manipulated to create animations.

  • How does the frame system in Piskel work for animations?

    -In Piskel, frames are used to create animations by drawing on each frame individually. The software then plays these frames one after the other in a loop, and the speed of the animation can be adjusted.

  • What tools does Piskel provide for creating pixel art?

    -Piskel provides various tools such as a paint bucket, vertical mirror pin, stroke tool, rectangle tool, circle tool, selection tools, move tool, and shape selection tool.

  • How can I ensure symmetry when drawing with Piskel?

    -Piskel has a vertical mirror pin tool that allows you to draw the same thing on both sides, ensuring symmetry in your artwork.

  • What is the purpose of the lighten and darken tools in Piskel?

    -The lighten tool is used to create highlights by increasing the brightness of pixels, while the darken tool is used to create shadows by decreasing the brightness of pixels.

  • How does the dithering tool work in Piskel?

    -The dithering tool in Piskel creates a semi-transparent effect by alternating colored pixels with non-colored pixels, which is a technique used in old retro games to simulate partial transparency.

  • Can I use keyboard shortcuts in Piskel similar to Photoshop?

    -Yes, Piskel supports familiar keyboard shortcuts such as using the left and right brackets to increase or decrease brush size, similar to those in Photoshop.

  • What are some of the advanced features Piskel offers for editing and exporting artwork?

    -Piskel offers features like flipping, rotating, cloning, and centering artwork. It also supports multiple layers and allows for exporting in various formats such as GIF, PNG, and sprite sheets.

  • How can I duplicate a frame in Piskel to create variations for animations?

    -In Piskel, you can duplicate a frame instead of creating a new one from scratch, which allows you to make small changes to the artwork for creating variations in animations, such as a character walking.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Piscal Graphic Software

The speaker introduces Piscal, a versatile graphic software that is accessible online and can be downloaded for offline use. They highlight its compatibility with various devices, mentioning that it works on both Mac and PC, and is particularly useful for those with inconsistent internet access. The video demonstrates the software's interface, including tools for creating and editing sprites, adding frames for animation, and adjusting playback speed. The speaker also touches on the software's painting tools, such as the paint bucket, stroke, and shape tools, and mentions the importance of updating the browser for optimal use.

05:00

🛠️ Exploring Piscal's Editing Tools and Features

This paragraph delves into the various editing tools available in Piscal, such as the lighten and darken tools for creating highlights and shadows, the dithering tool for achieving a semi-transparent effect, and the color picker for selecting and saving colors. The speaker also discusses hotkeys for resizing and the use of layers for non-destructive editing. They mention the software's ability to flip, rotate, and clone images, as well as the convenience of the color palette and layer management. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the software's export options, including GIF and PNG formats, which are particularly useful for game character development.

10:02

📚 Piscal's Advanced Features and Exporting Options

The final paragraph focuses on Piscal's advanced features, such as the ability to duplicate frames for animation and the option to export projects in various formats like GIF and sprite sheets, which are convenient for game development. The speaker also mentions the software's preferences settings, which allow users to adjust the frame rate and background, and the option to display a pixel grid for precise editing. The paragraph ends with a teaser for the next video, where the speaker plans to demonstrate how to create a simple character in Piscal and import it into a game creation software called Stencil.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Graphic software

Graphic software refers to applications that are designed to create, edit, or manipulate images, illustrations, and animations. In the context of the video, the script mentions the variety of graphic software available, which caters to different operating systems and budgets. The video introduces Piskel as an accessible alternative for creating pixel art.

💡Piskel

Piskel is an online editor and graphic software specifically mentioned in the script. It is highlighted for its capabilities in creating pixel art and animations. The script demonstrates how to access and use Piskel, including its features and tools for drawing and animating.

💡Pixel art

Pixel art is a form of digital art where images are created on the pixel level. The script discusses Piskel's utility in creating pixel art, showcasing its tools that allow for detailed and precise artwork, typical of this style.

💡Online editor

An online editor, as mentioned in the script, is a software tool that operates through a web browser without the need for installation on a local device. Piskel is presented as an online editor, offering convenience for users with inconsistent internet access by also providing an offline version.

💡Frames

In the context of the video, frames refer to individual images in an animation sequence. The script explains how Piskel allows users to add, duplicate, and manipulate frames to create animations that loop.

💡Tools

The term 'tools' in the script refers to the various functions available within Piskel for creating and editing artwork. These include the paint bucket, eraser, stroke, rectangle, and circle tools, which are essential for pixel art creation.

💡Animation

Animation, as discussed in the script, is the process of creating the illusion of motion through a sequence of images. The video demonstrates how Piskel can be used to create animated sequences by arranging frames in a specific order and adjusting playback speed.

💡Layers

Layers in graphic software, including Piskel, are separate planes that make up an image, allowing for independent editing of different parts of the artwork. The script mentions the advantage of using layers to avoid altering the base artwork when adding new elements.

💡Exporting

Exporting in the context of the script means converting the artwork created in Piskel into a file format that can be used elsewhere, such as GIF, PNG, or sprite sheets. The video highlights Piskel's exporting options as a convenient feature for game developers and animators.

💡Game character

A game character, as implied in the script, is a character designed for use in a video game. The video mentions the use of Piskel to create game characters and the convenience of exporting them in formats suitable for game development.

💡Stencil

Stencil is mentioned in the script as a game creation software where the simple character created in Piskel can be imported. It suggests the compatibility and utility of Piskel's output for game development purposes.

Highlights

Introduction to Piskel, an online graphic software editor.

Piskel is accessible on various platforms including offline versions.

Demonstration of creating a sprite in Piskel.

The importance of updating or using compatible browsers for optimal experience.

Overview of Piskel's user interface and tools.

Explanation of frames and animation preview in Piskel.

Use of the vertical mirror pin for symmetrical drawing.

Functionality of the paint bucket tool for color filling.

Utilization of the stroke tool for straight lines.

The rectangle and circle tools for shape creation.

Selection tools for moving and copying parts of the artwork.

The lighten and darken tools for creating highlights and shadows.

Hotkeys for resizing and other shortcuts similar to Photoshop.

Dithering tool for creating partial transparency effects.

Color picker and management within Piskel.

Layer management for complex illustrations.

Exporting options including GIF, PNG, and sprite sheets.

Upcoming demonstration of integrating Piskel creations into game software.