Piskel Explosion Tutorial

RedletterDan
21 Sept 202006:57

TLDRIn this Piskel Explosion Tutorial, Mr. McLaughlin guides viewers through creating a pixel art explosion using Piskelapp.com. Starting with a circle and adding colors, he demonstrates how to build up the explosion with yellow flashes and red flames, using tools like the selection tool to move and fade elements for a dynamic effect. The tutorial concludes with tips on refining the animation and saving it as a GIF for sharing.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Use Piskel (piscolla.com) to create pixel art explosions.
  • 🔍 Look for tutorials by 'saint eleven' for various pixel art techniques.
  • 📐 Start by drawing a circle using the circle tool in Piskel.
  • 🎨 Fill the circle with a blue tint instead of solid black for more interest.
  • 🔄 Duplicate the frame and use an off-white color for the next layer.
  • ✨ Add a bright yellow flash with sharp, pointy edges for the explosion effect.
  • 👆 Add a white highlight to the center of the explosion for emphasis.
  • 🌀 Introduce shrapnel or bits of flame by adding yellow pieces flying out.
  • 🌫️ Paint a smoke cloud using a dark color and then erase unnecessary tips.
  • 🔥 Create fiery bubbles with dark red outlines and fill with yellow for depth.
  • 🖌️ Use the selection tool to move and fade the fire effect outwards.
  • 🌫️ Add more smoke to the animation to show the lingering effect.
  • 🔄 Repeat the process of cutting, pasting, and erasing to animate the explosion.
  • 👀 Check the animation preview to ensure smooth transitions between frames.
  • 🔧 Adjust the frame rate in the preview to get the desired speed of animation.
  • 💾 Save and download the animation as a GIF to share your work.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the Piskel Explosion Tutorial?

    -The main topic of the Piskel Explosion Tutorial is creating a pixel art explosion using Piskel, an online application.

  • Who is the presenter of the Piskel Explosion Tutorial?

    -The presenter of the Piskel Explosion Tutorial is Mr. McLaughlin.

  • What is the recommended way to start drawing a circle in Piskel according to the tutorial?

    -The tutorial suggests using the circle tool in Piskel to draw a circle, as it is a handy feature for this purpose.

  • What color is suggested to fill the initial circle with, and why is a solid black considered boring?

    -The tutorial suggests filling the initial circle with a blue tint instead of solid black because solid black is considered incredibly boring.

  • What feature in Piskel is used to speed up filling an area with color?

    -The bucket fill tool in Piskel is used to speed up the process of filling an area with color.

  • What is the purpose of duplicating a frame in the animation process described in the tutorial?

    -Duplicating a frame in the animation process allows for the creation of different stages of the explosion, such as adding a white flash or yellow pieces of shrapnel.

  • What does the tutorial suggest for creating the appearance of a dynamic fire in the explosion?

    -The tutorial suggests using a selection tool to move and adjust the colors of the fire to create a dynamic and shifting appearance.

  • How many frames are planned for the total animation in the Piskel Explosion Tutorial?

    -The Piskel Explosion Tutorial plans to have a total of eight frames for the animation.

  • What is the recommended way to check the animation sequence in Piskel according to the tutorial?

    -The tutorial recommends checking the animation sequence by looking at the animation preview window in the top right corner of Piskel.

  • What are the additional steps suggested for improving the animation beyond the basic eight frames?

    -The tutorial suggests adding more frames, adjusting colors, and creating more smoke to improve the animation beyond the basic eight frames.

  • How can viewers share their completed animations from the Piskel Explosion Tutorial?

    -Viewers can share their completed animations by saving and downloading them as a GIF, and then sharing on social media platforms.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Creating Pixel Art Explosion in PiscoLab

In this tutorial, Mr. McLaughlin demonstrates how to create a pixel art explosion using PiscoLab. He starts by drawing a circle with a blue tint and fills it with an off-white color. The next step involves adding a bright yellow flash with sharp, pointy edges. The process continues with the addition of white highlights and yellow shrapnel. A smoke cloud is created by painting over the explosion with a dark color, followed by the creation of fiery elements with dark red and yellow. The tutorial emphasizes the dynamic nature of fire and the importance of color shifting to give depth to the explosion. The use of the selection tool is highlighted for moving and fading the fire elements, while maintaining the persistence of the smoke.

05:02

🔁 Animating the Explosion with PiscoLab

The second paragraph delves into the animation process of the pixel art explosion. The creator explains that the animation will consist of eight frames, with the latter four focusing on refining the explosion by cutting, pasting, and erasing certain sections. The goal is to create a convincing animation by adding more smoke and gradually reducing the fire elements. The use of the animation preview window is crucial for checking the sequence and ensuring smooth transitions between frames. The tutorial also covers adjusting the frame rate and offers tips on how to enlarge the preview for better visualization. Finally, the creator advises on saving the animation to the gallery and downloading it as a GIF for easy sharing on social media platforms.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pixel Art

Pixel art is a form of digital art where images are created on the pixel level. It is often associated with the style of old video games and has a distinct blocky appearance due to the individual pixels being visible. In the context of the video, pixel art is the technique used to create the explosion effect, with each pixel carefully placed to form the desired visual.

💡Piskel

Piskel is a free online tool specifically designed for creating pixel art and animations. It provides a user-friendly interface with various tools for drawing and animating. In the video, Piskel is the chosen platform for the tutorial on making a pixel art explosion, highlighting its ease of use and functionality.

💡Tutorial

A tutorial is a set of instructions or an educational video that guides individuals through the process of learning a new skill or completing a specific task. The video script describes a tutorial on creating a pixel art explosion, where the host, Mr. McLaughlin, walks viewers through each step of the process.

💡Circle Tool

The circle tool is a feature in many graphic design applications, including Piskel, that allows users to draw perfect circles with ease. In the script, the circle tool is mentioned as a helpful feature for starting the explosion animation by creating a circular shape as the base.

💡Bucket Fill

The bucket fill tool is used to fill a selected area with a specific color quickly. In the context of the video, the bucket fill is used to color the circle with a blue tint and the subsequent frames with off-white and yellow to build up the layers of the explosion animation.

💡Duplicate Frame

In animation, duplicating a frame means creating an exact copy of an existing frame to use as a starting point for the next stage of the animation. The script describes using the duplicate frame feature to create multiple stages of the explosion, each with different colors and elements.

💡Shrapnel

Shrapnel refers to the fragments of an object that are thrown out by an explosion or impact. In the video, the term is used metaphorically to describe the small pieces of the explosion that are animated to appear as if they are flying out from the main body of the explosion.

💡Smoke Cloud

A smoke cloud is a visual representation of smoke, often depicted as a cloud or mist in animations and illustrations. In the script, the smoke cloud is part of the explosion animation, created by painting a dark color over the explosion and erasing parts of it to simulate the dissipation of smoke.

💡Flames

Flames are the visible, glowing parts of a fire. In the context of the video, flames are depicted as the fiery part of the explosion, using colors like dark red, yellow, and orange to create a dynamic and realistic effect.

💡Selection Tool

The selection tool in graphic design allows users to define a specific area of the artwork to be manipulated, such as moving or copying. In the video, the selection tool is used to move parts of the explosion outward to create the illusion of expansion and fading.

💡Animation Preview

The animation preview is a feature that allows animators to view their work in sequence, ensuring that the animation flows smoothly and making adjustments as needed. The script mentions checking the animation preview to ensure that every frame is moving and shifting correctly.

💡GIF

A GIF, or Graphics Interchange Format, is a type of image file that supports both static and animated images. In the video, the host suggests saving and downloading the animation as a GIF to easily share the completed pixel art explosion on social media platforms.

Highlights

Introduction to a pixel art explosion tutorial using Piskel.

Recommendation to check out Pedro Materos' tutorials under the name Saint Eleven.

Instructions on creating an account on Piskel, which is free to use.

Step-by-step guide on drawing a circle for the explosion base.

Using the circle tool and bucket fill for efficient coloring.

Creating a blue-tinted circle instead of a plain black one for more visual interest.

Duplicating frames and changing colors to create the explosion's initial stages.

Adding a bright yellow flash to the explosion for contrast.

Incorporating sharp edges to mimic the look of 'super saiyan hair'.

Adding white highlights to the middle of the explosion for a focal point.

Introducing the concept of adding shrapnel or bits of flame to the animation.

Creating a smoke cloud by painting over the explosion with a dark color.

Using the selection tool to move and manipulate parts of the explosion.

Creating depth in the explosion by mixing red, yellow, and orange.

Technique of fading the fire and shifting colors to simulate dynamic fire behavior.

Process of adding more smoke and gradually fading the fire for a realistic effect.

Importance of checking the animation preview for smooth transitions.

Customizing the animation speed and frame sequence for the best visual effect.

Final steps include saving the animation to the gallery and downloading it as a GIF.

Encouragement to share the completed animation on social media.