Indexed-colour artwork
Check which pixels share a palette entry before recolouring
Avoid changing an unrelated detail when two objects refer to the same palette colour.
Read the guide ↗SANJIESAN CREATOR / JOURNAL
Finish the next small project
Start with a modest project: a character sheet, a short scene or a useful template. These guides help you decide what belongs in the work, organise its sources and leave files that make sense when you reopen them.
122 guides and practical notes · Page 4
Sprite edge review
Give a transparent sprite edge a real background check
Compare transparency against the backgrounds where a small asset will actually appear.
Read the guide ↗Reusable pixel assets
Separate a shared tile edit from a single decoration
Decide whether a crack belongs to every reused wall tile or to one placed instance.
Read the guide ↗Asset-pack presentation
Show how a small tileset forms more than one scene
Use contrasting arrangements to reveal useful coverage and missing transitions.
Read the guide ↗Animated asset placement
Give an animated effect a consistent placement anchor
Keep a growing effect attached to its intended source while its visible bounds change.
Read the guide ↗Resizable asset artwork
Protect the corners of a resizable pixel panel
Separate fixed corner artwork from the areas expected to stretch or repeat.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a display font using the words in your artwork
Compare character coverage, expressive details and the intended design use before choosing a font offer.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a figure reference book for the pose question
Compare reference views and explanatory treatment before choosing a figure-drawing book.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a fineliner for the line you will scan
Compare line purpose, actual paper and digitisation needs before buying a large pen set.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a voice microphone for the recording route
Compare connection, placement and a representative speech sample before choosing a microphone setup.
Read the guide ↗Line drawing
Use line weight to explain one overlap
Make a collar and scarf relationship readable without outlining every detail equally.
Read the guide ↗Hatching studies
Make hatching follow the form of one simple object
Compare line direction and density without covering the whole drawing in texture.
Read the guide ↗Shape relationships
Move an accidental tangent without redesigning the subject
Check where a background edge appears to grow from a character or prop.
Read the guide ↗Composition studies
Balance an off-centre illustration without mirroring it
Compare the roles of a small contrasting element and surrounding space in an asymmetric composition.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a music service for the video and publication use
Compare musical fit and the actual publishing route before choosing a subscription.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a motion template by the change it must accept
Compare editable text, timing and dependencies rather than buying a preview you cannot adapt.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose a display calibration device for the existing screen
Compare the display, supported software and review purpose before choosing a measurement device.
Read the guide ↗BUYING GUIDE
Choose an art book for the process you want to understand
Distinguish a collection of finished images from the process material that answers your drawing question.
Read the guide ↗Comic page planning
Place the dialogue before finishing the panel art
Reserve a real dialogue shape without sacrificing the gesture that explains the panel.
Read the guide ↗Comic lettering
Make a balloon tail identify one speaker clearly
Check a two-person panel without relying on the reader already knowing who says the line.
Read the guide ↗Comic panel revision
Recheck the drawing after changing a comic frame
Distinguish changing the viewing boundary from transforming the artwork inside it.
Read the guide ↗Comic visual emphasis
Let an object cross a panel border for a clear reason
Compare a contained pose and a border-breaking pose without confusing the neighbouring panel.
Read the guide ↗Drawing digitisation
Keep pale pencil information when cleaning a drawing capture
Distinguish a cleaner-looking background from a faithful drawing with its intended light marks.
Read the guide ↗Reference in a working file
Make a placed reference obey the composition question
Keep an owned reference distinct from finished artwork while deciding scale and placement.
Read the guide ↗FROM THE ARCHIVE
More from this site
Browse the earlier articles, references and reading lists.
Open the article archive ↗Browse resources ↗BEFORE YOU BEGIN
A few useful answers
What should I make first?
Choose one object with a clear finish: a single-page character study or a short sequence. Write down its format and what it needs to communicate before collecting tools.
Are the resource concepts downloadable?
A concept listing is an idea for a future resource. It is not a file pack. Check each page for its status, included files and usage terms when a verified release becomes available.
Can I use a reference image in a finished project?
Keep a source record and check the permission for your intended use. Being useful as a reference does not by itself establish permission to redistribute or sell the image.