How is game art made?

MattButlerStudios

I see lots of nice looking game art, but how is it made? How is it so polished looking?

UtopianGames

This will help http://2dgameartforprogrammers.blogspot.co.uk/

Darren.

tatiang

Some of the art you're seeing, including the link that Darren provided, is made by people with 20-30 years of experience. While that's not always the case, it's good to keep that in mind.

MattButlerStudios

Thank you for the responses. For instance how would this crab be made? Could this have been done in photoshop? If not what program and are there any free ones for beginners? https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By4MA0vriD89NWJqLXpBTXd1MkU/edit?usp=sharing

Hopscotch

It could have been done in Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, GIMP, Paint.NET, etc.

GIMP is probably the most commonly used free graphics tool. Not the easiest, but powerful and zillions of youtube tutorials.

BBEnk

Practice and learn to use the tools available there are tons of free ones, and then toss in a little imagination.

Krehol Games

In my opinion looks like it was made using adobe illustrator. Something like that takes a well rounded knowledge base on how to use illustrator. Once you obtain the software you can find tutorials on youtube to help you out. If you cant afford illustrator try free tools like: paint.net or gmp.

RP

Ninja Magic. Folded many, many times. Hardened by desire and ambition.

• 2 tsps of awesome.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Armelline

I have no real graphical or artistic ability. I get around this by not trying to make games that require really fancy graphics, and by relying heavily on the extensive free resources available on the web.

First of all, if you don't already have it, grab yourself a copy of Photoshop. If you can afford it, the Creative Cloud account is well worth the money, and it's a monthly fee rather than huge upfront amount. If you can't, grab a copy of Photoshop CS2 that you can freely and legally download since Adobe shut down the activation servers. It's old, but still does the job.

Most of the art I make by searching through Photoshop tutorials until I find one that produces the effect I want and seems easy enough to do.

A lot of legwork can be done using Photoshop brushes, and I've collected a pretty good bank of free, legally obtained and very handy brushes.

Ditto with textures and patterns.

There are various explosion generators for producing explosions of various kinds which can save a ton of work and effort.

In other words, I cheat I find good ways of achieving the result I want without having to apply any real skill or ability. The results are never as good as an experienced artist can produce, but they do well enough.

MattButlerStudios

@Armelline‌ That's a great point. I have been doing that all along and it's nice to have a confirmation that I am not alone. I will continue that route to get what I need for my games. Thanks!

MattButlerStudios

@Armelline‌ Also, thanks for the mention about CS2. I might have to go with that as an alternative to gimp! Also if you don't mind me asking, which sites do you use to get your images?

debugdesign

I did that!

I created it in Adobe Illustrator but I think I exported it in Ai, EPS and SVG so it could be edited in Inkscape if needed. All the files are at http://www.graphic-buffet.com