Compose styles
Rather than blending styles toward a middle, this gives them roles. The first one carries the structure, the next comes in as the accent, and anything after that shows up in a single detail. Where they fight each other, it says so before you start.
How to divide the work
- Composition
- Follow LCD Game Graphics: Positions of moving parts fixed first, the printed background explaining the world
- Type
- Set in LCD Game Graphics's manner (Numerals given to seven-segment digits, words kept to a few fixed labels), and let Pixel Art's lettering (Draw letters on the same grid, fixing cap height in pixels) appear only where you want the eye to catch.
- Material
- Ground in LCD Game Graphics's material (A silver shell holding two layers, transmissive LCD over printed art); bring in exactly one thing from Pixel Art (Limited palette, dark outlines, neighboring hues to soften the steps).
- Colour
- Build on #b4b0ac, #c72725, #131315 and admit one accent from #26243f, #ef6a55, #f3d36b.
Where they fight
These are already listed as related entries, so the join should come easily.
Caution
- LCD Game Graphics Adding poses in pursuit of smooth movement removes the tension that jumping between frames created and the play turns dull.
- Pixel Art Downscaling a photograph skips the decision behind every single pixel, and the contours turn muddy the moment the image is enlarged.
Image prompt
Produce four original images that take their structure from LCD Game Graphics (style, 1980–1991) and their accent from Pixel Art (technique, 1970s–). ## What to make Make the kind of thing LCD Game Graphics exists for: designing the display of a simple device that shows motion through few states, or toys or promotional items needing play feel without adding components. Choose one subject and hold it across all four. ## Structure comes from LCD Game Graphics - Fixed-segment figures - Two layers over printed backgrounds - Frame-step motion - Silver shells and the cross key Composition: Positions of moving parts fixed first, the printed background explaining the world. Type and lettering: Numerals given to seven-segment digits, words kept to a few fixed labels. ## Accent comes from Pixel Art, used sparingly - Visible pixels - Limited palettes - Tiles - Sprites Let one material quality come from it: Limited palette, dark outlines, neighboring hues to soften the steps. ## Colour and feeling Build the ground on #b4b0ac, carry the structure in #c72725 and #131315, and let a single accent come from #ef6a55. These are read off real works, so a direction rather than a fixed palette. Feeling to carry: play, nostalgia, technique. ## What goes wrong - LCD Game Graphics: Adding poses in pursuit of smooth movement removes the tension that jumping between frames created and the play turns dull. - Pixel Art: Downscaling a photograph skips the decision behind every single pixel, and the contours turn muddy the moment the image is enlarged. ## Across the four Keep the roles fixed in all four. Vary the framing, the scale and the arrangement so the set shows what this pairing can do rather than four versions of one picture. ## Constraints - Do not imitate, reference or name any specific artist, studio, brand, character or copyrighted work. - Do not reproduce the composition of an existing work. - Produce original compositions in the general period languages described above.
Related entries
- LCD Game Graphics 1980–1991 / Style / Digital Retro
The fixed-segment LCD screens of Game & Watch and its kin. Movement had to be told through a handful of poses etched in advance, and this art of frames, layered over a printed background, produced a picture unlike any other.
- Pixel Art 1970s– / Technique / Digital Image Techniques
Treats the pixel as an honest unit, building clear form from limited resolution and palette.
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