Beautiful 8-bit Color Cycling Pixel Art

Oct 15, 2015 5:36 PM

B3holder

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208608

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8099

Dislikes

117

Source: http://www.effectgames.com/demos/canvascycle/
I strongy recommend you check it out for better viewing experience, playback settings, more images and explanation. Uses HTML5.
The images are not actually animated, they only cycle colors to convey the feel of movement.

I'd play this game

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

the new skyrim looks pretty cool

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

These are amazing. And calming.

10 years ago | Likes 85 Dislikes 0

jesus christ people. these are 8 bit cause it's done on a 256 colour palette. there's so much Dunning-Kruger effect in this comment section

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

These are really pretty. Thanks for the sauce OP.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

All of these locations would look awesome in a Zelda game.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Gorgeous.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Thanks OP, now I wanna go home and play LucasArts adventure games.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

These are wonderful

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

meanwhile i'm animating this shit http://imgur.com/Tz3LzWB

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 2

Oh man, reminds me of all those LucasArts adventure games that I played growing up.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Reading through comments, learn 8bit = 256 colors, wonder if Starcraft is 8bit because it's 256 colors?!?!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The number of bits used for colors is not necessarily the same as the word length used by the processor running the application.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Monkey Island anyone?

10 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

you are on!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Majestic as fuck! Really.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Guys, these are GIFs. A GIF cannot have better than 8-bit color. It is 8-bit color.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

I've been wandering around for hours with this cream pie. I have no idea why I bought it. What am I supposed to do with it?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Someone make a 3D engine that produces pictures like that and create an open world fantasy RPG with it.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Why cant games be like this anymore...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

All I can hear is "Round 1. FIGHT"

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

gifs as wallpapers make it happen , the future is now!!!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

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10 years ago (deleted Jan 14, 2024 1:26 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

please do tell

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

CAN'T. STOP. WATCHING.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I always upvote pixel art.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Neat

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

8-bit, but not like you think. Each has a custom palette with less than 256 colors, but can't be displayed on a system with a fixed palette.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've seen some neat stuff down with 256 colors, but if these are truly 8-bit, they're amazing.

10 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 3

These have 256 colors. The 8-bit part is reffering to the technique. Lenghtier explanation is at the bottom of the source page.

10 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 3

There's no technque called 8-bit. It's just pixel art, dude.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 5

It's pixel art using an 8 bit palette index per pixel, which is the technique.

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Now THAT is proper pixel art! Not that indie trash so popular nowadays.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Indie's are often inspired by older systems though.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Which is pointless because those old systems only did what they did due to the limitations of the tech at the time.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Which is something people enjoy due to nostalgia aye, in that case we can argue that this might as well be replaced with 3D models!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

3D models are a different medium than 2D pixel, though. I'm specifically talking about the differences between to types of 2D pixel art.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

When you think about it all art is pixel art

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

bruh

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

By that logic any video game that allows you to play as someone else or different profession is a role playing game.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Exactly now you're getting it

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

only when it's digital. sculptures and paintings aren't made of pixels

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Or are they?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

How do we know mirrors are real if our eyes aren't real

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

More of them, and with sound! http://www.effectgames.com/demos/canvascycle/ Source: Mark Ferrari

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

Thanks!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Mark Ferrari used to work for LucasArts, and is now doing a new game with Ron Gilbert: http://blog.thimbleweedpark.com/

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

YOU. YOU ARE THE GUY WHO HAS THE SOURCE THAT I KNEW EXISTED, BUT FORGOT WHERE TO FIND. An upvote for you. You should be top comment.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Thank you! I remember seeing these before and playing around with the settings, but come on, posting without source? What is this, Buzzfeed?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's not. That's why I posted with a source.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Well, source website, sure, but I was talking about credit more than source. The arist's name isn't in your description. Still good, though!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Forgot where to find? As in forgot it while scrolling down from the original post where I put the same link?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The source belongs in the description of the first image or the comment of the tenth image. Hiding it behind the cutoff gets you called out.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

"8-bit"

10 years ago | Likes 222 Dislikes 26

they look a lot closer to 16-bit aka sonic era or even 32-bit than 8-bit. I think the word they were looking for is "retro" or "arcade"style

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 5

These are 8-bit indexed colour with 24-bit palette entries. "8-bit" is a perfectly adequate designation.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

oh, my mistake.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I wish these could be live wallpapers for my phone.....

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You sent this from an Android phone, so you CAN have them. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.direxar.animgiflivewallpaper2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm going to suggest that the art style is more of the 16-bit generation of consoles.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 4

They are 8-bit. 256 colours.

10 years ago | Likes 75 Dislikes 3

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10 years ago (deleted Oct 1, 2016 5:29 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Actually last time I called this out someone provided a link that these were actually advanced 8bit projects from some guy

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

these are GIFs, 256 colours! 256=2^8 = 8bit. (Selected from a 24-bit palette and you can theoretically have one palette per frame.)

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

The high resolutions just makes them look too modern for 8-bit, but each of these definitely has a 256-color pallet.

10 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Alright - here's the deal. Each of these images have no more than 256 colors (often fewer), which makes them have an 8-bit palette. Now /1

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Do you really think they think of it that way?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

If they didn't, then they confused 8-bit color for a system with an 8-bit CPU, which often had less than 8-bit color.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

For example, the NES (an 8-bit system) had a grand total of between 53-55 colors. Definitely not an 8-bit palette.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

you might be asking - why these look so much better than the 8-bit paletted games you remember. The reason is two-fold. First, as has /2

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

been mentioned, the pixels of a 640x480 image aren't as noticeable on a high resolution display, without magnification. Second, a system /3

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

of that era, had one single 8-bit palette for every game. So if you're covering the entire RGB spectrum with 256 colors, you have fewer /4

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

colors per hue. But, if you're only dealing with a limited range of hues (as these images do), you can increase the number of colors. /5

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah... while these are pixel art, not one is 8-bit pixel art.

10 years ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 18

Yes it is. 256 colors=8 bits of colors.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Valid information. I do stand corrected. :-) Thanks, neighbor.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The high resolutions just makes them look too modern for 8-bit, but each of these definitely has a 256-color pallet.

10 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 1

Valid information. I do stand corrected. :-) Thanks, neighbor.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Closer to 32-bit

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 15

No. 256 colors, 8 bit.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I can almost guarantee you that they don't mean it to be 8-bit the way you're describing it. They were probably born in 2002 and think --

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

pixels mean 8-bit despite never having any actual knowledge. I'm not saying the artist is ignorant, I'm suggesting that the OP is.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

8 bit means 00000000 (8x0=0) to 11111111 (8x1=255). There's 256 (or less) different colors in these pictures.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

8-bit doesn't mean "8-bit range including all colors" it means 2^8=256 colors. Play around with an 8-bit pallete in PSP or Shop.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Idiomatically, it refers to the bitness of the console era, not the palette; this would be 16-bit. But 8-bit just means "retro" now anyway.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

No, that's exactly what it means: 8-bit=256 colors from 00000000 (8x0=0) to 11111111 (8x1=255).

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

No, seriously, 8-bit refers to 8-bit CPUs (NES, Master System, 8088), 16-bit to 16-bit CPUs (SNES, Genesis, 286), etc. Study it out.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

It I'm well aware, but it's a matter of context and in this case it's about colors, not CPUs.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

I have an overwhelming urge to play any Sierra game right now.

10 years ago | Likes 361 Dislikes 3

No, you mean Cyan.....I just recently bought and played Myst and Riven on Steam...the 90s called, they want their games back.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

SPAAAACCEEE QUEEEESSTT!

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

"Hey, didn't I kick your ass in a giant robot once?"

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Curse of Monkey Island

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

That was exactly what I was thinking

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Was convinced for a moment that these were lifted right out of King's Quest.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Lords of the Realm

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Kyrandia!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Or Sword&Sworcery. That shit is AWESOME.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Oh dear lord I was thinking the exact same thing and got all nostalgic.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

First thought on my mind was king's quest. You get an upvote sir.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Heart of Darkness anyone?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Trophy Bass 3D!... what?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Dr Brain!

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

That game was fantastic

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

There's also Lost Island of Dr Brain and Lost Mind of Dr Brain.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

YES!! These totally make me think of the old King's Quest games.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

8 bit aside I thought much of these looked like magic the gathering land art.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

People might kill me for saying this but.. This looks like the levels from Link The Faces of evil for the Philips CD-I

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Or a LucasArts adventure

10 years ago | Likes 52 Dislikes 0

Name some for me bro

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Day of the tentacle or secret of monkey island every time

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

SAM AND MAX!

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Maniac Mansion 2 - Day of the Tentacle.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The secret of monkey island. Renewed version is on steam too.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

It is awesome! And such a neat feature you can switch between the remade and original version :D

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

No Quest for Glory love in here?

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

All the love for Quest for Glory, but even more for Betrayal at Krondor!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Don't worry, I love Quest for Glory as well!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Crash mind over mutant? only game i have by them. beaten it 3 times. 100%.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Lord of MAGIC

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I half-expected to see Leisure Suit Larry pop up in the bottom right of #1

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Did you play the latest Kings Quest on steam?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Tell me about them

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Unfortunately the latest one is episodes, but the humour that we love about the kings quest is there. I really enjoyed it. <1/2?!>

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You have Christopher Llyod narrating, and Wallace Shawn voices a character in it. Puzzles, different ways of doing things, <1/3!?>

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

All the things we loved about the Kings Quest series is in it.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Betrayal in Antara is my life

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I loved Betrayal at Krondor, and the books from Raymond Feist are amazing, but never managed to like the new interface in Antara...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This does not look 8bit...16 maybe but 8?

10 years ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 9

Most of the time these get posted they're listed as 16. I think probably closer to 32, but that's not nostalgically sexy enough.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 6

Artist Mark Ferrari who did these using the 8-bit color cycling probably thinks people who posted these being 16-bit do not know their shit.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They're 8 bit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga_Advanced_Graphics_Architecture I recognize some of those specific pictures from my Amiga

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The AGA was only used in 32-bit systems. The name is for the CPU bitness, not the color depth, though 8-bit just means "retro" now. :(

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

It is 8 bit.

10 years ago | Likes 35 Dislikes 5

Its really not

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 8

Having an 8-bit palette (index) is pretty much the essence of 8-bit images.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They shouldn't downvote you. You're correct.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

It's sort-of scary that people would think 8-bit colour images is about the number of colours rather than using a 8-bit palette.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

He isn't, as someone else pointed out, true 8-bit uses pre-defined colours, these use colours outside of that set. I know, beep-boop etc.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It does use pre-defined colours and these colours are cycled, which is a regular thing in 8-bit games.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

These use palate cycling - the colors in the picture stay the same (color-1, color-2, etc from the palate) but the palate itself cycles.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

8 bits but each frame has a different color palette.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

If they were converted to gif correctly, they should have the same palette.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

With gif you can do pretty much everything you want with planet, you can even have true colors by having a different palette each 16*16 part

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

*palette also I just checked and a color palette by frame is part of gif specification.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My comment is based on how the original pictures were made. Fixed palette of <256 cols, with subsections scrolling to create the motion. (1)

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Gif doesnt support palette scrolling,so the most efficient method's to mask the parts that change.Hence the palette should stay the same.(2)

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What about the Local Color Map that can be specified before every image (frame)?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0