(Spring 2013) Comm 150-24: Oral Communication
☆ Informative Speech ☆ Topic: Pixel Art ☆
References in APA Format:
- Yue, Y. , Iwasaki, K. , Chen, B. , Dobashi, Y. , & Nishita, T. (2012). Pixel art with refracted light by rearrangeable sticks.Computer Graphics Forum, 31(2pt3), 575-582.
- Mike, S. (n.d). Video games as serious art?. USA Today.
- Ananthaswamy, A. (2009). Creating cellphone art at the touch of a button. New Scientist, 201(2698), 19.
- Grais, S. (n.d.). Pixel art. Retrieved from http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/pixel_art.htm
- Razorback, F. (n.d.). Les forges pixel art course. Retrieved from http://opengameart.org/content/les-forges-pixel-art-course
Library Assignment
Sources:
1 book or scholarly journal article: | journal ☆, ☆ |
2 newspapers or magazine articles: | newspaper ☆ | magazine ☆ |
2 websites (edu, org, gov): | ☆, ☆ |
1 book or scholarly journal article: | journal ☆, ☆ |
2 newspapers or magazine articles: | newspaper ☆ | magazine ☆ |
2 websites (edu, org, gov): | ☆, ☆ |
Source Summaries and Evaluations
Scholarly Journal Article
Yue, Y. , Iwasaki, K. , Chen, B. , Dobashi, Y. , & Nishita, T. (2012). Pixel art with refracted light by rearrangeable sticks. Computer Graphics Forum, 31(2pt3), 575-582.
This article comes from volume 31 of a scholarly journal called the Computer Graphics Forum, and it compares pixels to puzzles. It first introduces what pixel art is. Then, explains how people use rearrangable sticks to make pixel art. This method of making pixel art is possible since pixels are made up of tiny squares which become an image together. This article shows a unique and different way to create pixel art. Furthermore, they plan on coming up with additional ways to create pixel art.
This article titled "Pixel Art with Refracted Light by Rearrangeable Sticks" will be a helpful source to include in my speech because it explains what pixel art is, and explains a new, creative way of approaching it. In addition, it is clearly stated, despite the few math equations. The supporting material of this article is verifiable because it comes from page 576-582 of volume 81 of Computer Graphics Forum. It is also competent since it comes from a group of college professors from Japan. Moreover, it is also relevant since I will be teaching the audience the techniques and types of pixel art.
Newspaper
Mike, S. (n.d). Video games as serious art?. USA Today.
This newspaper article is from USA Today and is written by Mike Snider. It is about how people who create video games want their video game art to be taken as serious art. A few video game makers have brought their work to the pixel exhibition at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
This newspaper article would help my speech since it talks about how pixel art should be taken seriously. Pixel art is definitely a form of art that is under-appreciated. This article was very clear and verifiable since it was printed in USA Today on July 17, 2008. In addition, the source is also competent since he is a writer for the newspaper, and it is relevant since it is about pixel art. It also has the same purpose as my speech: to show people that pixel art should be appreciated.
Magazine
Ananthaswamy, A. (2009). Creating cellphone art at the touch of a button. New Scientist, 201(2698), 19.
The magazine article titled "Creating cellphone art at the touch of a button" from the magazine New Scientist discusses a new way to create pixel art. It features a program for your phone called 12pixels. This program allows people to create pixel art using the 12 keys of a standard cell phone. Creating pixel art is something that people in Japan often use for thing like making video games and advertising.
This magazine article will be helpful for my speech since it explains a new program for creating pixel art which almost anybody can use. It also discusses a different way for making pixel art. This source is very clear, and is verifiable since it comes from page 19 of volume 201, issue 2698 of New Scientist magazine from March 7, 2009. The author is a correspondent for the magazine. Therefore, the source is competent. This article is relevant as a source because it offers another way to create pixel art.
Website
Grais, S. (n.d.). Pixel art. Retrieved from http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/pixel_art.htm
This website explains the bases of pixel art such as the categories, uses, constraints, etc. It shows the basics of pixel art with examples and images as references. There are also a few tutorials that are helpful to those who want to learn how to make pixel art. Moreover, this website page has a lot of information even though there may be more pictures than words.
This website would help my speech since it has many things that I will talk about such as the types (categories) of pixel art and the uses. The material is all very brief which makes it clear. It is also verifiable and competent because it comes from the website of a professor at a computing and digital media university. The supporting material is definitely relevant because it explains a few of the things I will say in my speech.
Website
Razorback, F. (n.d.). Les forges pixel art course. Retrieved from http://opengameart.org/content/les-forges-pixel-art-course
This website shows a long and detailed page for pixel art. It divides pixel art lessons into eight different chapters. This page filled with tutorials was originally from a foreign website, and was then translated here with permission from the author.
This website seems very useful, so it would help my speech. It is chock full of information, and easy to understand even though it was translated from French to English. This source is verifiable and competent since it was originally written by a writer for LesForges.org. It is relevant since all the information could be connected with my speech. It is very detailed and helpful for making pixel art.
Yue, Y. , Iwasaki, K. , Chen, B. , Dobashi, Y. , & Nishita, T. (2012). Pixel art with refracted light by rearrangeable sticks. Computer Graphics Forum, 31(2pt3), 575-582.
This article comes from volume 31 of a scholarly journal called the Computer Graphics Forum, and it compares pixels to puzzles. It first introduces what pixel art is. Then, explains how people use rearrangable sticks to make pixel art. This method of making pixel art is possible since pixels are made up of tiny squares which become an image together. This article shows a unique and different way to create pixel art. Furthermore, they plan on coming up with additional ways to create pixel art.
This article titled "Pixel Art with Refracted Light by Rearrangeable Sticks" will be a helpful source to include in my speech because it explains what pixel art is, and explains a new, creative way of approaching it. In addition, it is clearly stated, despite the few math equations. The supporting material of this article is verifiable because it comes from page 576-582 of volume 81 of Computer Graphics Forum. It is also competent since it comes from a group of college professors from Japan. Moreover, it is also relevant since I will be teaching the audience the techniques and types of pixel art.
Newspaper
Mike, S. (n.d). Video games as serious art?. USA Today.
This newspaper article is from USA Today and is written by Mike Snider. It is about how people who create video games want their video game art to be taken as serious art. A few video game makers have brought their work to the pixel exhibition at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
This newspaper article would help my speech since it talks about how pixel art should be taken seriously. Pixel art is definitely a form of art that is under-appreciated. This article was very clear and verifiable since it was printed in USA Today on July 17, 2008. In addition, the source is also competent since he is a writer for the newspaper, and it is relevant since it is about pixel art. It also has the same purpose as my speech: to show people that pixel art should be appreciated.
Magazine
Ananthaswamy, A. (2009). Creating cellphone art at the touch of a button. New Scientist, 201(2698), 19.
The magazine article titled "Creating cellphone art at the touch of a button" from the magazine New Scientist discusses a new way to create pixel art. It features a program for your phone called 12pixels. This program allows people to create pixel art using the 12 keys of a standard cell phone. Creating pixel art is something that people in Japan often use for thing like making video games and advertising.
This magazine article will be helpful for my speech since it explains a new program for creating pixel art which almost anybody can use. It also discusses a different way for making pixel art. This source is very clear, and is verifiable since it comes from page 19 of volume 201, issue 2698 of New Scientist magazine from March 7, 2009. The author is a correspondent for the magazine. Therefore, the source is competent. This article is relevant as a source because it offers another way to create pixel art.
Website
Grais, S. (n.d.). Pixel art. Retrieved from http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/pixel_art.htm
This website explains the bases of pixel art such as the categories, uses, constraints, etc. It shows the basics of pixel art with examples and images as references. There are also a few tutorials that are helpful to those who want to learn how to make pixel art. Moreover, this website page has a lot of information even though there may be more pictures than words.
This website would help my speech since it has many things that I will talk about such as the types (categories) of pixel art and the uses. The material is all very brief which makes it clear. It is also verifiable and competent because it comes from the website of a professor at a computing and digital media university. The supporting material is definitely relevant because it explains a few of the things I will say in my speech.
Website
Razorback, F. (n.d.). Les forges pixel art course. Retrieved from http://opengameart.org/content/les-forges-pixel-art-course
This website shows a long and detailed page for pixel art. It divides pixel art lessons into eight different chapters. This page filled with tutorials was originally from a foreign website, and was then translated here with permission from the author.
This website seems very useful, so it would help my speech. It is chock full of information, and easy to understand even though it was translated from French to English. This source is verifiable and competent since it was originally written by a writer for LesForges.org. It is relevant since all the information could be connected with my speech. It is very detailed and helpful for making pixel art.
Informative Speech Outline
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Show video: http://vimeo.com/7946344
B. Background and Audience Relevance: Pixels are the smallest elements in an image shown on a visual device, and it comes from the words "picture element", while pixel art is a form of digital, or electronic, art that is made by pixels. Every image you see on a device with a screen, such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets, is made up of pixels. However, not everything made of pixels is considered pixel art. A group of college professors from Japan, who wrote a scholarly journal article in Computer Graphics Forum in 2012, acknowledges that, "Pixel art enables [a] rich power of expression."
C. Speaker Credibility: As an artist who draws traditionally and digitally, I also make a lot of pixel art because it allows me to have control over every single detail of my art.
D. Thesis: Pixel art is a form of art that is based on how it is made rather than what it is made of.
E. Preview of Main Points: First, I am going to inform you of the uses of pixel art. Second, I will describe the types. And lastly, I will explain the techniques.
Transition to first main point: First, I will tell you some of the uses of pixel art.
II. Main Point 1: Pixel art is used for a multiple amount of things.
A. Sub point A: Many video games use sprites which are characters, animations, and tiles (which are used to construct things like floors and buildings) made by pixels. For example, video games that use pixel art include Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Kirby, The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Sonic, and Super Mario.
B. Sub point B: The video I showed earlier as an attention getter is actually a commercial for a telecommunications company in Canada that uses pixel art in their advertisements. Their commercials are funny and also really creative and unique.
Transition (signpost, review, preview): So now that you know some of the uses , I will now tell you the types of pixel art.
III. Main Point 2: There are basically two types of pixel art.
A. Sub point A: Isometric: Isometric pixel art uses a 2:1 ratio and is at an angle of 26.565 degrees (since it is impossible to create a 30 degree angle with pixels). Stuart Grais, a professor from a computing and digital media university, says that isometric art is used "to provide a three-dimensional view without using any real three-dimensional processing." Therefore, works in this type look more 3D.
B. Sub point B: Non-Isometric: Non-isometric art can be any size ratio, and at any angle. These types of work look more flat compared to isometric because it doesn't give that three-dimensional feel.
Transition (signpost, review, preview): So now that you learned the two types, I will now explain a few methods.
IV. Main Point 3: There are many techniques in making pixel art.
A. Sub point A: Lineart: In almost any kind of art, you have to start with an outline. The lineart is the concept, or base, for your entire piece. Without the base, your piece may not turn out the way you want.
B. Sub point B: Dithering: Dithering is the term used to describe the blending used in pixel art. According to Fil Razorback from LesForges.com, "Dithering is a technique that aims to achieve a gradient using a minimum of intermediate colors." The human eye is not perfect. Therefore, it mixes the colors of a pixel giving it a blended look.
C. Sub point C: Lighting and Shading: Lighting makes the piece of art more realistic because things in real life often have a light source which casts shadows. Furthermore, good lighting helps determine the mood and atmosphere. In order to use this technique, you first have to decide where the light source is coming from. Shading is used to add volume. If there is no shading, the piece may look flat and unrealistic. Once you determine the lighting, it will be easier to shade because the area closest to the light will be lighter and vice versa.
Transition and signal closing: You have now learned a few things about pixel art.
V. Conclusion: So, in conclusion...
A. Restate thesis: Pixel art is based on how it is made.
B. Review main points: First, you learned the uses of pixel art, second, the types, and third, the techniques.
C. Memorable closer: Hopefully next time you see a form of pixel art, you will want to create your own.
A. Attention Getter: Show video: http://vimeo.com/7946344
B. Background and Audience Relevance: Pixels are the smallest elements in an image shown on a visual device, and it comes from the words "picture element", while pixel art is a form of digital, or electronic, art that is made by pixels. Every image you see on a device with a screen, such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets, is made up of pixels. However, not everything made of pixels is considered pixel art. A group of college professors from Japan, who wrote a scholarly journal article in Computer Graphics Forum in 2012, acknowledges that, "Pixel art enables [a] rich power of expression."
C. Speaker Credibility: As an artist who draws traditionally and digitally, I also make a lot of pixel art because it allows me to have control over every single detail of my art.
D. Thesis: Pixel art is a form of art that is based on how it is made rather than what it is made of.
E. Preview of Main Points: First, I am going to inform you of the uses of pixel art. Second, I will describe the types. And lastly, I will explain the techniques.
Transition to first main point: First, I will tell you some of the uses of pixel art.
II. Main Point 1: Pixel art is used for a multiple amount of things.
A. Sub point A: Many video games use sprites which are characters, animations, and tiles (which are used to construct things like floors and buildings) made by pixels. For example, video games that use pixel art include Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Kirby, The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Sonic, and Super Mario.
B. Sub point B: The video I showed earlier as an attention getter is actually a commercial for a telecommunications company in Canada that uses pixel art in their advertisements. Their commercials are funny and also really creative and unique.
Transition (signpost, review, preview): So now that you know some of the uses , I will now tell you the types of pixel art.
III. Main Point 2: There are basically two types of pixel art.
A. Sub point A: Isometric: Isometric pixel art uses a 2:1 ratio and is at an angle of 26.565 degrees (since it is impossible to create a 30 degree angle with pixels). Stuart Grais, a professor from a computing and digital media university, says that isometric art is used "to provide a three-dimensional view without using any real three-dimensional processing." Therefore, works in this type look more 3D.
B. Sub point B: Non-Isometric: Non-isometric art can be any size ratio, and at any angle. These types of work look more flat compared to isometric because it doesn't give that three-dimensional feel.
Transition (signpost, review, preview): So now that you learned the two types, I will now explain a few methods.
IV. Main Point 3: There are many techniques in making pixel art.
A. Sub point A: Lineart: In almost any kind of art, you have to start with an outline. The lineart is the concept, or base, for your entire piece. Without the base, your piece may not turn out the way you want.
B. Sub point B: Dithering: Dithering is the term used to describe the blending used in pixel art. According to Fil Razorback from LesForges.com, "Dithering is a technique that aims to achieve a gradient using a minimum of intermediate colors." The human eye is not perfect. Therefore, it mixes the colors of a pixel giving it a blended look.
C. Sub point C: Lighting and Shading: Lighting makes the piece of art more realistic because things in real life often have a light source which casts shadows. Furthermore, good lighting helps determine the mood and atmosphere. In order to use this technique, you first have to decide where the light source is coming from. Shading is used to add volume. If there is no shading, the piece may look flat and unrealistic. Once you determine the lighting, it will be easier to shade because the area closest to the light will be lighter and vice versa.
Transition and signal closing: You have now learned a few things about pixel art.
V. Conclusion: So, in conclusion...
A. Restate thesis: Pixel art is based on how it is made.
B. Review main points: First, you learned the uses of pixel art, second, the types, and third, the techniques.
C. Memorable closer: Hopefully next time you see a form of pixel art, you will want to create your own.
Texts About Pixels & Pixel Art (for Prezi)
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