There are several ways you can convey 2D art in games. Each style contains specific rules and methods that you need to follow. Below, you can see the three most common art techniques you can use in your future 2D game projects.
One of the earliest art forms in video game history, pixel art still holds a steady footing in the industry. The sprites are made of bitmaps that are combined to create a final asset.
In vector art the art assets are completely created by using lines, curves, points and shapes that are based on mathematical formulas. Vector art has become increasingly popular especially in indie games as it is simple and easy to create.
Hand-drawn art gives the artist more flexibility and creativity as it does not have to obey specific technical boundaries like pixel/vector art styles. In other words, you have the artistic freedom to draw the assets as you wish. On the downside, the art asset creation process is not as quick as the previously mentioned ones and can be prone to technical errors.
It is important to decide early on which art style you want to use for your game project, as it is difficult to change it in the future. To choose the style, you should check out other factors as well, such as the game design restrictions and production scope.
Before we continue forward in this course, you should take a look at the following software you may need during this course and which benefits you immensely if you wish to pursue a career as a 2D artist in the game industry.