Creating Pixel Art Icons

Quick Start

HTML
<!-- 16x16 pixel house icon -->
<svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
  <rect x="2" y="8" width="12" height="7" fill="#D4C5B9"/>
  <polygon points="8,2 14,8 2,8" fill="#B8A082"/>
  <rect x="6" y="11" width="4" height="4" fill="#8B7355"/>
  <rect x="4" y="10" width="2" height="2" fill="#7A9CC6"/>
  <rect x="10" y="10" width="2" height="2" fill="#7A9CC6"/>
</svg>

Workflow

Planning Phase

• Define icon purpose and context
• Choose resolution (8/16/32/64 bit)
• Select 3-5 colors from light, low-saturation palette
• Sketch basic shapes on paper

Creation Process

1. Start with silhouette - Define overall shape in darkest color
2. Add base colors - Fill main areas with mid-tones
3. Add highlights - Use lightest colors for dimension
4. Refine edges - Ensure clean pixel alignment
5. Test readability - Verify recognition at target size

Progress checklist:

• Silhouette readable
• Colors applied
• Highlights added
• Edges cleaned
• Tested at final size

Examples

Example 1: 16bit File Icon Input: Document file icon, 16x16 pixels Output:

Palette: #F5F5F5, #D1D1D1, #A8A8A8, #6B6B6B
Grid: Rectangle base + folded corner + lines for text

Example 2: 32bit Heart Icon Input: Health/favorite icon, 32x32 pixels Output:

Palette: #FFE6E6, #FFCCCC, #E6A6A6, #CC8080
Grid: Two circles merged + bottom point + highlight on upper left

Example 3: 8bit Coin Icon Input: Currency icon, 8x8 pixels Output:

Palette: #FFFFCC, #E6E699, #B3B366
Grid: Circle + dollar sign (simplified to S shape)

Best Practices

Color Guidelines:

• Use HSB values with Saturation ≤ 40%
• Brightness between 60-90% for light palette
• Limit to 4-6 colors maximum
• Maintain 20+ contrast difference between adjacent colors

Resolution Standards:

• 8bit: Ultra-minimal, 2-3 colors, basic shapes only
• 16bit: Simple details, 3-4 colors, recognizable features
• 32bit: Moderate detail, 4-5 colors, shading possible
• 64bit: High detail, 5-6 colors, complex shapes allowed

Design Rules:

• Each pixel must serve a purpose
• Avoid single-pixel details in corners
• Use consistent light source (usually top-left)
• Test icon at 50% size for clarity

Common Pitfalls

• Over-detailing small resolutions - 8bit icons can't support complex shapes
• Using pure black outlines - Breaks the low-saturation rule
• Inconsistent pixel grid - Always align to exact pixel boundaries
• Too many colors - Reduces clarity and increases file size
• High saturation colors - Creates harsh, unprofessional appearance
• Anti-aliasing - Pixel art should have crisp, hard edges
• Ignoring context - Icon must work in target UI environment