I'm the same way - I loved using Deluxe Paint Animation. Eventually I moved to PhotoShop and PSP.

You can do the fancy stuff and plug-ins, but I always zoom way in an clean it up pixel by pixel to look just the way I like.

I haven't been able to find a program like Deluxe Paint Animation for windows, but I should wish one was out there.

Jim Adams

Take a look at ProMotion, it reminds quite a lot of DeluxePaint and is designed with pixelling in mind. I find it quite good...
http://cosmigo.com/promotion/

However, I usually stick to PaintShopPro. I think it's easier (and faster) than Photoshop. Especially when doing bitmap graphics without tons of plugins (photoshop plugins are compatible though).

I've never been a big fan of Deluxe Paint; that may be because I was spoiled on PhotoShop when I was still early the GameDev industry. What I usually do is create the basic graphic in photoshop, bring it into Painter to add in the details (dirt, rust, etc) with my tablet, then back into photoshop if the texture need to be scaled/converted into 8 bit, then touch them up pixel-by-pixel in photoshop. I find it much easier to create the graphics without worrying about palette issues, then once the graphic is done dropping it down to 8 bit and touching it up, which is a much faster process (for myself at least)

-Nick Robalik http://www.digital-soapbox.com

I'm wondering what techniques you all artists out there are using.

Personally I started out on the C64 and then on the Amiga with software like DeluxePaint. There was hardly any choice than really doing pixel by pixel. Except for tools doing circles and stuff.

I've noticed that this has influenced my way of drawing 2D art quite a lot. I still prefer doing stuff as much as possible pixel by pixel instead of using fancy plugins (EyeCandy etc) and filters.

I think the best is to using the available tools without overdoing it, and then combine that with the total control of manipulating pixel by pixel.

I guess that if you use a mouse or a pen/pad will affect the techniques used too. However, a pen might be useful for sketches but hardly any details.

Agree/disagree with my thoughts?

Newtek's Aura is a pretty cool modern equivalent of DA. It's all 24 bit, and is real easy to use. I always find myself hopping into it when I need to rough out some animating sprites.

- Devin