Canvas Sizes Quick Guide
| Asset Type |
Canvas Size |
Typical Use |
| Tiny sprites |
16×16 px |
Small items, icons |
| Standard character |
32×32 px |
Main characters |
| Large character |
48×48 px |
Bosses, detailed sprites |
| Objects/Props |
32-64 px |
Trees, furniture, items |
| Tiles |
32×32 px |
Ground, walls, patterns |
Essential Procreate Settings
- Anti-aliasing: OFF (Canvas → Painting → Anti-aliased)
- Drawing Guide: ON, Grid type, size = 1px
- Brush: Monoline (Calligraphy) at 1-2px
- Color Profile: sRGB
- DPI: 72 (doesn't matter much for pixel art)
Animation Frame Counts
| Animation Type |
Frames Needed |
FPS |
| Idle/Breathing |
2-4 frames |
4-6 FPS |
| Walk Cycle |
4-8 frames |
8-12 FPS |
| Jump |
3-5 frames |
10-12 FPS |
| Object effects |
2-4 frames |
6-8 FPS |
Color Palette Guidelines
- Total colors: 8-12 colors per project
- Per object: 3-5 colors (base + shadows + highlights)
- Shading values: 2-3 per base color maximum
- Skin tones: 2-3 values (base, shadow, optional highlight)
Export Checklist
- ✓ Turn off grid (if visible)
- ✓ Check transparent background (for characters/objects)
- ✓ Merge layers if needed (or keep separate for edits)
- ✓ Export as PNG (never JPEG!)
- ✓ Use clear file naming:
asset-name.png
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Anti-aliasing left ON → edges are blurry
- ❌ Too many colors → looks chaotic
- ❌ Inconsistent light source → confusing shadows
- ❌ Forgetting transparent background → white box around sprites
- ❌ Saving as JPEG → compression ruins pixel art