2D Art production

What Is 2D Art production?

Two-dimensional art, more commonly referred to as 2D art production, is one of the most common types of art. Despite existing for centuries, there’s still something about 2D art that seems to capture the imagination. It could be its simplicity or how it can be used to communicate powerful ideas with ease. Whatever the reason, 2D art productions is a popular and versatile form of expression.

This article will look at what 2D art is and discuss some examples of 2D art. We’ll also take a look at 2D art drawing and painting-all while skimming through the essential question of “Is 2D concept art dying?

2D Artwork and the Gaming Industry

Widely known as the first commercially released video game, Pong is a table tennis-simulation 2D game that gives players the objective to hit the moving object away from their base. As it is the first game ever developed, it uses very simple graphics with pixelated assets representing paddle and ball. 

This was in the ‘70s. Today, we have a variety of gaming styles, some of which are so advanced that it’s easy to presume 2D games have already gone out of style. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Because in truth, 2D games are a force unfazed by new styles. 

With 2D’s numerous aesthetic configurations, companies and studios introduced different gaming experiences using 2D art production. But one common approach is using 2D game art to enhance storytelling. 

For example, the deeply haunting black and white 2D game Limbo tells the story of a child who finds himself in a dark forest apparently set in the afterlife. The character goes on a side-scrolling adventure where he meets dangerous elements during his journey. This is a great example of how 2D artwork creates an ambiance so fitting for the tale of the game, something 3D art will not be able to achieve in the same context.

Then, there are games that merge 2D gameplay and 3D art, which is the case for New Super Mario Bros. Inversely, some games employ 3D gameplay and 2D artwork, which is what the popular Untitled Goose Game did.

Some modern games also evoke nostalgia or the idea of “simpler times” by coupling storytelling with pixelated 2D art production. This theme is apparent in Stardew Valley, a role-playing game where the player leaves their corporate life behind to tend to the farm passed down by their grandfather.  

With the number of 2D games companies and developers produce today, it’s safe to say that 2D is sure to stay until the end.

2D art production in polydin studio

The process of transforming creative thoughts into aesthetically attractive designs is a magical process in the art of 2D design. 2D art is essential in game-related or interactive projects, from creating magnificent keyframes for epic fights to bringing aesthetically captivating characters to life. 2D art production is an important step in the design process since it is a broad field that incorporates numerous facets of early-stage game development. You may define the tone and feel of your story with the help of a brilliant team of concept artists at Polydin Studio, bringing your idea to life in a visually captivating and immersive way.

THE BEST 2D ART METHODS AND TECHNIQUES

2D art production implies working inside a dimension defined by length and width. Despite that the workspace seems pretty limited, independent artists and art production studios have already proved the versatility of this composition type. Merely look at how refined the art style of Hollow Knight and Cuphead is, which proves the diversity of tools at hand of 2D artists.

Nowadays, the broad spectrum of 2D techniques and software supporting them allows professionals from different industries to produce quality artworks with less effort. When it comes to digital art, you’ll hear that the most widespread techniques of 2D art production include vector, pixel, flat, realistic, and isometric, though you may also run across more experimental styles.

In turn, the methods of 2D art production are what make up the personal touch of each individual artist, inasmuch as these constitute the foundation of their arsenal. Professionals working in the digital environment use a wide range of tools and methods to produce a certain artwork, be it photo painting, vector drawing, or other techniques as well as approaches.

Pixel Art Technique

In the world of 2D art production and gaming, the pixelated look of assets has already become iconic since the inception of the first arcade games in the late 1970-1980s. Based on raster graphics and, obviously, pixels, this art technique provides a sufficient arsenal of tools for artists to create splendid game assets. Just have a look at Blasphemous or Stardew Valley.

In most cases, today artists apply the pixel art technique to evoke a certain feeling of nostalgia in players, thereby referencing retro-style products as well as drawing a line between old-school games and the modern ones. According to Statista, there were only 7 adventure games for consoles in 2020 produced in the style of pixel art. However, it’s good news for those intending to occupy that niche in the near future, isn’t it?

Vector Art Technique

In contrast to pixel art, vector images use dots and lines to store data regarding the dimensions or color. Artists use software like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or any other program that allows them to produce art based on mathematical algorithms. In particular, exactly thanks to continually computed equations, vector graphics have almost infinite resolution and pure color, which is its primary advantage as opposed to raster graphics.

Created with the use of simple geometric forms and without a great variety of color hues applied to each object, vector assets can most often be seen in cartoonish 2D games. Even more, what we today call a 3D model or polygon mesh is basically 2D vector graphics displayed in 3 dimensions, making vector art an incredibly versatile solution for artists.

Flat Art Technique

Among all other 2D game art styles, the technique of flat art ensures more diverse color options yet lacks the depth and volume. Moreover, similar artworks resemble cardboard and look like they are made out of paper, which is an attractive feature for stylized games or cartoons. Regardless of the simplified style of flat art, it looks cartoonish and inspiring.

Video games created in flat art are usually meant for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, or even Nintendo Switch because these assets don’t load either a central processor or a video graphics card too much. That’s why you may want to go for flat art if you are into making a 2D mobile game for a broad audience.