Making a pixel art tool with LÖVE

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delibellus
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Making a pixel art tool with LÖVE

Post by delibellus »

Hi! I just began learning LÖVE and Lua.

Before I start making a game that I have in mind, I'd like to make a pixel art tool that adjusts to the way that I have to use my hands (because of a condition that they have).

Is it possible to make a pixel art program with LÖVE? And if so, would it be too difficult for a beginner? Are there any examples that I might consult? I'm asking because I've just had the experience of trying to code something uncommon for the platform that I was using, and my habit of avoiding direct help turned out to be somewhat impractical, in that case.

I have some experience with Python and GDScript, in case that's worth mentioning.

Thanks in advance.
Last edited by delibellus on Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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GVovkiv
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Re: Making a pixel art tool with LÖVE

Post by GVovkiv »

If you new to lua, check PiL https://www.lua.org/pil/ and reference manual http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/
Love capable of exporting graphics output to file, you can get some ideas from here viewtopic.php?t=89426
For effects, there shaders https://love2d.org/wiki/Shader
For ui, you can develop own solution or try one of this ui libs here https://github.com/love2d-community/awesome-love2d#ui
For inspiration, you could try learn codebase of this similar pixel editor that made in Love viewtopic.php?t=83374 or from other pixel art editors that made not with love (pun intended?), like Aseprite https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite
Or from another love program, like viewtopic.php?t=92187 its like IDE but for love, but you still can take inspiration

And difficult it is?
Well, depends on how much you want to add features.
If this is simple editor, where you place pixels with keyboard, save/load to/from png - then it's shouldn't be hard.
If you need history support (so you can undo and undo undo), animations, selection of pixels (especially smart selection), filling, adding layers, fonts, etc - then yeah, it's might be difficult.
If you more want pixel editor that suit you depending on your problems, then I advice to look for existing pixel art programs, there tons of them.
If you want to learn how make software/games with love2d, then welcome. Write post to "Support and Development" subforum, if you struggle to implement something for that editor and/or game, so someone might help with that.
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delibellus
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Re: Making a pixel art tool with LÖVE

Post by delibellus »

GVovkiv wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:40 pm(...)
Thank you! That's a lot of help.

Some features that I would like to implement might be complicated, but I'm open to limit my would-be program to the things that I particularly need the most. Maybe when I become better at Lua and LÖVE I would develop my program further.
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milon
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Re: Making a pixel art tool with LÖVE

Post by milon »

delibellus wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:29 pm ... Some features that I would like to implement might be complicated, but I'm open to limit my would-be program to the things that I particularly need the most. Maybe when I become better at Lua and LÖVE I would develop my program further.
That's always a good way to start. Begin with what you can accomplish and gradually chip away at something else. There's also lots of folks around here willing to help out in various ways - answering questions, giving code samples, maybe even coding pieces for you if you're cool with that.
Any code samples/ideas by me should be considered Public Domain (no attribution needed) license unless otherwise stated.
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