pixelbased

Pixelbased is a term used to describe digital imagery and rendering approaches that foreground the pixel, the smallest addressable element of a digital image. In pixelbased work, color, shading, and detail are determined at the level of individual pixels, and images are typically represented as raster grids with fixed resolution. This contrasts with vector-based methods, which describe images using scalable paths and mathematical formulas.

This approach emphasizes per-pixel control, predictable results at a given resolution, and an often grid-aligned aesthetic. Artists may employ limited palettes, dithering, and careful optimization of color values to establish textures and shading within a fixed grid. Pixelbased techniques are common in pixel art, bitmap fonts, low-resolution icons, and user interface elements designed for specific display densities.

In practice, pixelbased techniques are used in retro-style games, embedded systems with fixed displays, and digital art where a crisp, blocky look is desired. They also relate to image processing and rendering pipelines that rasterize vector shapes into bitmaps.

Historically, pixelbased graphics developed with the rise of raster displays in early computing, where each screen pixel could hold a simple color value. The approach remains prevalent in contemporary indie games and in visuals that seek a nostalgic, modular texture.

Related concepts include raster graphics, bitmap images, pixel art, and pixel fonts. While pixelbased design emphasizes a pixel grid, vector-based and hybrid workflows are used when scalability or smooth transforms are required.