Hi! This is a tutorial to help you learn how I make item/block textures. This tutorial is made for the PMCRP to help show people how they can make an entry for season 2 and 3!


Firstly is what you're going to use to make it! There are tons of different software, and quite a few are good for pixel art!
My main suggestion, and what I personally use is FireAlpaca (it's free!) Because that's what I use, the tutorial heavily assumes that is what is being used.

There's alternate software to use, I used to use Pixil Art. olddesklamp suggested Krita and Paint.net.


So now we've got our art software ready! All standard items/blocks are 16 pixels on both axis (sometimes to help me make sure I have the right size I will copy the original texture, click this text to open a download page for the textures)



In this screenshot I go ahead and prepare what I need:
- I set my pen size to 1 (pixel) & make sure AntiAliasing is turned off
- I set my eraser to 1 pixel as well
- I open a new layer in preperation

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As you can tell, I'm doing the texture for lapis lazuli! It can help to open up a reference image to help you make your texture!



I drew the basic shape I wanted, and then deleted the original texture which was the layer beneath (so I only have the one layer)

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Lapis has quite a lot of different colours and patterns (like most gemstones do) so I made sure to make good use of opacity and blending with more layers.



I add on layers of two lighter shades of blue, and one yellow (although I add a much darker blue and brown in the next stage)

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This is where all those different layers come in! Different layers means we can change the opacity of one layer, and its blending style.


I mess around with different opacity levels until im satisfied, and then I move to the next step.

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I add a very dark tone, and a very light tone to add highlights and shadows to the texture!



I once again make use of opacity and blending (its really just trial and error on what settings I use for a layer)

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Now we're ready to save! We don't wanna merge the layers because that will mess with the opacity and blending we've done, so I select save as and make sure to change it from the default .mdp format to a .png



It confirms with you that layers cant be saved (which is what we want) and then gives you the option to save as a transparent png!

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Voila! We now have a shiny new texture, ready to send in as our entry for the PMCRP!