I used to think high resolution was all that mattered for digital art

For years I only looked at the pixel count on my pieces, thinking 600 DPI was the goal. Then last spring I saw a showcase where someone used a lower resolution but focused hard on texture and lighting. It looked way better than my sharp but flat images. Now I spend more time on depth and color blending instead of just cranking up the resolution. Has anyone else had a similar shift in what they prioritize?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy_foster7919d agoMost Upvoted

Read an artist on Reddit say "detail isn't depth" and it totally clicked for me.

seanlee18d ago

Funny you mention that... my buddy restores old muscle cars and he's always going on about how the original paint jobs have a certain depth to them even though they're not as sharp as modern clear coats. He showed me these two pictures side by side one time, a 1969 Camaro with that old school lacquer and a brand new one with the high-gloss metallic. The new one was all flash and reflection, but the old one had this warmth and texture that made you want to reach out and touch it. Same kind of lesson I guess, just with cars instead of digital paint.