Pixelated · KS3 Design and Technology

Design your own block.

Paint an 8, 16 or 32 pixel texture, check that it repeats without ugly seams, then spin it as a 3D cube. Every pixel is a design choice, so keep the palette small and the contrast clear.

Block name Texture size

16 by 16: the classic block size.

Tools

Colours

Pick any colour

My palette

Save up to 16 colours. Shift-click one to remove it.

Recent

Same on every face

Transform

Shift wraps pixels round the edge. It is the fastest way to find and fix a seam.

Start from

3D block

Drag the cube to turn it. Arrow keys work too when it is focused.

Design check

Does it tile?

Look for lines or blobs that repeat in a pattern. Seamless textures hide the edges.

Design challenge

Choose a purpose for your block: a floor, a wall, a hazard, a treasure. Write it down below.
Limit yourself to 6 colours or fewer. The design check shows how many you have used.
Use the tile test. Can a friend spot where one tile ends and the next begins?
Give it a different top and sides. What does that tell the player about the block?

What is my block for? Who will use or see it? What am I most pleased with? How did I use colour and contrast, and does it tile? What would I change next time?