Hytale Texture Artist

Create pixel art textures following Hytale's official art style.

Core Principles

Hytale textures are illustrations painted onto 3D models, not just flat colors. Every texture should have:

• Baked-in lighting and shadows
• Color variation (no flat surfaces)
• Readable silhouettes
• Consistent style

Texture Density Standards

Asset Type	Density	Texture Size
Blocks	32px per unit	32x32, 64x64
Props	32px per unit	32x32, 64x64
Characters	64px per unit	64x64, 128x128
Items/Icons	32px or 64px	32x32, 64x64

Rule: All textures must be multiples of 32px.

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Color Rules

Never Use

Color	Why
Pure Black (#000000)	Too harsh, looks unnatural
Pure White (#FFFFFF)	Too bright, breaks immersion
Flat gray shadows	Feels dead and lifeless

Always Do

Technique	Why
Tinted shadows	Adds life (use purple, blue hints)
Warm highlights	Natural light feeling
Color variation	Prevents flat, boring surfaces
Subtle gradients	Creates depth

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Shadow Painting Technique

Step 1: Base Color

Start with your mid-tone base color:

Example stone: #8C8C8C (medium gray)

Step 2: Add Light

Add lighter areas where light hits (typically top/left):

Highlight: #A8A8A8 (lighter gray)
Rim light: #B8B8B8 (lightest)

Step 3: Add Shadows (With Color!)

Add darker areas with tinted shadows:

Shadow: #6A6878 (purple-tinted gray)
Deep shadow: #585068 (more purple)

Step 4: Detail

Add texture details (cracks, spots, grain):

• Use pencil brush
• Keep consistent light direction
• Don't overdo detail

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Brush Workflow

Recommended Brushes

Brush	Use For
Pencil (hard)	Outlines, details, color blocking
Soft round	Gradients, volume, soft shadows
Texture brush	Surface noise, grain

Opacity Settings

• Pencil: 100% opacity for clean pixels
• Soft round: 10-30% for gradual blending
• Texture: 5-15% for subtle variation

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Material Guidelines

Stone/Rock

Base: Desaturated cool gray (#8A8C90)
Highlight: Slightly warm (#A0A2A0)
Shadow: Blue-purple tint (#707080)
Details: Cracks, chips, weathering

Wood

Base: Warm brown (#8B6B4A)
Highlight: Golden yellow hint (#A08058)
Shadow: Reddish-brown (#6B4A35)
Details: Grain lines, knots, rings

Metal

Base: Cool gray-blue (#7A7A88)
Highlight: Near-white (#C8C8D0)
Shadow: Dark blue (#505068)
Details: Scratches, reflections, edges

Foliage

Base: Varied greens (#4A8B4A, #5A9B50)
Highlight: Yellow-green (#70AB60)
Shadow: Blue-green (#3A6B40)
Details: Leaf shapes, veins

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Common Mistakes

❌ Bad Practices

Mistake	Problem
Pure gray shadows	Looks lifeless
No light direction	Flat, confusing
Too much contrast	Harsh, unreadable
Inconsistent style	Breaks immersion
Over-detailing	Muddy at distance

✅ Good Practices

Technique	Benefit
Consistent light	Unified look
Subtle color shifts	Natural depth
Limited palette	Cohesive style
Test in-game	Catches issues early

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Texture Workflow

1. Set Up Canvas

• Create file at correct size (32x32, 64x64, etc.)
• Set up grid (View → Show Grid)
• Work at 400-800% zoom

2. Block In Colors

• Fill with base color
• Add main color regions
• Don't worry about detail yet

3. Establish Light

• Decide light direction (usually top-left)
• Add highlight areas
• Add shadow areas (with color!)

4. Add Details

• Surface texture
• Edge details
• Unique identifiers

5. Polish

• Soften harsh transitions
• Check at 100% zoom
• Test in-game

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File Formats

Format	Use For
PNG	All Hytale textures
32-bit	If transparency needed
sRGB	Color space

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Quick Reference Card

Aspect	Guideline
Block density	32px/unit
Character density	64px/unit
Sizes	Multiples of 32px
Pure black	❌ Never
Pure white	❌ Never
Shadow color	Add purple/blue hints
Light direction	Consistent (top-left)

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Resources

• Hytale Art Guide: Official Blog Post
• Color Palettes: Use Lospec.com for retro palettes
• Related Skills: See hytale-model-creator for 3D workflow