# Generated-art tells Machine-made pixel art is a picture *of* pixel art, not pixels on a grid. Image models work in a continuous space with no notion of a hard edge, a fixed palette or a grid, so their output has soft blocks of uneven size, hundreds of near-identical colours, speckle used as texture, shading that follows the outline, and the same density everywhere. Naive downscaling of a large drawing produces a second family: mush, lost features, extra colours. An agent that draws natively at 1× cannot make mixels, but every route by which foreign or filtered pixels enter its canvas can reintroduce a tell. This file is the catalogue, how to detect each with `look`, `validate`, `palette` and `read_pixels`, and how to fix it. ## Rules 1. **Audit before "done" and before handing over anything derived from an image.** Order: `sprite_info` (size, mode), `validate` with `checks` naming all of `palette`, `strays`, `outline`, `banding`, `antialiasing`, `animation` (the bundled extension does not run `antialiasing` by default) and `strict: true`, `palette` op `analyze`, `look` op `preview` with `scale: 1`, then the by-eye items in Review. `validate` alone is never the verdict (see "What validate cannot see"). 2. **Know your own entry points.** Drawing at 1× with `draw` cannot create mixels. Tells reach your canvas through: (a) imported references, (b) lossy transforms (`allowLossy`), (c) a widened palette (`paletteLock: false`, `palette` op `extract` without a cap), (d) `draw` ops `gradient` with many steps or `dither` pattern `noise`, (e) hand AA that overshoots, (f) orphan pixels from coordinate slips, (g) soft alpha from layer opacity, (h) skipped decisions on light and hierarchy. Treat each as a controlled operation. 3. **Triage an incoming image with the run test.** Read one row with `read_pixels` (`region` height 1) and list the same-colour run lengths. All runs multiples of one k>1 = a clean pre-scaled file: recoverable (rule 5). Runs spread across, say, 8–14 with no common divisor = mixels: not recoverable by snapping; redraw (rule 4). 4. **Generated or messy input is a concept, not an asset.** Import it with `reference`, draw over it at the target size, and use `look` op `compare` to name the few biggest mismatches. Upscalers, blurs, "pixelate" filters and smoothing only enlarge the problem. Resolved conflict: one source automates unscaling (find the grid, vote a colour per cell); another tested it on real generated images and found none that could be trusted, with detectors disagreeing by 2× on the same file. Decision: auto-unscale only after the run test passes; otherwise redraw. 5. **Exact recovery of a pre-scaled file.** `transform` op `scale` only enlarges. To go down, `sprite_manage` a new canvas of W/k × H/k, `reference` op `import` with `fit: "stretch"` (nearest-neighbour), then copy the reference into the art with `draw` op `blit` (`fromLayer: "reference"`). Re-quantise afterwards: averaging and resampling create colours that were never in the art. 6. **One tell proves nothing.** Beginners make mixels, strays and bloated palettes; some artists use them on purpose. Three independent tells together mean machine-made or auto-resized. Report findings neutrally ("this has 9 isolated pixels and 214 colours") and offer fixes; do not accuse, and ask for layers or a time-lapse when provenance matters. 7. **Fix in this order:** pitch and scale → palette → silhouette and light → clusters and banding → edges → details. Fixing edges before the palette repeats work. 8. **Fix at native scale.** Never smooth, blur, upscale or filter to hide a tell. Integer nearest-neighbour is the only legal resize (`transform` op `scale` factor). Leave `paletteLock` on and refuse `allowLossy` unless the user asks. 9. **Re-run the detector after each fix** and quote before/after counts in the report. 10. **Thresholds** (sprite ≤32 px unless noted; colour caps derived from sources that expect 8–32 colours for sprites): used colours ≤16 (≤32 at 64 px); off-palette 0; near-duplicate pairs (ΔE<3) 0; semi-transparent pixels 0; isolated pixels 0, at most one justified highlight or eye per object; no banding note; outline either ≥60% one colour with every gap justified, or deliberately none. 11. **Hi-bit is no excuse.** A large canvas or unlimited palette still gets hard-edged clusters and no bilinear anything (`rules://90-platform-styles`). ## Catalogue Detect = what to run. Fix = the smallest repair. Row ids are used in Review. **Grid and geometry** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | G1 | Mixels: blocks of unequal size, edges that drift by ±20% | `read_pixels` one row, list run lengths: spread with no common divisor | Redraw at 1× over a `reference` (rule 4) | | G2 | Pre-scaled file: every run a multiple of k>1, canvas 512 / 1024 / 2048 | Same row test; `sprite_info` size | Unscale (rule 5), then clean by hand | | G3 | Bilinear or fractional scaling: unequal stair runs, intermediate colours on every edge, dozens of extra colours | `palette` op `analyze` near-duplicates; `look` op `ascii` on an edge shows 3+ steps | Return to source; integer nearest-neighbour only | | G4 | Rotated pixels: lumps, diamonds, smears on edges that were straight | `ascii`: irregular runs where the edge was a clean slope | Rotate only by 90° multiples (`transform` op `rotate`), else redraw per angle | | G5 | Mixed pitch in one scene: a sprite at 2× beside background at 1× | Row test in two regions; preview shows chunky vs fine pixels | Redraw the odd element at the world pitch | | G6 | Jaggies and wobbly lines: runs like 2,3,1,2 | `ascii` run lengths | Uniform or monotone runs (`rules://10-lines-and-curves`) | | G7 | Boxy fake pixelation: shapes built only from rectangles, no 2:1 slopes or rounded 2 px corners; reads as a 3D render at low res | Preview: silhouette is rectangles | Redraw with diagonals and corner rounding | | G8 | Odd canvas: not a multiple of 8, or 512 / 1024 | `sprite_info` | Work at 16 / 24 / 32 / 48 / 64 | **Colour** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | C1 | Colour bloat: hundreds to tens of thousands of colours; a "16 colour" prompt gave 528 | `palette` op `get` usage; `validate` palette (off-palette count, note above 64 entries) | `palette` op `extract` with `maxColors` 12–16 (RGB only), `recolor` op `snap`, rebuild ramps | | C2 | Near-duplicate shades (ΔE<3 = the same colour to a viewer) | `palette` op `analyze` | Merge with `recolor` op `replace` | | C3 | Brightness-only ramps: shadow = same hue, darker | `palette` op `analyze` ramp structure; ramp steps share one hue | `palette` op `ramp` (shadows toward blue/violet, highlights toward orange), `recolor` op `shade` | | C4 | Colour noise inside flat regions (JPEG-like) | `read_pixels` on a 4×4 flat patch: more than one colour | `draw` op `fill` with `tolerance` 20–40, contiguous, then `recolor` op `snap` | | C5 | Confetti: single pixels of unrelated hue near the subject | `validate` strays only finds specks floating in transparency; specks inside a fill need `look` op `ascii` (a glyph with no same-glyph 4-neighbour) | Repaint with the surrounding colour (`draw` op `pixels`); keep one specular dot or eye | | C6 | Conflicting light: highlights on both sides | Preview; `ascii`: lightest glyph clusters on opposite sides | One direction (`rules://02-shading-and-light`), reshade | | C7 | Pillow shading: value falls off from the centre in rings, uniform dark rim | `ascii` of one form shows concentric rings | Offset highlight toward the light, crescent shadow on the far side (template) | | C8 | Local colour only: every material one hue, one saturation, no accent | Preview; `recolor` op `desaturate` on a copy shows no focal value | `rules://20-color-for-pixel-art`: temperature and one accent | **Clusters and texture** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | X1 | Speckle as texture: random 1–2 px clusters | `ascii`: many clusters under 3 px | Clusters of ≥3 px that follow the form; fewer | | X2 | Dither as a field or noise | `draw` op `dither` pattern `noise` anywhere; dither over about half an object | Add a colour; `checker` / `bayer` only in a 1–3 px transition | | X3 | Banding and hugging: parallel bands with aligned ends | `validate` banding (horizontal run ≥ max(8, width/3), reported as a note); vertical, diagonal and hugging need `ascii` | Stagger the ends, let boundaries wander, dither one short section (template) | | X4 | Equal detail everywhere: no resting area | Preview at `scale: 1` fails the 1× test; `read_pixels` regions show similar colour counts everywhere | Delete detail until 1× passes; quiet zones (`rules://91-composition-and-scenes`) | | X5 | Smooth gradients on rock, pipe, cloth | `draw` op `gradient` with many `steps` | 3–5 steps; wander the edges; dither only large skies | | X6 | Software circles: even but lumpy runs | `ascii` run lengths | Hand-edit to monotone runs | | X7 | Repeating tile grid | Blit the tile 3×3 with `draw` op `blit`, `look` | Variants; break the lattice | **Edges, alpha and outline** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | E1 | Semi-transparent pixels and halos | `validate` antialiasing (RGB sprites) | Repaint those pixels opaque with `draw` op `pixels` | | E2 | Soft AA: opaque in-between tones, two or more steps from outline to background | `ascii` on an edge; `palette` op `analyze` near-duplicates | Hard 1 px edge; selective AA at most half the step length (`rules://12-anti-aliasing`) | | E3 | Colour fringe from an old background | Add a temporary flat contrasting layer below, `look` op `preview` | Recolour the fringe to the outline colour (`transform` op `outline`, `side: "inside"`) | | E4 | Broken or doubled outline | `validate` outline: 60–99% one colour = gaps; doubles need `ascii` | Regenerate with `transform` op `outline` | | E5 | Dark outline on every internal boundary | Preview, `ascii` | Selective outline (`rules://04-outlines-and-edges`) | **Process and animation** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | S1 | Frame drift: size, palette, outline change between frames | `look` op `filmstrip`; `look` op `diff` on frame pairs | Build every frame from one master (`rules://06-layers-and-rigging`) | | S2 | Uniform timing, no holds | `validate` animation note | `rules://40-timing-and-spacing` | | S3 | Anatomy and object logic: extra digits, unequal eyes, impossible joins | Count limbs in preview | Rebuild from construction (`rules://31-anatomy-and-pose`) | | S4 | Perfect mirror symmetry | Copy to a scratch sprite, flip with `transform` op `flip`, `look` op `diff`: near-empty diff = mirror | Break symmetry (`rules://03-silhouette-and-form`) | | S5 | Photo-conversion look: uniform error-diffusion speckle over a photographic layout, no designed silhouette | Preview; fails the silhouette test | Redraw from a silhouette | **Downscale damage** | Id | Tell | Detect | Fix | |----|------|--------|-----| | D1 | Mosaic mush: eyes, fingers, mouth reduced to blotches | Preview at 1×; an eye in `ascii` is three mid tones | Use the shrunk image as a base and redraw the features by hand (template) | | D2 | One line weight everywhere, one tone | `ascii`: interior lines as heavy as the outline | Vary weight, selective outline | | D3 | Limbs fused: 1 px gaps lost | Silhouette test: `recolor` op `replace` to one colour on a copy | 1 px gap or a clear overlap | | D4 | Thin diagonals dashed by resampling | `ascii`: line pixels joined only at corners with gaps | Redraw as a continuous staircase | ## What validate cannot see `validate` finds off-palette colours, floating isolated pixels, partial alpha (RGB), outline gaps, long horizontal bands, untagged frames and uniform timing. It is blind to: mixed pitch, confetti inside fills, near-duplicate colours, brightness-only ramps, pillow shading, light direction, symmetry, equal detail, doubled outlines, soft opaque AA, tile repetition, and anatomy. Do not rely on it for cross-frame volume drift either; read `look` op `filmstrip`. ## By size | | 8 px | 16 px | 32 px | 64 px | |---|------|-------|-------|-------| | Used colours | ≤4 (derived) | ≤8 | ≤16 | ≤32 (derived) | | Isolated pixels | 0, the eye excepted | ≤1 | ≤1 per object | ≤2 per object | | Tells that show first | bloat, no silhouette | confetti, mushy features, banding | pillow shading, uniform outline, symmetry | equal density, light conflict, mixed cluster scale, frame drift | | Mixels | cannot drift | rarely visible | visible when scaled from generated art | obvious | ## Templates Each pair is the same subject: the tell, then the fix. Use them as a diagnosis reference with `look` op `ascii`; transcribe the "fixed" block as a starting point. Mixed pitch: a mushroom at 1× beside the same mushroom drawn at 2×. One image, two pixel sizes. ```grid tells-pitch-mixed O = outline #1d2b53 R = cap #ff004d W = spots #fff1e8 --- ............OOOOOOOO.... ............OOOOOOOO.... ..........OORRWWRRRROO.. ..........OORRWWRRRROO.. ........OORRRRRRRRWWRROO ........OORRRRRRRRWWRROO ........OORRWWRRRRRRRROO ........OORRWWRRRRRRRROO ..OOOO....OOOOOOOOOOOO.. .ORWRRO...OOOOOOOOOOOO.. ORRRRWRO....OOWWWWOO.... ORWRRRRO....OOWWWWOO.... .OOOOOO.....OOWWWWOO.... ..OWWO......OOWWWWOO.... ..OWWO......OOOOOOOO.... ..OOOO......OOOOOOOO.... ``` Fix: both drawn at the world pitch (the larger one redrawn at 8×8, or both redrawn together at a new, larger native size). ```grid tells-pitch-uniform O = outline #1d2b53 R = cap #ff004d W = spots #fff1e8 --- ..OOOO.....OOOO.. .ORWRRO...ORWRRO. ORRRRWRO.ORRRRWRO ORWRRRRO.ORWRRRRO .OOOOOO...OOOOOO. ..OWWO.....OWWO.. ..OWWO.....OWWO.. ..OOOO.....OOOO.. ``` Pillow shading: highest value at the centre, symmetric rings, uniform dark rim. It reads as a button, not a lit ball. ```grid tells-sphere-pillow 1 = shadow #4a2060 2 = shade #9c2f5a 3 = light #dd5a45 4 = highlight #ffb070 --- ...1111... ..122221.. .12333321. 1233443321 1234444321 1234444321 1233443321 .12333321. ..122221.. ...1111... ``` Fix: light from the upper left. Highlight offset toward it, a shadow crescent on the far side, mid-tone body between. ```grid tells-sphere-lit 1 = shadow #4a2060 2 = shade #9c2f5a 3 = light #dd5a45 4 = highlight #ffb070 --- ...3333... ..334432.. .33444322. 3334443222 3333332222 3333332221 3333322211 .33322211. ..222211.. ...1111... ``` Confetti: off-ramp single pixels and a lone squiggle scattered over a flat fill. `validate` strays does not see them (they have neighbours); `look` op `ascii` does. ```grid tells-confetti-before M = mid #6b6f86 D = shadow #3b3a4e L = light #a3a8bd H = highlight #e4e7f2 --- ...MMMMMMMM... .MMMMLMMMHMMM. .DMMMMMMDMMMM. MMMDMMLMMMMLMM MMMMHMMLMMMMMM MMLMMMMMMMDMMM MMMMMMMMLMMMDM .MMMMDMMMMMMM. ..MMMMMMMMMM.. ``` Fix: the same silhouette with the light and dark gathered into two clusters following one light direction, and one specular pixel kept on purpose. ```grid tells-confetti-after M = mid #6b6f86 D = shadow #3b3a4e L = light #a3a8bd H = highlight #e4e7f2 --- ...LLLLMMMM... .LLLLLLLMMMMM. .LLHLLLMMMMMM. LLLLLMMMMMMMMM LLLMMMMMMMMMDD MMMMMMMMMMDDDD MMMMMMMMDDDDDD .MMMMMDDDDDDD. ..MMDDDDDDDD.. ``` Ramps: the top strip is brightness-only (one hue and saturation; shadows go muddy, highlights chalky). The bottom strip is the fix: shadows slide toward crimson, lights toward yellow, saturation peaks in the middle. Build it with `palette` op `ramp`. ```grid tells-ramps-flat-vs-shifted 1 = flat-1 #4a2811 2 = flat-2 #84471f 3 = flat-3 #be672d 4 = flat-4 #d88c5a 5 = flat-5 #e6b494 a = shifted-1 #4a1c28 b = shifted-2 #862727 c = shifted-3 #ce4e27 d = shifted-4 #ea9e53 e = shifted-5 #f6de8d --- 1122334455 1122334455 .......... aabbccddee aabbccddee ``` Mushy features after a downscale: each eye is a muddy smudge with no dark pupil and no highlight, the mouth a mud-coloured smear. The face has no expression. ```grid tells-eye-mushy S = skin #f0b48a m = mud #b08868 b = dark-mud #7a5a4c --- SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSmmmSSSSmmmSS SSmbmSSSSmbmSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSmmmmSSSSS ``` Fix: redrawn by hand. A dark lid row, one sclera pixel and two pupil pixels per eye, a smile with raised corners. The pupil position now decides where the character looks. ```grid tells-eye-placed S = skin #f0b48a D = dark #2a1a2e W = sclera #fdf6e8 --- SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSDDDSSSSDDDSS SSWDDSSSSWDDSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSDSSSSDSSSS SSSSSDDDDSSSSS ``` Banding: four flat bands, each boundary running the full 16 px. `validate` banding reports it. ```grid tells-band-stripes 1 = shadow #2f3a5a 2 = shade #5b6f9a 3 = light #92a8cf 4 = highlight #d6e2f5 --- 4444444444444444 3333333333333333 3333333333333333 2222222222222222 2222222222222222 1111111111111111 ``` Fix: boundaries step every few pixels, one transition crossed by a checker, the highlight a short dash. No boundary stays straight for 8 px. ```grid tells-band-broken 1 = shadow #2f3a5a 2 = shade #5b6f9a 3 = light #92a8cf 4 = highlight #d6e2f5 --- 3334444444333333 3333444333333332 3333333333222222 2323232322222222 2222222222111111 2222111111111111 ``` ## Procedure **Audit (native work)** 1. `sprite_info`: size, colour mode, palette count, frames. Odd canvas (G8) is fixed first. 2. `validate` with the `checks` and `strict: true` from rule 1. Record counts per check. 3. `palette` op `analyze`: near-duplicates (C2), ramp hue structure (C3), colours outside the palette (C1). 4. `look` op `preview` with `scale: 1`: the 1× read. Then default scale: silhouette, light direction (C6), pillow shading (C7), symmetry (S4), density (X4). 5. `look` op `ascii` on the busiest region and on one outline stretch: runs (G6), confetti (C5), soft edges (E2), doubled outline (E4). 6. Animation: `look` op `filmstrip`, then `look` op `diff` on suspicious pairs (S1). 7. Fix by the order in rule 7; re-run the detector after each fix; stop when the Review list is clean. **Intake of an external image** 1. `reference` op `sample_palette` (`colors: 16`) to see how many distinct colours it wants; `sprite_info` for its size. 2. Run test (rule 3): `read_pixels` of a 1-row region at a busy y, and one more at another y. 3. Clean multiples: unscale (rule 5), `palette` op `extract` (`maxColors` 16) then `recolor` op `snap`, clean by hand. Drifting runs: skip to 4. 4. Redraw at the target size: `reference` op `import` with `fit: "contain"` at low `opacity`, `draw` op `grid` for the silhouette, `look` op `compare` to name the largest mismatches. Fix only those. 5. Finish with the audit above. ## Mistakes | Symptom | Cause | Fix | |---------|-------|-----| | `validate` clean yet it reads as AI | Brightness-only ramps, pillow shading, equal density: all outside `validate` | Run the by-eye Review items | | Sprite looks sharper after upscaling and blurring | Hiding blur instead of removing it | Redraw at 1×; never filter | | Automatic grid snap gave a broken sprite | Drifting blocks have no single lattice | Run test first; redraw instead | | Isolated pixels removed, face went dead | The eye highlight was deleted with the noise | Keep one deliberate pixel per feature | | Banding "fixed" by dithering the whole object | Dither as a field | Wander the boundary; dither one short section | | Traced a generated image pixel for pixel | Inherited its mush and drift | Use as proportion guide only; decide each cluster | | Re-shaded with `recolor` and gained new colours | `clampToPalette: false` | Leave it on; add ramp entries with `palette` op `ramp` | ## Review - Row test passes: uniform pitch across the whole image (G1, G2, G5). - Used colours within the By-size cap; `palette` op `analyze` shows no near-duplicates; ramps change hue (C1–C3). - `validate`: 0 off-palette, 0 partial alpha, no banding note, outline gaps explained (E1, E4, X3). - Isolated pixels: none except deliberate highlights and eyes; no confetti inside fills (C5). - One light direction; no pillow shading (C6, C7). - Dither only in short transitions; no noise pattern, no smooth gradients (X2, X5). - Detail is not equal everywhere; the 1× read passes (X4). - Edges are hard: no feathered AA, no fringe (E2, E3); outline style consistent (E5). - Features are placed on purpose, silhouette survives a flat fill (D1, D3). - Animation frames share size, palette and outline; timing varies (S1, S2). - Not mirror-symmetric unless intended (S4). ## Sources - Eugeniy Smirnov, "How to tame your AI pixel art" (dev.to, 2025); Pixelmade, "Fix blurry pixel art" (2026); Nerulio, "Fix AI pixel art" (2026): mixel grids, colour counts, drift, detector disagreement, recovery results. - Pixel Joint: "The Pixel Art Tutorial" (cure) for the AA / banding / dither / pillow / noise / sel-out taxonomy, and the gallery rules v2 thread (2018). Derek Yu, "Pixel Art Common Mistakes" (2020). Saint11, "Consistency" (2023) and "Anti-Alias and Banding" (2021). - Slynyrd Pixelblog 62 (2026); Lospec articles on AI submissions and unscaling (2023); reyh thread on mixels (2024). - Pixel Logic ch. 7 "Clean-up" (shrink without blur, redraw on the shrunken base, lazy lines); Silber, *Pixel Art for Game Developers* (anti-patterns, 3×3 tile test); Tsugumo (auto-downscale adds colours); Mateu-Mestre, *Framed Ink* (authored emphasis versus equal weight).