Well, I was wondering what programs should I use if I'm going to draw either weapons or sprites. So I decided to post a thread and ask you guys! I made this thread 'cuz when I was wondering around my files, I saw some certain people who prefers me to stay on pixel and others with gradients.

Programs that I used for each style:

Pixel - MS Paint

Gradient - Paint SAI

Gradient is last thing you should use.

Agree with Yates.

Do pixels, and add gradients.

Gradient shading is an abomination of a technique.

It shouldn't even be a last resort.

I do mine per pixel and/or using digital painting techniques.

@ Majatek: I make skins in pixels, but I think it looks better in gradient.

Gradient is worst tool ever. Never use it. Ever.

@ DevGru: If you want an untextured bland looking two-dimensional unrealistic piece of crap, then yeah, go ahead with gradient shading, but as a professional hired artist who has worked in the field of art and multimedia in university, I will stick with pixeling and digital painting for my technique.

@ Majatek: Ok I get it.

Edit:

Sometimes I don't get how skinners like Pwnisher can do very small detailed shading with MS.Paint. Like the deagle_m in his Killing floor weapon pack, when you zoom in there's little pixels with different colors that creates a good shading on the gun. Does he make skins by putting small dots one at a time and changing each dots' color?

@ CY: Gradient sucks.

@ J4x: I'm talking about the shading in your menu images skins.

Lol I read deagle_d, then yes I make the shading pixel by pixel, but sometimes I use some effects for it to looks better, but never a gradient.

I agree, gradient isn't useful and is very ugly in such sprites as CS2D ones. These should be created pixel by pixel, not by two simple moves with the random gradient.
I've been always finishing my works in GIMP, eventually fixing some weird pixels in Paint (mostly pink ones as the background).

Use both, due! That will be great.

Pixel art has different techniques anyways. You can use grid-shading instead of gradient-shading to increase your color-palette without adding colors.

Fuck Gradients,Face Pixels Dude.If You Use Gradients In The First Place,Your Skin Will Be A Piece Of TRASH.

Gradient makes your skin flat and ugly as fuck.

@ Horazont:
Those who don't know how to use gradient will always make it look flat just like those daily dose of fail skins. This one is my first game sprite that was made with gradients and pixel.



@ Yates:
I don't think that I can escape from gradients now, it's pretty much useful for me to make different camouflage patterns and paste it on a base template/outline.

Don Captione:
I'm afraid you're wrong, check [4th Era]M4A1 Carbine Assault Rifle Set (18) and you'll notice that I used gradient on the woodland camo'.

@ Krimhorn:
I've got to agree with you there, but as I mentioned above. Using it might make my job easier and allows me to blend in those colors to create more patterns! ... and better sprites!

@ J4x:
Maybe it's sucks on coloring the smaller 2D sprites, but what if I use it on larger sprites? Just like the MBT-6 Predator Tank sprite.

I think gradients are ugly pieces of shit you should avoid as much as possible. But if you make some high-tech flat-as-fuck shiny tileset or tank or whatever it is you make, you can't use pixelshading if the sprite is really small (32*32 is too small if you want whole surfaces pixelshaded).

Big sprites (128*128+) are TERRIBLE with gradients. All the space you want is there, and yet you fuck it up by clicking 1 button and being like "Herpderp me so pro lewk it so smooth olololooOOLOLoLOLOLOLOL~"

You've made my day sir, awesome quotes there! I guess I'll stick to pixels then.

@ CY: I'm pretty sure I did not even comment on your tank sprite just because of the gradient. I did not want to start shitstorm so I kept it to myself.