#Beginner Android Programming

[hemantrowdy]

Android App Development Course for Beginners: Learn with Code with TLS

In today’s mobile-first world, mastering Android App Development can open countless career opportunities. Whether you dream of building the next big app or launching your tech career, starting with the right foundation is essential. That’s where Code with TLS comes in — your trusted partner for quality tech education.

Our Android App Development course for beginners is designed to take you from zero coding experience to building fully functional Android applications. With a step-by-step curriculum, hands-on projects, and expert mentorship, you’ll gain the skills needed to create real-world apps confidently.

Why Choose Code with TLS for Android App Development?

At Code with TLS, we believe learning should be practical, engaging, and career-focused. Our Android App Development program offers:

Beginner-Friendly Modules: We start with the basics, introducing Android Studio, Java, and Kotlin — the core technologies for app development.

Hands-On Projects: You'll create real applications like a weather app, task manager, and more to strengthen your skills.

Mentor Support: Our experienced instructors guide you through every concept and challenge.

Updated Curriculum: Stay current with the latest Android versions, UI/UX design trends, and Google Play deployment best practices.

Whether you want to become a freelance app developer, join a tech company, or build your own startup, our course gives you a competitive edge.

Who Should Enroll?

This course is perfect for:

Students curious about mobile technology

Entrepreneurs wanting to build their own app

Tech enthusiasts starting their programming journey

Working professionals upgrading their digital skills

No prior coding experience is required — just passion and dedication!

Get Started with Code with TLS Today!

Code with TLS stands out as a Tech Course Provider by combining quality education with real-world applications. Our mission is to empower beginners to become confident Android developers ready for today’s job market.

Enroll now and unlock your potential in the booming field of Android App Development. Learn, build, and succeed with Code with TLS — where your tech journey begins.

[kimikawa]

I haven't drawn anything in literal years, so this is pretty monumental for me. This is also the first digital art I've done in decades. Clip Paint Studio is nice but I hate the subscription model price plan it has for tablets.

[healthylifewithus]

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[xploreitcorp5]

Are there jobs in mobile development with Java?

1. Introduction to Java in Mobile Development

Do mobile development jobs exist that utilize Java? Yes. Java has been a leading technology in mobile application development, especially in the context of Android applications. As the native programming language for Android, Java continues to be utilized extensively worldwide to develop scalable, secure, and high-performance applications. With over millions of Android users and companies requiring mobile applications, Java developers remain sought after. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran coder, Java offers a lot of mobile development career paths. If you're asking yourself, "Are there careers in mobile development using Java?", the answer is a resounding yes���particularly if you're looking at Android. To begin your quest, look into taking a java course in Coimbatore or java training in Coimbatore to establish a solid foundation. 

2. Java's Role in the Android Ecosystem

Are there mobile development jobs using Java?

Yes, mostly thanks to Android. Java drives the majority of the native Android apps today. Even though Kotlin is popular now, Java is still in popular use because of the immense community support, frameworks, and libraries available. Java-trained developers can seamlessly incorporate third-party tools and develop smooth, intuitive mobile applications. Employers like developers who know the Android SDK, and that is a natural thing when you know Java. Learning java in Coimbatore will teach you about mobile SDKs and live projects enhancing your portfolio. Java classes in Coimbatore will give you theoretical as well as practical knowledge, necessary for getting mobile development jobs. 

3. Skills Required for Java Mobile Development 

Java mobile developers must excel in object-oriented programming, Android Studio, APIs, and debugging. Training programs such as a java fullstack developer course in Coimbatore usually have mobile-specific training modules. Such skills are required for jobs like Android developer, mobile app tester, and UI/UX mobile integrator. Java’s simplicity and scalability allow developers to focus more on app functionality and less on language complexity. If you’re wondering again, "Are there jobs in mobile development with Java?"—yes, especially for those who combine core Java expertise with hands-on mobile training. 

4. Career Paths in Java Mobile Development 

As a Java mobile developer, you might be an Android Developer, Mobile Software Engineer, or even a Mobile UI Designer.Tech companies ranging from startups to giants still recruit Java professionals to develop apps. Joining a java full stack developer course in Coimbatore can set you for such varied roles. Since you have both backend and frontend skills, you're more employable in the market. Java programmers with mobile expertise tend to work for e-commerce, healthcare, education, and logistics sectors. So, do mobile development jobs using Java exist? Absolutely, and many of them have good pay and opportunities for growth. 

5. Freelancing and Remote

There are thousands of job listings on platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal that need Java for mobile applications. Passing java training in Coimbatore or a java course in Coimbatore gives you credibility. You'll have certifications and portfolios that win clients worldwide. Do mobile development jobs exist with Java? Yes, and you can also work at home or wherever there is an internet connection. 

6. Java vs Kotlin: Do You Still Need to Learn Java?

 Are mobile development jobs available that use Java? Yes, notwithstanding the rise of Kotlin. Kotlin might be Android's go-to language these days, but Java is still a must. Much of the legacy apps, enterprise infrastructure, and tools are still based on Java.

Learning Java initially provides you with a solid grasp of programming logic, which can be easily transferred to Kotlin or another language in the future.Java is still current and in use. Students who study java in Coimbatore frequently receive double exposure to Java and Kotlin. Java training in Coimbatore enables students to establish a solid foundation before proceeding to more complex or blended frameworks. So, do mobile development jobs exist using Java? Absolutely—particularly with fundamental knowledge.

 7. Industry Demand and Hiring Trends 

Are there mobile development jobs using Java? The industry indicates that indeed there are. From job boards to corporate hiring lists, Java is often a listed needed skill for mobile development positions. Corporations like Java due to the fact it provides stability, scalability, and long-term backing. Mobile development projects on banking apps, health portals, and e-learning tools typically necessitate Java skills.Most recruiters view a java full stack developer course in Coimbatore as a good addition to your resume.

8. Real-World Projects Boost Career Opportunities 

Are there jobs in mobile development with Java? Yes—and having experience with real projects puts you on the list. Recruiters are happy to see project experience on resumes. Java mobile development training programs may comprise live projects, app cloning, and portfolio development. A Coimbatore java course provides you with hands-on experience in developing interactive Android applications from scratch. Java training in Coimbatore lays emphasis on hands-on exposure so that students are ready to join the job market from the first day.

The more you develop, the better you become.

Is there employment available in mobile development using Java? Yes, and project experience in real-life scenarios provides a competitive advantage.

 9. Java Mobile Developer Salary Expectations

 Are there Java mobile development jobs available? Yes, and they are lucrative. Junior Java mobile developers can command competitive salaries, and with experience, salary levels increase substantially. In India and worldwide, average pay for Android developers who know Java is very promising. Organizations prefer professionals certified by java training in Coimbatore. A java full stack developer course in Coimbatore not only provides mobile opportunities but backend and frontend development opportunities as well.

10. Conclusion: 

Your Career Starts with Java Are there jobs in mobile development with Java? Absolutely. Java continues to be a fundamental skill in the mobile development sector, especially for Android. The advantages range from job security to remote working, to name just a few. To make the most of these, take a java course in Coimbatore or go in for advanced java training in Coimbatore. For well-rounded preparation, a java full stack developer course in Coimbatore does it all—frontend, backend, and mobile. With proper training and hard work, a successful career is theirs for the taking. Are there mobile development jobs that use Java?

[samanthablake02]

Supercharge Your Apps: Mastering Kotlin Programming in 2025

Did you know that companies using Kotlin programming report up to a 40% reduction in code compared to Java? That's a monumental gain in efficiency and maintainability. But diving into Kotlin programming can feel like navigating a complex labyrinth if you don’t have the right guide.

This post provides that comprehensive roadmap. It steers clear of the superficial and delves into actionable strategies, vital tools, and key insights that separate adept Kotlin programming from rudimentary endeavors. You'll bypass common pitfalls, grasp best practices, and develop a foundational understanding that will propel your mobile app development.

For any android app development company, mastering Kotlin is essential to stay competitive in the evolving tech landscape.

Demystifying Core Strategies in Kotlin Programming

Let’s dissect some powerful tactics that will enhance your efficacy in Kotlin programming .

Embracing Null Safety: This is arguably one of Kotlin's strongest assets. Its built-in null safety features greatly mitigates the risk of NullPointerExceptions, a prevalent bane in Java.

Nullable Types: Declare a variable nullable using ?. Example: var name: String? = "Kotlin"

Safe Calls: Use the ?. operator to safely access properties or methods on a nullable variable. Example: name?.length (will only access length if name is not null)

Elvis Operator: Use the ?: operator to provide a default value when a variable is null. Example: val length = name?.length ?: -1 (assigns -1 to length if name is null)

Leveraging Coroutines for Asynchronous Programming: Managing asynchronous operations with callbacks can swiftly transform code into an unreadable mess. Coroutines streamline this process, enabling you to write asynchronous code in a sequential style.

Mastering Data Classes: Tired of boilerplate code for simple data holding classes? Kotlin data classes automatically generate methods like equals(), hashCode(), toString(), and copy(), minimizing manual coding.

Evading Common Errors in Your Kotlin Programming Journey

Even experienced developers occasionally fall into common traps. Recognize and circumvent these pitfalls.

Overusing Nullable Types: While null safety is important, relying excessively on nullable types can muddle your code and necessitate redundant null checks. Aim to keep your variables non-nullable where it's logically tenable.

Ignoring Extension Functions: Kotlin's extension functions let you append new methods to existing classes without inheritance. It's easy to overlook this power, leading to repetitive code and diminished modularity.

Not Fully Capitalizing on Data Classes: Data classes auto-generate common methods. Missing out on this auto-generation equates to needless repetition and avoidable chances for errors.

Indispensable Tools for Flourishing in Kotlin Programming

Equipping yourself with the appropriate tools streamlines development, boosts productivity, and elevates code quality.

IntelliJ IDEA: This IDE has outstanding support for Kotlin programming, boasting code completion, debugging capabilities, and refactoring tools.

Android Studio: Built atop IntelliJ IDEA, Android Studio provides tailored tools for Android development with Kotlin.

Kotlin Standard Library: Master this, covering collections, sequences, I/O, and more. It enhances expressiveness and reduces boilerplate.

Expert Insights into Elevating Your Kotlin Programming

Go beyond basic proficiency by following insights from experienced Kotlin practitioners.

Code Reviews are Essential: Routine code reviews uncover subtle errors, guarantee code uniformity, and foster knowledge-sharing within the team.

Staying Updated: The Kotlin language continuously develops. Remain current on new features and recommended practices through official documentation and community forums.

Craft Testable Code: Structure code with testability in mind. Employ dependency injection to segregate components and streamline unit testing. "A major boon of Kotlin programming is its inter-operability with Java. You can gradually migrate large Java codebases and realize incremental benefits. " - John, Senior Software Architect

Consider an anecdote from my personal experience with code reviews. I initially thought my code was impeccable until a colleague identified a glaring potential concurrency issue that would have cost my company greatly in maintenance expenses and down time in a system upgrade scenario. The fresh perspectives gleaned during code reviews has proved invaluable.

Diving Deeper: Extending Kotlin's Functionality with Method Addition

Now, let’s scrutinize adding methods in Kotlin , particularly when expanding existing classes (the essence of extension functions).

How to Add Methods (Extension Functions): A Detailed Guide

This approach does not alter the source code of the original class; instead, it permits you to append a new function that behaves as if it's a member function of that class. Here are the steps involved:

Identify the Class to Extend: Determine which class you want to augment with additional functionality. This could be a class in the Kotlin standard library (like String, List) or a custom class defined in your project.

Create the Extension Function: Declare the extension function using the fun keyword, followed by the class name, a dot (.), and the name of the new function. Here's the generic format: fun ClassName.newFunctionName(parameters: ParameterType): ReturnType { // Function body return someValue }

Access the Receiver Type: Inside the extension function, the class being extended is referred to as the "receiver." You can access its members using the this keyword, though typically you can refer to the properties and methods of the receiver class directly.

Add Functionality: This is where you incorporate your custom logic. Your function can perform any operation on the receiver object or interact with other parts of your application.

Call the Extension Function: Once defined, call the extension function just as you would any member function of the extended class. Here's an example: val myString = "Kotlin Rocks" val wordCount = myString.wordCount() // Calls the extension function println("Word count: $wordCount")

Placement Considerations: Ideally, place extension functions near where they are used or in a dedicated extensions file to keep your code organized and maintainable. Consistency in placement facilitates readability and collaboration. Practical Example: Adding a Word Count Function to String

Let’s create a specific example—an extension function that counts the number of words in a string:fun String.wordCount(): Int { val words = this.trim().split("\\s+".toRegex()) return if (words.first().isEmpty()) 0 else words.size } fun main() { val myString = " This is a Kotlin Example " val count = myString.wordCount() println("Number of words: $count") // Output: Number of words: 5 }

In this example:

We define wordCount() as an extension function on the String class.

The this keyword refers to the string on which the function is called.

We utilize the trim() function to remove leading and trailing whitespace, ensuring accurate word counting.

We employ the split() function to break the string into words using whitespace as the delimiter.

We then calculate the word count by determining the size of the resultant list of words.

By diligently pursuing this guide, you enhance classes seamlessly, thereby amplifying their usefulness and the modularity of your overall architecture. This embodies Kotlin's design goal to allow programmers to stretch its capabilities creatively.

Key Takeaways

Kotlin programming enhances code brevity and reduces errors with features like null safety and data classes.

Prioritize null safety, learn to handle exceptions effectively and apply coroutines for improved performance.

Continually refine your skills through community participation and continuous education in Kotlin programming updates.

Master extension functions and take steps for better programming practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Kotlin programming truly replace Java in Android Development?

Absolutely! Kotlin is now the favored language for Android app development and interoperates effectively with existing Java code. Migrating piece by piece becomes easy, so that's why Kotlin programming is now a preferred option.

Why is Null Safety a much lauded feature of Kotlin?

Kotlin’s built-in null safety alleviates many common NullPointerException that happens when accessing null variables that occurs during runtime in Java. Safe calls and the Elvis operator can help create stronger applications with greater protection from crashing.

How complex is migrating Java code to Kotlin programming?

Thanks to its full interoperability, code can migrate iteratively without re-writing the entire program at once which has encouraged adoption. Each bit is compiled into binary for use by each platform so gradual migration is manageable and can allow quicker deployment.

Can I use my existing Java skills while using Kotlin programming?

Yes! Given that it interoperates seamlessly with Java, prior Java skillsets become an immense value and drastically reduce learning curves when approaching this new way to build mobile apps! You will not have to rebuild all those applications; just move little parts.

What are the specific performance advantages associated with Kotlin programming?

Coroutines enable more effective asynchronous coding management and reduces the need for messy callbacks. Coupled with Kotlin’s compact syntax can lead to enhanced and effective codes. This gives users speedier service and higher level of usefulness!

Recommendation

We highly urge the adoption of Kotlin programming given the high level of improvement the company is using and given its benefits with interoperability as we have previously covered here in the blog. With this easy move towards its acceptance and continued application to build out the company's programming assets; our resources and efforts can be leveraged at scale!

[roboticsysinfo]

Start Your App Development Journey Today with Robotic Sysinfo: The Best App Development Company in Karnal!

I want to be an app developer, but I feel like I'm starting from scratch. Trust me, you're not alone. It feels like the tech world is some exclusive club, and you're standing outside looking in. But here's the thing: becoming an app developer, even with no experience, is 100% within your reach. It's all about taking that first step and staying motivated, no matter what. Our team has 5+ years of experience in app development solutions. So, let's get started and talk about how you can make this dream a reality—without any experience in your pocket yet.

Problem: The Struggle to Start

We've all been there. You want to break into a new field, but the amount of knowledge and skills you need feels impossible to conquer. You might be wondering: Can I even do this? Where do I start? What are all the things that I need to know to start building an application from scratch? It's pretty easy to get the feeling of lagging behind, especially when you view some of those super cool applications that you have installed on your mobile or the developers coding in lightning speed. It feels as though everyone has it all covered, and here you are stuck.

Solution: Your Pathway to Becoming an App Developer

Let's break this down into manageable steps. This journey may take a while, but every step forward will help you get closer to your goal.

Learn the Basics of Programming Languages

Code knowledge is what one needs in order to make an app. Don't be too worried though; you are not supposed to be a wizard overnight. Start learning the basics of some programming language, which will be good for beginners. Swift is for iOS apps while Kotlin is suitable for Android. JavaScript is ideal for something universally available. Go for one at a time. Free tutorials abound on the internet, while platforms like Codecademy or Udemy present structured courses so you can work your way toward getting the basics down.

Now get out there and start building something

Now, fun part: Create! Yes, you will not build the next Instagram tomorrow; that is okay, too. Try something simple for now, say a to-do list app or a weather app. You aren't going for a masterpiece, but for trying, experimenting, and learning. Don't sweat it if everything doesn't seem to work exactly as expected right off; that is how it is in the process of learning.

Participate in Developer Community

Sometimes, building an app on your own can feel lonely, but guess what? You don't have to do this by yourself. There are entire communities of developers out there—many of them started from scratch just like you. Forums like Stack Overflow, Reddit's r/learnprogramming, or local coding meetups are places where you can ask questions, get advice, and make connections. These communities are full of people who want to see you succeed, and they'll help you get through the tough patches.

Create a Portfolio of Your Work

Once you��ve started building apps, showcase them! Create a portfolio that highlights your work, even if it’s just a few small projects. A portfolio is essential to landing your first job or freelance gig. Make it public on platforms like GitHub or build your own website. Show the world that you’re serious about your new career, and let potential employers or clients see your growth.

Take Online Courses to Take It to the Next Level

If you want to level up your skills, consider enrolling in a structured online course. Websites like Udacity, Coursera, or freeCodeCamp offer great resources for both beginners and intermediate learners. Getting a certification can also boost your credibility and show potential employers that you've got the skills to back up your passion.

Look for Freelance Opportunities or Internships

With that said, as you build some small confidence, find opportunities where you can implement this knowledge into the real world. Start applying for internships or volunteer work. Don't be afraid to take small gigs; places like Upwork and Fiverr offer many smaller projects, just right for those starting out. Every single one of them teaches you something and gets you a little bit closer to what you want to be.

Why You Should Wait: The Tech Industry is Booming

Here's the exciting part—the app development industry is growing fast. According to Statista, the mobile app market generated over $407 billion in 2023. This means there are endless opportunities for developers. Whether you're building the next great social media app, a life-saving health app, or an awesome game, the demand is huge. And it's only going to keep growing.

One company that started with zero experience and grew into something amazing is Robotic Sysinfo, an app development company in Karnal, India. Now, our team has 5+ years of experience in this field. They started small, and through dedication, they’ve become a leading player in the app development world. Their story is proof that with persistence, even those who start with no experience can build something great.

Read More:

Conclusion: You’ve Got This!

It's time to stop wondering whether you can. Yes, you should try! The process of becoming an app developer isn't an overnight thing; however, it can happen if you start small, continue pushing, and embrace the journey. You would surely stumble, but with every line of code written, you are getting stronger and stronger before you even realize how far you have come.

Remember: the world needs more developers, and this is your chance to be in this exciting world. Whether you aspire to create something big or are just learning because you love the idea, today is the best time to fit into it. Your future as an app developer begins today. So, let's get started on your journey with a real app development company like Robotic Sysinfo!

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Edit: Now available in Google Doc format if you don't have a Tumblr account 🥰

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting

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Free or Cheap Mandarin Chinese Learning Resources Because You Can't Let John Cena One Up You Again

I will update this list as I learn of any more useful ones. If you want general language learning resources check out this other post. This list is Mandarin specific. Find lists for other specific languages here.

For the purposes of this list "free" means something that is either totally free or has a useful free tier. "Cheap" is a subscription under $10USD a month, a software license or lifetime membership purchase under $100USD, or a book under $30USD. If you want to suggest a resource for this list please suggest ones in that price range that are of decent quality and not AI generated.

WEBSITES

Dong Chinese - A website with lessons, a pinyin guide, a dictionary, and various videos and practice tests. With a free account you're only allowed to do one lesson every 12 hours. To do as many lessons as quickly as you want it costs $10 a month or $80 a year.

Domino Chinese - A paid website with video based lessons from absolute beginner to college level. They claim they can get you ready to get a job in China. They offer a free trial and after that it's $5 a month or pay what you can if you want to support their company.

Chinese Education Center - This is an organization that gives information to students interested in studying abroad in China. They have free text based lessons for beginners on vocab, grammar, and handwriting.

Pleco Dictionary App - This is a very popular dictionary app on both iOS and Android. It has a basic dictionary available for free but other features can be purchased individually or in bundles. A full bundle that has what most people would want is about $30 but there are more expensive options with more features.

MIT OpenCourseWare Chinese 1 2 3 4 5 6 - These are actual archived online courses from MIT available for free. You will likely need to download them onto your computer.

Learn Chinese Web Application From Cambridge University - This is a free downloadable file with Mandarin lessons in a PC application. There's a different program for beginner and intermediate.

Learn Chinese Everyday - A free word a day website. Every day the website posts a different word with pronunciation, stroke order, and example sentences. There's also an archive of free downloadable worksheets related to previous words featured on the website.

Chinese Boost - A free website and blog with beginner lessons and articles about tips and various resources to try.

Chinese Forums - An old fashioned forum website for people learning Chinese to share resources and ask questions. It's still active as of when I'm making this list.

Du Chinese - A free website and an app with lessons and reading and listening practice with dual transcripts in both Chinese characters and pinyin. They also have an English language blog with tips, lessons, and information on Chinese culture.

YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Chinese For Us - A channel that provides free video lessons for beginners. The channel is mostly in English.

Herbin Mandarin - A channel with a variety of lessons for beginners. The channel hasn't uploaded in a while but there's a fairly large archive of lessons to watch. The channel is mainly in English.

Mandarin Blueprint - This channel is by a couple of guys who also run a paid website. However on their YouTube channel there's a lot of free videos with tips about how to go about learning Chinese, pronunciation and writing tips, and things of that nature. The channel is mainly in English.

Blabla Chinese - A comprehensible input channel with content about a variety of topics for beginner to intermediate. The video descriptions are in English but the videos themselves are all in Mandarin.

Lazy Chinese - A channel aimed at intermediate learners with videos on general topics, grammar, and culture. They also have a podcast. The channel has English descriptions but the videos are all in Mandarin.

Easy Mandarin - A channel associated with the easy languages network that interviews people on the street in Taiwan about everyday topics. The channel has on screen subtitles in traditional characters, pinyin, and English.

StickynoteChinese - A relatively new channel but it already has a decent amount of videos. Jun makes videos about culture and personal vlogs in Mandarin. The channel is aimed at learners from beginner to upper intermediate.

Story Learning Chinese With Annie - A comprehensible input channel almost entirely in Mandarin. The host teaches through stories and also makes videos about useful vocabulary words and cultural topics. It appears to be aimed at beginner to intermediate learners.

LinguaFlow Chinese - Another relatively new channel but they seem to be making new videos regularly. The channel is aimed at beginner to intermediate learners and teaches and provides listening practice with video games. The channel is mostly in Mandarin.

Lala Chinese - A channel with tips on grammar and pronunciation with the occasional vlog for listening practice, aimed at upper beginner to upper intermediate learners. Some videos are all in Mandarin while others use a mix of English and Mandarin. Most videos have dual language subtitles onscreen.

Grace Mandarin Chinese - A channel with general information on the nitty gritty of grammar, pronunciation, common mistakes, slang, and useful phrases for different levels of learners. Most videos are in English but some videos are fully in Mandarin.

READING PRACTICE

HSK Reading - A free website with articles sorted into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Every article has comprehension questions. You can also mouse over individual characters and see the pinyin and possible translations. The website is in a mix of English and Mandarin.

chinesegradedreader.com - A free website with free short readings up to HSK level 3 or upper intermediate. Each article has an explaination at the beginning of key vocabulary words in English and you can mouse over individual characters to get translations.

Mandarin Companion - This company sells books that are translated and simplified versions of classic novels as well as a few originals for absolute beginners. They are available in both traditional and simplified Chinese. Their levels don't appear to be aligned with any HSK curriculum but even their most advanced books don't have more than 500 individual characters according to them so they're likely mostly for beginners to advanced beginners. New paperbacks seem to usually be $14 but cheaper used copies, digital copies, and audiobooks are also available. The website is in English.

Graded Chinese Readers - Not to be confused with chinese graded reader, this is a website with information on different graded readers by different authors and different companies. The website tells you what the book is about, what level it's for, whether or not it uses traditional or simplified characters, and gives you a link to where you can buy it on amazon. They seem to have links to books all the way from HSK 1 or beginner to HSK 6 or college level. A lot of the books seem to be under $10 but as they're all from different companies your mileage and availability may vary. The website is in English.

Mandarin Bean - A website with free articles about Chinese culture and different short stories. Articles are sorted by HSK level from 1 to 6. The website also lets you switch between traditional or simplified characters and turn the pinyin on or off. It also lets you mouse over characters to get a translation. They have a relatively expensive paid tier that gives you access to video lessons and HSK practice tests and lesson notes but all articles and basic features on the site are available on the free tier without an account. The website is in a mix of Mandarin and English.

Mandarin Daily News - This is a daily newspaper from Taiwan made for children so the articles are simpler, have illustrations and pictures, and use easier characters. As it's for native speaker kids in Taiwan, the site is completely in traditional Chinese.

New Tong Wen Tang for Chrome or Firefox - This is a free browser extension that can convert traditional characters to simplified characters or vice versa without a need to copy and paste things into a separate website.

PODCASTS

Melnyks Chinese - A podcast for more traditional audio Mandarin Chinese lessons for English speakers. The link I gave is to their website but they're also available on most podcatcher apps.

Chinese Track - Another podcast aimed at learning Mandarin but this one goes a bit higher into lower intermediate levels.

Dimsum Mandarin - An older podcast archive of 30 episodes of dialogues aimed at beginner to upper beginner learners.

Dashu Mandarin - A podcast run by three Chinese teachers aimed at intermediate learners that discusses culture topics and gives tips for Mandarin learners. There are also male teachers on the podcast which I'm told is relatively rare for Mandarin material aimed at learners and could help if you're struggling to understand more masculine speaking patterns.

Learning Chinese Through Stories - A storytelling podcast mostly aimed at intermediate learners but they do have some episodes aimed at beginner or advanced learners. They have various paid tiers for extra episodes and learning material on their patreon but there's still a large amount of episodes available for free.

Haike Mandarin - A conversational podcast in Taiwanese Mandarin for intermediate learners. Every episode discusses a different everyday topic. The episode descriptions and titles are entirely in traditional Chinese characters. The hosts provide free transcripts and other materials related to the episodes on their blog.

Learn Chinese With Ju - A vocabulary building podcast aimed at intermediate learners. The podcast episodes are short at around 4-6 minutes and the host speaks about a variety of topics in a mix of English and Mandarin.

xiaoyuzhou fm - An iOS app for native speakers to listen to podcasts. I’m told it has a number of interactive features. If you have an android device you’ll likely have to do some finagling with third party apps to get this one working. As this app is for native speakers, the app is entirely in simplified Chinese.

Apple Podcast directories for Taiwan and China - Podcast pages directed towards users in those countries/regions.

SELF STUDY TEXTBOOKS AND DICTIONARIES

Learning Chinese Characters - This series is sorted by HSK levels and each volume in the series is around $11. Used and digital copies can also be found for cheaper.

HSK Standard Course Textbooks - These are textbooks designed around official Chinese government affiliated HSK tests including all of the simplified characters, grammar, vocab, and cultural knowledge necessary to pass each test. There are six books in total and the books prices range wildly depending on the level and the seller, going for as cheap as $14 to as expensive as $60 though as these are pretty common textbooks, used copies and cheaper online shops can be found with a little digging. The one I have linked to here is the HSK 1 textbook. Some textbook sellers will also bundle them with a workbook, some will not.

Chinese Made Easy for Kids - Although this series is aimed at children, I'm told that it's also very useful for adult beginners. There's a large number of textbooks and workbooks at various levels. The site I linked to is aimed at people placing orders in Hong Kong but the individual pages also have links to various other websites you can buy them from in other countries. The books range from $20-$35 but I include them because some of them are cheaper and they seem really easy to find used copies of.

Reading and Writing Chinese - This book contains guides on all 2300 characters in the HSK texts as of 2013. Although it is slightly outdated, it's still useful for self study and is usually less than $20 new. Used copies are also easy to find.

Basic Chinese by Mcgraw Hill - This book also fuctions as a workbook so good quality used copies can be difficult to find. The book is usually $20 but it also often goes on sale on Amazon and they also sell a cheaper digital copy.

Chinese Grammar: A beginner's guide to basic structures - This book goes over beginner level grammar concepts and can usually be found for less than $20 in print or as low as $2 for a digital copy.

Collins Mandarin Chinese Visual Dictionary - A bilingual English/Mandarin visual dictionary that comes with a link to online audio files. A new copy goes for about $14 but used and digital versions are available.

Merriam-Webster's Chinese to English Dictionary - In general Merriam Websters usually has the cheapest decent quality multilingual dictionaries out there, including for Mandarin Chinese. New editions usually go for around $8 each while older editions are usually even cheaper.

(at the end of the list here I will say I had a difficult time finding tv series specifically made for learners of Mandarin Chinese so if you know of any that are made for teenage or adult learners or are kids shows that would be interesting to adults and are free to watch without a subscription please let me know and I will add them to the list. There's a lot of Mandarin language TV that's easy to find but what I'm specifically interested in for these lists are free to watch series made for learners and/or easy to understand kids shows originally made in the target language that are free and easy to access worldwide)

[maryellencarter]

YouTube Downloads through VLC: Step by Step

[EDIT: I've been receiving reports for some time now that this method no longer works. I suspect something about the switch to YouTube Music as a separate app, and/or YouTube's ongoing attempts to force Chrome use, broke the compatibility with the Github version of youtube.luac -- I haven't managed to look into whether there's an updated working version out there yet. Sorry!]

So this guide to easily downloading off YouTube is super helpful, but there's enough important information hidden in the reblogs that (with the permission of OP @queriesntheories ) I'm doing a more step-by-step version.

Please note: these downloads will be in YouTube quality. My test video download is coming through at 360p, even though the video I'm starting from is set to 720p. They're legible, but they won't look great on a TV. For high visual quality, you'll want to seek out other methods.

This guide is written for Windows 10, since that's what I can test on. It's been tested on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge (which is a Chromium browser, so the method should work in other Chromium browsers too). So far, I haven't tracked down a way to use this download method on mobile.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

I'll try to make this pretty beginner-friendly, but I am going to assume that you know how to right-click, double-click, navigate right-click menus, click-and-drag, use keyboard shortcuts that are given to you (for example, how to use Ctrl+A), and get the URL for any YouTube video you want to download.

You'll also need to download and install one or more programs off the internet using .exe files, if you don't have these programs already. Please make sure you know how to use your firewall and antivirus to keep your computer safe, and google any names you don't recognize before allowing permission for each file. You can also hover your mouse over each link in this post to make sure it goes where I'm saying it will go.

YOU WILL NEED:

A computer where you have admin permissions. This is usually a computer you own or have the main login on. Sadly, a shared computer like the ones at universities and libraries will not work for this.

Enough space on your computer to install the programs listed below, if you don't have them already, and some space to save your downloaded files to. The files are pretty small because of the low video quality.

A simple text editing program. Notepad is the one that usually comes with Windows. If it lets you change fonts, it's too fancy. A notepad designed specifically to edit program code without messing it up is Notepad++, which you can download here.

A web browser. I use Firefox, which you can get here. Chrome or other Chrome-based browsers should also work. I haven't tested in Safari.

An Internet connection fast enough to load YouTube. A little buffering is fine. The downloads will happen much faster than streaming the entire video, unless your internet is very slow.

VLC Media Player, which you can get here. It's a free player for music and videos, available on Windows, Android, and iOS, and it can play almost any format of video or audio file that exists. We'll be using it for one of the central steps in this process.

If you want just the audio from a YouTube video, you'll need to download the video and then use a different program to copy the audio into its own file. At the end of this post, I'll have instructions for that, using a free sound editor called Audacity.

SETUP TO DOWNLOAD:

The first time you do this, you'll need to set VLC up so it can do what you want. This is where we need Notepad and admin permissions. You shouldn't need to repeat this process unless you're reinstalling VLC.

If VLC is open, close it.

In your computer's file system (File Explorer on Windows), go to C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist

If you're not familiar with File Explorer, you'll start by clicking where the left side shows (C:). Then in the big main window, you'll double-click each folder that you see in the file path, in order - so in this case, when you're in C: you need to look for Program Files. (There will be two of them. You want the one without the x86 at the end.) Then inside Program Files you're looking for VideoLAN, and so forth through the whole path.

Once you're inside the "playlist" folder, you'll see a lot of files ending in .luac - they're in alphabetical order. The one you want to edit is youtube.luac which is probably at the bottom.

You can't edit youtube.luac while it's in this folder. Click and drag it out of the playlist folder to somewhere else you can find it - your desktop, for instance. Your computer will ask for admin permission to move the file. Click the "Continue" button with the blue and yellow shield.

Now that the file is moved, double-click on it. The Microsoft Store will want you to search for a program to open the .luac file type with. Don't go to the Microsoft Store, just click on the blue "More apps" below that option, and you'll get a list that should include your notepad program. Click on it and click OK.

The file that opens up will be absolutely full of gibberish-looking code. That's fine. Use Ctrl+A to select everything inside the file, then Backspace or Delete to delete it. Don't close the file yet.

In your web browser, go to https://github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/share/lua/playlist/youtube.lua

Click in the part of the Github page that has a bunch of mostly blue code in it. Use Ctrl+A to select all of that code, Ctrl+C to copy it, then come back into your empty youtube.luac file and use Ctrl+P to paste the whole chunk of code into the file.

Save the youtube.luac file (Ctrl+S or File > Save in the upper left corner of the notepad program), then close the notepad program.

Drag youtube.luac back into the folder it came from. The computer will ask for admin permission again. Give it permission.

Now you can close Github and Notepad. You're ready to start downloading!

HOW TO DOWNLOAD:

First, get your YouTube link. It should look something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123DEF45 If it's longer, you can delete any extra stuff after that first set of letters and numbers, but you don't have to.

Now open VLC. Go to Media > Open Network Stream and paste your YouTube link into the box that comes up. Click Play. Wait until the video starts to play, then you can pause it if you want so it's not distracting you during the next part.

(If nothing happens, you probably forgot to put youtube.luac back. coughs)

In VLC, go to Tools > Codec Information. At the bottom of the pop-up box you'll see a long string of gibberish in a box labeled Location. Click in the Location box. It won't look like it clicked properly, but when you press Ctrl+A, it should select all. Use Ctrl+C to copy it.

In your web browser, paste the entire string of gibberish and hit Enter. Your same YouTube video should come up, but without any of the YouTube interface around it. This is where the video actually lives on YouTube's servers. YouTube really, really doesn't like to show this address to humans, which is why we needed VLC to be like "hi I'm just a little video player" and get it for us.

Because, if you're looking at the place where the video actually lives, you can just right-click-download it, and YouTube can't stop you.

Right-click on your video. Choose "Save Video As". Choose where to save it to - I use my computer's built-in Music or Videos folders.

Give it a name other than "videoplayback" so you can tell it apart from your other downloads.

The "Save As Type" dropdown under the Name field will probably default to MP4. This is a good versatile video format that most video players can read. If you need a different format, you can convert the download later. (That's a whole other post topic.)

Click Save, and your video will start downloading! It may take a few minutes to fully download, depending on your video length and internet speed. Once the download finishes, congratulations! You have successfully downloaded a YouTube video!

If you'd like to convert your video into a (usually smaller) audio file, so you can put it on a music player, it's time to install and set up Audacity.

INSTALLING AUDACITY (first time setup for audio file conversion):

You can get Audacity here. If you're following along on Windows 10, choose the "64-bit installer (recommended)". Run the installer, but don't open Audacity at the end, or if it does open, close it again.

On that same Audacity download page, scroll down past the installers to the "Additional resources". You'll see a box with a "Link to FFmpeg library". This is where you'll get the add-on program that will let Audacity open your downloaded YouTube video, so you can tell it to make an audio-only file. The link will take you to this page on the Audacity support wiki, which will always have the most up-to-date information on how to install the file you need here.

From that wiki page, follow the link to the actual FFmpeg library. If you're not using an adblocker, be careful not to click on any of the ads showing you download buttons. The link you want is bold blue text under "FFmpeg Installer for Audacity 3.2 and later", and looks something like this: "FFmpeg_5.0.0_for_Audacity_on_Windows_x86.exe". Download and install it. Without this, Audacity won't be able to open MP4 files downloaded from YouTube.

CONVERTING TO AUDIO:

Make sure you know where to find your downloaded MP4 video file. This file won't go away when you "convert" it - you'll just be copying the audio into a different file.

Open up Audacity.

Go to File > Open and choose your video file.

You'll get one of those soundwave file displays you see in recording booths and so forth. Audacity is a good solid choice if you want to teach yourself to edit soundwave files, but that's not what we're here for right now.

Go to File > Export Audio. The File Name will populate to match the video's filename, but you can edit it if you want.

Click the Browse button next to the Folder box, and choose where to save your new audio file to. I use my computer's Music folder.

You can click on the Format dropdown and choose an audio file type. If you're not sure which one you want, MP3 is the most common and versatile.

If you'd like your music player to know the artist, album, and so forth for your audio track, you can edit that later in File Manager, or you can put the information in with the Edit Metadata button here. You can leave any of the slots blank, for instance if you don't have a track number because it's a YouTube video.

Once everything is set up, click Export, and your new audio file will be created. Go forth and listen!

[kichona-s]

hello ki! i'm a big fan of your work 🥰 please feel free to answer this privately! ☺️ i've been wanting to start drawing and i want to try my hand at digital art. buying a drawing tablet or any sort of tablet right away is an option for me, but i was wondering if you had any opinions on whether i should try and learn drawing by hand with paper and pencil before i even consider going digital? i am a newbie when it comes to drawing..

heyoo!! im honoured you decided to ask me about this LMAO i can't say i'm all that good at art tbh,, ill try my best to answer though!

long answer under the cut:

if you're absolutely just beginning, i HIGHLY recommend working with traditional mediums first (eg, pencil and paper, watercolour paints/colour pencils/markers, etc). personally, that's where I also started, and even though I mainly do digital it works as a good 'reset point' if I need to recalibrate my brain (or hand). The limited space of a sketchbook forces you to really understand how to use space relative to your work, and to see the big picture before details (eg. you need to know what the overall shape of ur piece is gonna be on the paper so you dont exceed it or smth)

pencil and paper is also decently??? cheap??? i think?????? I've become a little bit of a stationery snob (my growing fountain pen and ink collection,, cough) but if you're just starting just nab a 300gsm sketchbook and a pencil you like and go to town LOL

by going traditional, you also don't get to "cheat" with all the fun fancy tools that drawing programs give you (like selection tools, undo button, etc). This plays into how traditional can be a good 'reset point' for digital artists IMO because you're forced to think about the lines you're putting down and nothing else. If you've ever heard of decision paralysis, its kinda similar! Having TOO many options can dampen the learning of ur actual skills, especially at a fresh beginner stage. Working within limitations is fantastic when you're just starting out, then after that you can push your boundaries

Alternatively speaking, if your goal is to dick around and not take it too seriously, I think a display tablet (like an iPad or android equivalent) would actually be pretty beneficial. The setup is convenient so you're more inclined to whip it out and doodle something, and you get all the colours you'd ever want. And also an iPad is pretty useful for non-art things too, so if it turns out that art ain't your thing its not a total loss either

In any case! If it can get you motivated to start drawing, I'd recommend it -- heavens knows I only finally ditched my procreate for clip studio paint when i upgraded my 13inch display to a 16inch. As long as you're having fun I think its good enough!

[mellosdrawings]

You mentioned once you use an Ipad Pro... 11? To draw

Would you say that's beginner friendly? Not beginner in terms of art, but in terms of Ipad. Or both. Mainly I've never used an Ipad for art before. Tryna upgrade from using my thumb and phone for cheap

IPad Pro 11' 3rd generation

It's my first IPad and I got the hang of it pretty fast, so yeah I'd say it's fine even for someone who's never touched anything from Apple in their life.

I got to try it from a friend who let me draw on his own IPad for a couple days while he was busy and it immediately clicked for me.

App store and settings are mostly the same as for android tablets (or sometimes even easier to access), there are frequent updates that keep the system working just peachy, and other than that it's just like having a big phone.

I'd say the one mildly annoying thing is that downloading stuff that isn't from the app store is a nightmare and a half. I got Twst and other games on my phone that I never managed to get on the IPad because it's just a hassle to get unofficial stuff on there.

The other problem might be the price. It's an expensive investment, I had to save for almost a year to get it and the pen, but once it's bought it's durable and high quality. I'd say I've more than made it worth it with my 80Go worth of art on there.

Other than that though, it's pretty easy to get used to, and there are a big quantity of tutos online to help if you ever get stuck on something.

As for art, there are a few free apps you can try before deciding. For me it was a revelation, never had done digital art so easily before and I loved it (I used to fight with my tablet, my computer, and that godsdamned Phot*shop).

I got to try Procreate immediately thanks to my friend and bought it as soon as I got the tablet because it was simple to use and there were enough stuff on there to have fun. It's not as complete as Phot*shop but it never bothered me. Plus it's just a dozen euros once and then you have it, not a subscription that will bleed you dry (yes I hate Phot*shop, thank you for asking). And it saves on its own so no need to worry about losing hours of progress because it crashed :D

And once more, a lot of tutos online to learn to use Procreate. I'm still learning to use it to this day because I've never needed to use its full potential.

(Also there are a few 3D conception programs and other room planners that are soooooo good and practical for artists who can't be bothered with backgrounds or accessories. I do 3D models and then take screenshot to retrace in Procreate, which saves time when those are backgrounds and accessories that come up very regularly. And they haven't yet crashed on me even though I used to fight with my computer and Blender 3D to make chairs before. The full version can be pricy (or subscription based, yuk) but the free/trial versions tend to be enough for me)

TLDR: I personally got used to it very fast, and I never got much to complain about. It's an excellent tool for creating that is very stable.

[ravenstargames]

Hello, i tried a bit of the demo and i just wanted to say, thank you for putting it in the app store ,i don't have the steam deck and it looks really good.

We hope you have fun anon! 💜🥹 We couldn't add controller support for the demo (it's just me programming and I'm.....a beginner) but we've been told it's playable with Steam deck except for a few details!

Also, the Google Play version will update soon (if it has not done so already)! We hope this helps the android version work better!

[exnori]

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