File:Scale2x Poorly.gif

One rule of thumb when drawing pixel art is that it's easier to change a small image than a large image. What people need is a good way to turn a small image into a large image. The Scale2x effect does a good job of interpolating line art without introducing excessive jagged edges or softness.

The steps:
 * 1) Draw rough outline, often about 30 pixels tall for a humanoid character.
 * 2) Add color.
 * 3) Run Scale2x.
 * 4) Refine rough parts.
 * 5) Repeat steps 3-4 until you have something at an appropriate pixel size. If you're using anti-aliasing, "appropriate" is twice the target resolution.

You can see a 30-pixel-tall original and some refinement steps in this animation.

In case you're wondering, this boy's name is Poorly. All he wears are a plain green shirt that's too big and a pair of briefs because his family can't afford trousers for him. Only recently did he come upon some cheap moccasins.