8-bit graphics literally means that every pixel uses 8 bits for storing the colour value so only 256 options. Today, modern systems use 8 bits to store each colour channel so every pixel uses 24 bits, this is how resolution works and has adapted throughout the years.
To begin with, I researched previous designs which have used 8 bit, this being famously from the original days of Mario. I found that some 8-bit designs are more detailed than others, for example in the first years of 8 bit when it was starting to be brought into games they would use minimal colour and make the pixels bigger to cover more space with that one colour, however as 8 bit has adapted to modern technology, people use smaller pixels and a larger array of colours to create images of scenery and more detailed characters.
By using Adobe Indesign I created my own 8-bit heart by using the rectangular grid tool and the live paint tool. To start with, I had to convert my document into 500 pixels x 500 pixels and change the colour into RGB. By holding CTRL R T turned the viewing on my document on illustrator into a ruler format and by right-clicking onto this ruler, making sure it was in the category pixels. I then added the rectangular grid tool onto my document and put the height and width to 500px and keep the division of pixels by 50 and added a stroke line of 0.25px and make the grid an opacity of 33%. The grid will help me add colour into the squares and give it the pixelated effect and make it easier to replicate my image of the heart. Following this, I added a new layer so I could paste the image of my heart, I dragged this new layer under the grid layer and dropped the opacity of this heart to 33%. I locked the grid layer and fitted the heart into the grid so the pixels aligned with the grid as close as possible. I returned the opacity of the heart back to 100% and created a set of squares at the side to match the number of colours I have in my heart image.
By using the ink dropper tool, I selected the different colours I had in my heart and placed these colours into the squares and did this until I had every sample of each colour in the squares. I then dropped the opacity of the heart back to 30/40% and the grid layer to 100%. I then began to use the live paint tool and by hovering over the colours from my squares I could fill in the squares from my grid to match the image of the heart I had pasted in, I was able to do this with all the colours until I had coloured the whole of the image. I then locked the grid layer and unlocked the heart layer to remove the image of the heart underneath; I unlocked the grid layer and removed the stroke. By right-clicking the heart, I then selected ungroup and selected the grid and deleted it. This is how I created my final piece of work of the 8-bit heart.
In the future, I would use the skills I have learnt by making this 8 bit-heart to make my own designs. I found using the grid layer very effective and helped to guide me on where to use colours and how to be more precise. In the future, I would like to adapt to these skills and make my own landscape using 8-bit art. The only thing I found frustrating from creating my heart was how many steps there were, including unlocking and locking layers and constantly changing the opacity of layers.