Stuck Pixels: Grimsby

Photoshop messed up the colours / I have inadvertently messed with Photoshop’s colour settings, but other than that, I <3 Animation. Reminds me of an old GameBoy Map screen, though, goodness knows what you would get up to in “Grimsby: the Game”

I don’t know why I insist on doing everything back to front...A nice overview of the town’s limits.

Keep in mind that pixel art only has to be an approximation, the resolution simply isn’t high enough (intentionally so), therefore you have to strike a balance between accuracy and what looks darn good.

TADA! The first draft of the greater Grimsby area, split into it’s districts. It’s by no means finished; under closer inspection Heneage is completely wrong, the roads need cleaning up and as I write this, I realise I appear to have left Weelsby road off entirely. Duh..

Image Source

Image Source: OldeMaps

Note: St James’ Church (Now Grimsby Minster) in the bottom left corner, can be used as a reference point. Wilko is just to the right. 

I’m using a vector pixel art template (of my own design) underlaid with the satellite imagery to begin outlining some basic areas and shapes of our Great Grimsby. Roads first and foremost, of course.

There we are! (Good old Google Maps). I do find it a bit sad, watching the land jut out to a point into the Humber and the A180 come to a dead end at Grimsby. Reminds me somewhat of the tale of old western America and how, as the trains and the highways came into being, many old towns on the way to nowhere in particular, dependant on outside trade, became largely obsolete at the turn of the century...

I love maps. I love their beauty, the precision, the balance between form and function; between art and information. I moved to North East Lincolnshire when I was seven and, despite it’s flaws, I developed an affinity for the old fishing port town of Grimsby. With those two things in mind I thought I would take on the role of hobbyist cartographer and attempt to visualise my home town in a way that hasn't been done before.