The definition

To understand what Vexels really are you must get to know Vexel's bigger brother- Vector.
Both can be created with a tool called Pen tool or Lasso Tool (or similar- depending of the graphic software) using layers of shapes filled with solid colour or gradient BUT Vectors are created using vector layers while Vexels use raster layers.

Vexel = Vector + Pixel

To simplify: Vectors are scalable (you can enhance or scale them down and all shapes will stay sharp and crisp) and Vexels are not (when you expand a Vexel you can see pixelation, as rasters are based on pixels).

Vector expanded to 300%



Vexel expanded to 300%

• Most popular softwares for creating Vectors: Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Inkscape
  
• Most popular softwares for creating Vexels Adobe Photoshop, GIMP
  

Vexel art is the layering of solid raster objects created by either the Lasso Tool > Fill method or creating shapes with the Pen Tool to produce only raster objects.

Vexel do's and don't's

As said before Vexels are created using Pen Tool. This tool creates paths that can be manipulated using anchor points (regular). You can also use the freehand option (free form) or the one that attaches to edges of an image (magnetic).
With Lasso Tool you can draw any selection you want freehand (regular), by connecting lines (polygonal) or mix of both (magnetic) which also detects the edges of an image.
You can create nearly any shape you want with these tools. The only thing that stops you is your imagination.  

But there are a few rules to remember to make sure your art is 100% Vexel.

1. Airbrushing, drawing, painting, glows, photo overlaying, photo textures and brushes (also soft, feathered brushes), layer styles (drop/inner shadows, inner/outer glows, bevels, satin etc.), gradient meshes are not allowed.
   
2. Brushes are only allowed when using the 'stroke path' method (the stroke is created using the Pen Tool).
   
3. Vector layers are only allowed as long as they are rasterized before saving the final work to JPG/PNG.
   

Vexels vs Mixed Media

Every time you decide to 'expand' your Vexel work by adding - for example - photo textures, it becomes Mixed Media, even if the texture is only a tiny part of the work. This rule applies to every element from previously mentioned DON'T's you decide to add to your art.

Few examples of Mixed Media:

  

As you can see there are various textures, brushes and photos added to those works hence why, even though the main elements are Vexels, those arts no longer belong to the Vexel Gallery and should be submitted to Mixed Media.

Digital Art > Vexel subgalleries

• Abstract: Vexel art focusing on the formal, non-representational aspect of imagery, emphasizing lines, colors, and generalized or geometric forms.
• Animals: Vexel work featuring animals as the main focus.
• Fantasy: Vexel art that depict supernatural or magical themes often relating to legend, myth, and enchanted creatures.
• Landscapes and Scenery: Cities and Structures (Vexel images that depict buildings, cities, or similar rural structures) / Landscapes (Vexel images that depict terrains such as mountains, forests, fields, and similar landscapes) / Waterscapes (Vexel images that depict bodies of water such as lakes, oceans, coastlines, or waterfalls).
• Macabre and Dark: Vexel art representation of extreme fear, be it visual (ie. blood and gore) or psychological (ie. mind games).
• Other: Miscellaneous vexel images that do not fit to other categories.
• People: Vexel art with human characters, emotions, or actions as the main focus.
• Science Fiction: Vexel artwork depicting speculative scientific discoveries, space travel and scenes, and other world life forms.
• Silhouette: Vexel images of silhouette figures.
• Surreal: Vexel art that defies the laws of logic and physics, creating often dreamlike scenery in which the impossible and implausible are depicted.
  
• Vehicles: Vexel art depicting vehicles including: automobiles, motorcycles, watercraft, trains and aircraft.

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