Illustrator Drawing

A) I chose PNG because it has a high resolution and lossless compression, meaning it that is discards no information when it's compressed.

Link to the file format reference website

B) I lowered the opacity of the original image and created a new layer with full opacity on top of it. I selected colours as similar to the original as I could and put the 'Gaussian Blur' effect on many of the strokes to help blend the image.

C) I couldn't find a blur tool so I applied the blur effect to each individual stroke for a similar look.

D) I have mixed feelings about the final result. I think it looks nicely blended but at the same time, it's too blurry when the original image is much sharper.

Pixel Portrait

(PNG)

(GIF)

a) The GIF has sharper edges, the PNG is more blended and smooth. The GIF is crisper.

b) I was attempting to accentuate the hair and colour plays a crucial part in this because the blue is what makes it stand out.

c) I put the photograph under the layer I drew on. I used the eyedropper tool to get accurate colours to draw with. I used the blur tool to smooth the edges that I didn't want to be sharp.