PINBLOCK

How It Works

Pinblock

How It Works

Pinblock Basics 101

Thinking In 2D

Thinking In 2D

The three vertical connections

Your choices here are simple: connect using only one pin (left or right) or connect using both straight down the middle.

PIXELARTS

PIXELARTS

  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Yin_Yang
  • Reindeer
  • Puppy Pixel Art
  • Ice Cream

Basic pixelarts

Only considering what you've just learned, you're already set to explore one of the most popular categories of Pinblock building – “pixelarts”.

For those who are out of the loop - just take any image of interest, pixelate it and start building by choosing the right Pinblock color that resembles a pixel from the image and vertically connect each Pinblock until the pixelart is complete!

Turtle Move Row Two Way

Securing rows

Simply vertical rows by themselves wouldn’t work. Think about it – if there are multiple rows simply going up, how would they stay connected among themselves horizontally? The solution is simple, as you can see in the example to the left (or above) the top and bottom row needs to be shifted over. That row(s) would now become the connecting point for all Pinblock columns.

Wrapping Pixelarts Up

Wrapping Pixelarts Up

Advanced Pixelarts

The simple method of building pixelarts works, but does not have the sturdiness that Pinblocks are known for delivering. If you cross every single row, meaning instead of building straight up in long rows you build where every row is shifted one pin to the left or one pin to the right, your pixelarts will remain intact until your 100th birthday.

If you’re making a very complicated pixelart, stick with the easy method. If you are freestyle building, or you’re making something small or simple, make sure to go the crisscrossed building style because that will maximize the durability for all of your pixelarts.

  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Turtle
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Flame torch
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Sword and shield
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_shark
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Pumpkin
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Monkey
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Panda
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Duck
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_Duck
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_Yellow Cat
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_two
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_cherry
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_Rainbow
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_seven
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_Lightning
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_emoji
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_Elephant
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_dollar
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_abstract
  • Pinblock_Pixelart_Creative_Building_Toy_abstract 2
Quick Tip:

Pixelarts is a very quick start not only because they are easy to make but also because you don’t even have to come up with your own designs! As you see in the example to the right (or below) simply go to Google Images, or any other search engine, and look up anything of interest with the word “pixelart” tacked on. For variation of results, try other synonyms as well, for example “pixelated.” You will find a lot of inspiration or you can simply duplicate one with your Pinblocks!

How_to_google_cartoon_pixelarts

Time to get 3D

Time to get 3D

Pins as Pivot Points

How do we make a pixel three dimensional? We simply rotate it towards us or away from us. With an actual pixel, since it’s completely flat and is bound to the surface of your screens, it wouldn’t really work; your Pinblocks however, are not flat and when you rotate one away or towards you, it opens up an entire new plane to build on.

Getting started with 3D

The easiest way to get a grasp on 3D building with Pinblocks is by building a castle. The wall surrounding a castle is actually just a flat row of Pinblocks that was bent in specific locations. As a rule of thumb, remember: whenever you want to start building out in the third dimension, just turn one of the blocks around one of the pins.

Golden_pinblock_castle

Getting Creative with Pinblocks

Getting Creative

Build 3D models pinblock
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_cannon
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_Panda
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Phonestand
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_truck
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_tree
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_bear
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_Fire_castle
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_cube
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_dragon fly
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_fairy stick
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_fusion jet blue
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_saber
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_spear
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_3D_Model_tower

Getting Creative w/3D

After getting the basic grasp on 3D building, play around with the blocks, build without even knowing what you are building. This type of mindless building will get your mind flowing as you discover new techniques of connecting Pinblocks. Rather as a tutorial or a guide, look at the above images of various 3D models that were built with Pinblocks as to an inspiration of “it’s possible.” Pinblock builders and we have created every idea that came to our minds and so can you; if you don’t exactly know how to build something, but you envision it clearly in your mind, go for it any way you think is best – you’ll learn and figure it out along the way.

Design Wearable models pinblock
  • Pinblock_Ceative_Building_Block_Toy_spartan face
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Wearable_Claw
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_tiarra
  • Pinblock_Creative_Building_Block_Toy_Wearable_gauntlet

Creating Wearable Models

Just like the previously discussed castle walls, which are simply a flat row of Pinblocks that was bent (or folded) at precise spots, wearable models could be made by making a flat row of Pinblocks and wrapping them around any one of your body parts.

Once Pinblocks wrap around your wrist, for example, connect them together using another block or two and Bam, you have a wearable Pinblock model. Get creative with this since possibilities of custom gear are limitless.