← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Making pixel art with whole numbers in a spreadsheet

A picture made of coloured squares. In a spreadsheet, you type a whole-number colour code in each cell and formatting rules turn each number into its colour.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Representing Data with Numbers — Module 32

Understanding Making pixel art with whole numbers in a spreadsheet in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: A colour key lists the whole numbers and the colour each one stands for, and the formatting rules follow it. Changing the fill in the rule for 3 from red to orange recolours every 3 in the grid at once. Planning on paper first helps you decide the colour key and where each square goes before you start typing. Copy and paste lets you repeat a group of number codes quickly without typing them all again. The rule links 3 to a colour. Change the rule once and all the 3s change colour together. Each pixel needs its own cell, so each number code goes in a separate cell.

Common mistakes: The key says 1 is black, so the rule for 1 must fill black. Filling 1 white would make it look the same as 0. Spreadsheet pixel art uses whole-number colour codes, not colour names. Type each square's number, such as 0 or 1, and the rules make the colour.

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Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 73–84) and word search (Modules 73–104).

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Learning
Duo
You want to make pixel art in a spreadsheet using number codes. What is a good first step?
Type random numbers into cells and hope a picture appearsPlan the picture on a paper grid and choose a number for each colour
Matches
A1: blue
↓
Colour names are typed instead of a whole-number colour code. The rules only colour numbers, so the cell stays unchanged.
Applying
Meanings
Term
pixel art
Meaning
A picture made of coloured squares. In a spreadsheet, you type a whole-number colour code in each cell and formatting rules turn each number into its colour.
Practice
0,1,0,1,0
Testing
Gaps
Rule: if cell value = fill Red
Check Answer
Spots
1Key: 0 = white, 1 = black
2If cell is 1, fill white

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Quick Questions

1. You want to make pixel art in a spreadsheet using number codes. What is a good first step?
A. Plan the picture on a paper grid and choose a number for each colour ✓
B. Type random numbers into cells and hope a picture appears
Planning on paper first helps you decide the colour key and where each square goes before you start typing.
2. In spreadsheet pixel art, how does a cell turn into a colour?
A. You type a whole number and a formatting rule changes the cell to that number's colour ✓
B. You type the colour's name and the number appears by itself
The number is the code. The formatting rule matches each number to a colour for you.
3. Your colour key says 1 = red and 2 = blue. Which cell will turn blue?
A. A cell containing 1
B. A cell containing 2 ✓
The key links each whole number to one colour, so 2 means blue.
4. Part of your picture repeats, like a row of the same pattern. What saves time?
A. Copy the cells and paste them where the pattern repeats ✓
B. Delete the grid and start again
Copy and paste lets you repeat a group of number codes quickly without typing them all again.
5. You want every 3 in your picture to change from green to purple. What is the quickest way?
A. Retype every 3 in the grid as a different number
B. Change the one rule for the number 3 to purple ✓
The rule links 3 to a colour. Change the rule once and all the 3s change colour together.

Match the Pairs

1 2 2 1 → A row of the number grid: each whole number is a colour code typed in one cell, and the formatting rules turn each into its colour
Ctrl+C then Ctrl+V → Copy a repeated part of the number grid and paste it, so you do not have to type it again
Each colour is given its own whole-number code, so the rules can turn the numbers into colours → 1 = blue, 2 = yellow, 3 = red
To swap a colour in the whole picture, change one formatting rule instead of retyping the numbers → Rule: cell value = 3, fill orange
A1: blue → Colour names are typed instead of a whole-number colour code. The rules only colour numbers, so the cell stays unchanged.
Colour the cells first, then plan the picture on paper → The steps are in the wrong order. You should plan the picture on paper first, then type the number grid.

Key Term

pixel art
A picture made of coloured squares. In a spreadsheet, you type a whole-number colour code in each cell and formatting rules turn each number into its colour.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Key: 0=White, 1=Black, 2=Red Rule: if cell value = 2 fill Red
Hint: Type the whole-number colour code that the key says stands for Red
2. Plan on paper, row 1: 1 2 3 2 1
Hint: The picture is mirrored, so type the number that matches the second cell
3. Select row 1, press Ctrl+C to copy Select row 2, press Ctrl+V to paste
Hint: Type the letter key used with Ctrl to paste copied cells
4. Goal: change every 2 from Red to Blue Rule: if cell value = 2 fill Blue
Hint: Type the new colour name the goal says the rule should use
5. Grid: 5 columns wide and 5 rows tall Apply rule to range A1:E5
Hint: Type the cell reference of the bottom-right corner of the grid

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Key: 0 = white, 1 = black
B If cell is 1, fill white
C If cell is 1, fill black
Line B — The key says 1 is black, so the rule for 1 must fill black. Filling 1 white would make it look the same as 0.
Question 2
A Plan: 4 x 4 grid on paper
B Pick codes: 0 white, 1 blue
C Colour each paper square
D Type colour names in each cell
Line D — Spreadsheet pixel art uses whole-number colour codes, not colour names. Type each square's number, such as 0 or 1, and the rules make the colour.
Question 3
A Row 1: 0 1 1 0 1
B Row 2: 1 1 1 1
C Row 3: 0 1 1 0
Line A — Row 1 has 5 numbers but the grid is 4 cells wide. It should be Row 1: 0 1 1 0 so every row has the same number of cells.
Question 4
A Type the pattern 1 2 1 2
B Cut the pattern cells
C Paste them in the next row
Line B — Cut removes the original cells, so the pattern would move instead of repeat. Use Copy, then paste, to repeat part of the picture.
Question 5
A Select the pattern cells
B Press Ctrl+C to copy
C Press Ctrl+X to paste
Line C — Ctrl+X cuts. Paste is Ctrl+V.

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