Difference between revisions of "Creating Avatars"
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Sprites of avatars and monster normally consist of 4 frames and items only of one frame. The game handles low resolution sprites with 16x16 pixel and high resolution sprites with 32x32 pixel. For LoRes a spacer of one pixel separates each frame and for HiRes the spacer is 2 pixel width. | Sprites of avatars and monster normally consist of 4 frames and items only of one frame. The game handles low resolution sprites with 16x16 pixel and high resolution sprites with 32x32 pixel. For LoRes a spacer of one pixel separates each frame and for HiRes the spacer is 2 pixel width. | ||
| − | ==Black edge== | + | ===Black edge=== |
Every sprite is surrounded by a black edge. This is necessary for the sprite to stand out from the background. The black edge should be completely black with RGB=0,0,0. The game engine can only apply a glowing effect to black pixel which is need for artefact and named items or special monster like a phase beasts. Keeping this in mind, placing black pixel in the middle of a sprite should be considered beforehand. | Every sprite is surrounded by a black edge. This is necessary for the sprite to stand out from the background. The black edge should be completely black with RGB=0,0,0. The game engine can only apply a glowing effect to black pixel which is need for artefact and named items or special monster like a phase beasts. Keeping this in mind, placing black pixel in the middle of a sprite should be considered beforehand. | ||
There two possible ways to add the black edge around a sprite as can be seen in the picture beneath. Recommended is the right version where the black pixels are only connected diagonal if possible. | There two possible ways to add the black edge around a sprite as can be seen in the picture beneath. Recommended is the right version where the black pixels are only connected diagonal if possible. | ||
| − | ==Sprite weapon overlay== | + | ===Sprite weapon overlay=== |
Player Avatars have the possibility to show what weapon the player wields. To make avatars that are compatible to this feature it is necessary that the hand movement over the four frames matches the 2x2 boxes in the following picture. | Player Avatars have the possibility to show what weapon the player wields. To make avatars that are compatible to this feature it is necessary that the hand movement over the four frames matches the 2x2 boxes in the following picture. | ||
[insert handmovement] | [insert handmovement] | ||
| − | ==Sprite dye== | + | ===Sprite dye=== |
The game engine can dye certain pixel of a sprite. To apply this feature to a sprite the pixels that should be dyeable have to be true gray. Pixels are truly gray when the value for red equals green equals blue (R=G=B). To prevent gray pixels to be dyeable the artist has to change the value of either red, green or blue to be unequal to the others. This might be needed to enhance to quality of the dyed sprite. | The game engine can dye certain pixel of a sprite. To apply this feature to a sprite the pixels that should be dyeable have to be true gray. Pixels are truly gray when the value for red equals green equals blue (R=G=B). To prevent gray pixels to be dyeable the artist has to change the value of either red, green or blue to be unequal to the others. This might be needed to enhance to quality of the dyed sprite. | ||
Revision as of 18:38, 6 May 2012
Contents
General information
The term sprite applies to avatars, monster and items. Sprites of avatars and monster normally consist of 4 frames and items only of one frame. The game handles low resolution sprites with 16x16 pixel and high resolution sprites with 32x32 pixel. For LoRes a spacer of one pixel separates each frame and for HiRes the spacer is 2 pixel width.
Black edge
Every sprite is surrounded by a black edge. This is necessary for the sprite to stand out from the background. The black edge should be completely black with RGB=0,0,0. The game engine can only apply a glowing effect to black pixel which is need for artefact and named items or special monster like a phase beasts. Keeping this in mind, placing black pixel in the middle of a sprite should be considered beforehand. There two possible ways to add the black edge around a sprite as can be seen in the picture beneath. Recommended is the right version where the black pixels are only connected diagonal if possible.
Sprite weapon overlay
Player Avatars have the possibility to show what weapon the player wields. To make avatars that are compatible to this feature it is necessary that the hand movement over the four frames matches the 2x2 boxes in the following picture. [insert handmovement]
Sprite dye
The game engine can dye certain pixel of a sprite. To apply this feature to a sprite the pixels that should be dyeable have to be true gray. Pixels are truly gray when the value for red equals green equals blue (R=G=B). To prevent gray pixels to be dyeable the artist has to change the value of either red, green or blue to be unequal to the others. This might be needed to enhance to quality of the dyed sprite.
Old stuff I will incorporate into my later on:
Here are a couple of contributors notes on making sprites. The main things to note are:
- sprites are 16x16
- 4 frames
Method #1
Use paint to create the way your sprite looks (it's easier than photoshop, but by all means use PS if you know what you are doing). There are 4 frames total, 16x16 pixels per frame. There is a 1x16 pixel spacer line between each frame, so the entire series of sprites needs to be 67x16. See below for an example.
Note that for illustration purposes only, these frames are 32x32 each with a 2px spacer.
It's usually best not to use a lot of movement in your sprite or else it will most likely not look good animated.
Save your work as 256 colour gif or as PCX. Gif and PCX are lossless graphical formats. JPG is not suited to saving sprites.
Testing your work
You can test out your new avatar by using photoshop to open EUO\pics\btiles23.pcx, look for the 4 frames of your current avatar and cut/paste your new one over the top of your current sprite ingame (make a back-up first). Start the game and test out the random frame changing in-game.
Method #2, Extell's notes
1) Design and save your avatars/monsters at 16x16 pixels. This was the original size of all the avatars/monsters for the original game. It can be quite difficult to get the right look but in the end they are blown up to double their size in the game itself.
2) Stick to smooth colors/shades. Trying to design an avatar/monster with outlandish colors generally does not work at all. Try to make you color design fit that mold.
3) Design something that fits into the fantasy theme of EUO. Don't make an avatar carrying a pistol or a rifle. Stick to a medieval fantasy look/feel.
I myself have alot of stuff in the works, one of which is something that a few players have been requesting, something to make the night scene of EUO seem a little nastier. But, I will say one thing, making a good looking monster/avatar is not easy. I've sent stuff to Egg many times for him to send it back giving lots of criticism that he does not like this, does not like that, etc. And even the stuff he has used of mine was slightly altered to his tastes. A designer cannot let this stuff to get him/her. If you truly want one of your designs in the game, make it, post it and ask for criticism/comments. If you keep at it you too can have one of your creations in the game.
And one last thing: DO NOT SAVE YOUR FILES AS JPG! Use GIF or PCX format. Saving as a JPG really lowers the quality of your creation unless you use the highest detail level. Saving as a GIF or PCX keeps it exactly as you designed it. On the GIF style and designing with Photoshop (like I do), before you save, change the image type to Indexed (Image -> Mode -> Indexed), or use Save For Web (ctrl-shift-alt-s).
Graphics Editors
- GIMP http://www.gimp.org/
- Photoshop
- Paint Shop Pro
- MS paint
