So you want to be a spriter? SIGN UP NOW! FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS POSTED!

[Zook]

Have you ever wanted to be a spriter? Ever wanted to learn the secret of creating awsome sprites, as good as those in our famous Custom Pokemon Shop? Want to kill a bit of time with Paint?

If you answer YES to any of these questions, this thread is for you.

Here in Spriting School, you'll learn the basics of spriting (choosing colors, basic textures, simple fusions, shading) and eventually some of the more advance stuff (scratching, complex fusions, etc.) with the help of some of our community's top spriters.

Every few days, I will put up a new assignment (For example, a recolor of Electebuzz). Afterwards, the spriting gurus (see below) will give everyone a personal critique, via PM, and the other students will be free to give advice. Finally, the gurus will pick a Sprite of the Week, which will get added to the OP. Hooray!

Also, as a bonus, students will be free to submit sprites to gurus as they please for a free critique any time.

Spriting Gurus
-bowser king
-Meta-Kirby
-Zook
-Spire III
-FirusTheHedgehog
-zrky

Feel free to tell me if you think you're qualified to be a guru. Please submit a resume or whatever.

****

Current Students
-KrazyGlue
-PsychoIncarnate
-ChiboSempai
-urdailywater
-KoolKatKarl
-NakeDeDeDe
-Spelign Fial
-timssu
-Darkslash
-XACE-K
-1UPChris
-LordoftheMorning
-Vulcan55

****

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: FREE RECOLOR!

Recoloring may be the most important skill in spriting. It's a bit difficult to get down at first, but once you do, it's a peice of proverbial cake from then on.

For your first assignment, choose any Pokemon you want and change its color scheme. Want a classic, Gameboy Pocket-style Lucario? Go for it. Maybe an icey blue Torchic? Be our guest. Perhaps you want to make a rainbow Electebuzz? Sure.

What we'll be grading

Originality: 10 pts How original is your recolor? Did you just recreate a shiney or make it slightly lighter in color?

Effort: 10 pts Did you change the outline color, or leave it the same? Are there a few wrong pixels?

Difficulty: 5 pts How difficult was this recolor?

Visual appeal: 5 pts Do your colors make your Pokemon visually appealing or repelling?

*****

Don't be shy, now! Sign up, people.

FAQ

Q: Can I sign up at any time?
A: Sure.

Q: Why isn't this in the Artwork Emporium?
A: A few reasons. First, Pokemon spriting requires a basic understanding of what the Pokemon sprites look like, which ones may look good together, etc. Second, spriting is a big part of our SWF Pokemon community.

Q: How do I make transparent backgrounds on GIMP?
A: In GIMP, go to Layers-> Transparency-> Add Alpha Channel. Next, take the magic wand/fuzzy selection tool and click on all the space you want to make transparent. Once that's highlighted, go to Edit-> Clear. If you do this correctly, the white background should take on a grey, checker-pattern.

Remember to get all the empty spaces between wings and stuff, too! And save it as a .png.

 

[KrazyGlue]

Sounds cool, I guess I'll join.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

I'll sign up.

 

[Bowser King]

I want to be a guru. If it's ok with you

I'd love to teach and help people out. It also gives me a chance to sit back and view other sprites and critique them (something I'm sorta new too even though I visit the critique topic often). I think through looking at other peoples mistakes or errors I can try and avoid those when I'm spriting (no ones perfect, right?).

After exams are over in the next few days I'll be fairly active in spriting and this but I just need 2-3 more days to prepare for my exams.

-Bowser King

 

[Zook]

Alright, great guys. I'll post the first assignment when we get a few more people.

 

[urdailywater]

I'd like to join up.
I might not be able to be 100% dedicated to this, but I really would like to learn how to do trainer sprites.

 

[CT Chia]

i would like to be a student

 

[Zook]

I'd like to join up.
I might not be able to be 100% dedicated to this, but I really would like to learn how to do trainer sprites.

That's fine! People are free to come and go as they please.

 

[M.K]

I'd like to be a guru, Zook.
Contact me on Facebook to change the sprites at the top >_<'.
LOL, looks like you might need to brush up on your artistic skills, Mr. Moderator =P

Uhhh, my resume?

http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=4697425&postcount=641

 

[KoolKatKarl]

I would like to join. I need something to get my mind off of....*sighs*

 

[Bowser King]

I'd like to be a guru, Zook.
Contact me on Facebook to change the sprites at the top >_<'.
LOL, looks like you might need to brush up on your artistic skills, Mr. Moderator =P

As long as jigglyoclefairyman is still there I'm fine

Also, artistic skill? I think zook is pretty good at spriting (or were you refering to something else?)

-Bowser King

 

[ndayday]

I would like to enroll. I think it would be kinda neat if we had grades or something...haha.

Looking forward to the start of school.

 

[KrazyGlue]

I would like to enroll. I think it would be kinda neat if we had grades or something...haha.

Looking forward to the start of school.

I've got enough grades to worry about already...

 

[SpelignFial]

sure i'll join i need some practice i know how to fuse things but i'm just not good at it

 

[Firus]

I'd like to be a guru as well, Zook.

And yeah, you know my résumé.

Part 1 | Part 2

 

[ndayday]

About how many people are you thinking of having joined to run this? This is probably going to be better then the tournament, seeing as we will kinda be like a family or something helping eachother out. No offense, MK.

On a side note, the title inspired me to do this:

--------------------------------------------------------

Go! Go! Whoo!

So you want to be a Pokémon Spriter?

I got to be the one the only one who can
Withstand the test 'n be the best n'
I got to strive keep up the drive
Be a Spriter
It takes certain kind of skill
And I won't stop until
150 Pokémon are scratched
I must define the art of spriting (of all Pokémon)
To be a Spriter... Pokémon Spriter
I will be scratchin'' a brand new chapter
Pencil Tool Go...Go... (all the children sing)

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na

It's all about the awesome fusions of Pokémon

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na

Pencil Tool Go...Go... Pokémon

Got my sources and my Pencil Tool
Got my buddy Gurus to help me try
to sprite 'em all

Yo it's all about the awesome fusions of the Pokémon
The training attaining n' bein'
part of the phenomenon
be a Pencil master icon... Ha!
N00b spriters will be long gone
But first you gotta know about the different types
easy, hard, cool, nice, recolours,
revamps, devamps, colours, scratch, save as PNG,
No flips without reshading...
Don't forget about splices!

To be a Spriter... Pokémon Spriter
I will be scratchin' a brand new chapter
To be a Spriter... Pokémon Spriter
I will be strivin' to the the greatest Spriter.

Pencil Tool Go...Go... (all the children sing)

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na

It's all about the awesome fusions of Pokémon

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na

Greatest Spriter of Pokémon

Mmmm... Somewhat impressive
Now you've reached the Center
But not yet a hero
Are you ready to meet a defeat... The Gurus?
Can I expect survival against your Rival?
And remember... Gotta Sprite 'em all!
Show me what you've got!
Pencil Tool Go...Go...Pencil Tool Go!

To be a Spriter... Pokémon Spriter
I will be scratchin' a brand new chapter
To be a Spriter... Pokémon Spriter
I will B strivin' to the the greatest Spriter.

Pokémon Spriter
The greatest Spriter
Pokémon Spriter
The greatest Chapter

Sing it

Na na na na na na na na...

The greatest Spriter of Pokémon!

---------------------------------------

Eh?

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

I Was thinking of the song, so you want to be a master of pokemon and was thinking...

SO you want to be a spriter of pokemon

do you have the skills to be number 1!

 

[SpelignFial]

Oh I need to know how to do transparent back rounds too so will someone tell me how to do that or which program to use and link it to me

 

[zrky]

I'm on my phone so I can link my resume, but zook you know where it is

Spelling, VM me and I'll help, or VM/PM someone else who isn't in school right now....(it's a computer class, my teacher doesn't care)

 

[Circa]

I've been waiting for something like this...it's one thing to get your own sprites critiqued, but it's something else entirely to be assigned sprites to make for critique. So yeah, I'll sign up.

 

[Zook]

Alright, I think we have enough students right now to start the first assignment. Check the OP, guys!

Oh I need to know how to do transparent back rounds too so will someone tell me how to do that or which program to use and link it to me

I use a free program called GIMP. Google it and download it, it's great.

 

[Darkslash]

I'll sign up. I'm not good yet so yea

 

[M.K]

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: FREE RECOLOR!

Recoloring may be the most important skill in spriting. It's a bit difficult to get down at first, but once you do, it's a peice of proverbial cake from then on.

For your first assignment, choose any Pokemon you want and change its color scheme. Want a classic, Gameboy Pocket-style Lucario? Go for it. Maybe an icey blue Torchic? Be our guest. Perhaps you want to make a rainbow Electebuzz? Sure.

Helpful Hints:

Recolor ALL parts of the Pokemon
Make sure the colors you choose are appropriate and go well with each other. A good judge of this is asking yourself "Would I wear these colors together in an outfit or not?"
Remember to recolor the OUTLINE of the sprites, as well. If you recolor a green part to red, make sure you turn the dark green outline into a dark red outline.
Be adventurous! There is nothing more boring than a simple recolor. Try something new, base your sprite off of some colors that you REALLY like. For instance, I made a Sunset-Colored Ivysaur
Remember to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS save in PNG.
For Transparency, use Paint.Net. It's a free software that is similar to Photoshop. When in Paint.Net, make the canvas JUST big enough to fit your sprite. Take the "Magic Wand", select the white around (don't forget in between limbs, etc.) your sprite and DELETE it. SAVE IN PNG!

Good recolors of mine:

 

[urdailywater]

I'm going to try this tonight, but I have to go soon regardless, so a question to get out of the way..

Would Paint be an acceptable program to recolor? (just as a start). I know where to get the sprites, but I've never actually edited them.. And I suck with Gimp/Photoshop, and probably will w/ the paint.net thing to. If I have to I'll try learning them though.

 

[Zook]

I'm going to try this tonight, but I have to go soon regardless, so a question to get out of the way..

Would Paint be an acceptable program to recolor? (just as a start). I know where to get the sprites, but I've never actually edited them.. And I suck with Gimp/Photoshop, and probably will w/ the paint.net thing to. If I have to I'll try learning them though.

I find Paint the easiest thing to sprite with, so yes. I just use Gimp to make transparencies.

 

[M.K]

I'm going to try this tonight, but I have to go soon regardless, so a question to get out of the way..

Would Paint be an acceptable program to recolor? (just as a start). I know where to get the sprites, but I've never actually edited them.. And I suck with Gimp/Photoshop, and probably will w/ the paint.net thing to. If I have to I'll try learning them though.

Yup, it's fine ^^. I use Paint, and it's much simpler and user-friendly than any other art program.

Good place to get sprites:

http://www.dragonflycave.com/plspritegen.aspx

 

[SpelignFial]

Alright, I think we have enough students right now to start the first assignment. Check the OP, guys!



I use a free program called GIMP. Google it and download it, it's great.

making things in GIMP is confusing to me i tried to figure it out but nothing i did worked can u eplain how u do it

 

[LordoftheMorning]

Sign me up please, Master Zook. Teach me the ways of The Force.

 

[ndayday]

Ah, finally. I can't think of a name for this, so I'll just call it Mr. Bright Lapras. :embarrass

 

[Zook]

making things in GIMP is confusing to me i tried to figure it out but nothing i did worked can u eplain how u do it

That's okay, it took me a while, too.

Normally, I first completely finish my sprite in Paint. Save it, then open it up in GIMP.

In GIMP, go to Layers-> Transparency-> Add Alpha Channel. Next, take the magic wand/fuzzy selection tool and click on all the space you want to make transparent. Once that's highlighted, go to Edit-> Clear. If you do this correctly, the white background should take on a grey, checker-pattern.

Remember to get all the empty spaces between wings and stuff, too! And save it as a .png.

EDIT: I've decided to through something together, too.

I took Duskull's colors and applied them to Alakazam. It reminds me of a skeleton for some reason. Skelakazam?

 

[M.K]

Ah, finally. I can't think of a name for this, so I'll just call it Mr. Bright Lapras. :embarrass

The body is good, but the shell is rather average. The slight blotches of orange seem rather out of place, maybe a lighter shade of red?
Overall, it's pretty good, but you could've done a bit more.

EDIT: I've decided to through something together, too.

I took Duskull's colors and applied them to Alakazam. It reminds me of a skeleton for some reason. Skelakazam?

Uh, the colors are a little bit too contrasting, it almost strains my eyes to look at it. However, the sprite itself is good.

 

[ndayday]

Should we fix them according to your critiques and then post them again? Or is it just posting the sprite, getting critiqued, and then applying it to the next assignment? I'll fix it regardless, but I just want to know. Also, by a bit more, what do you mean? That the recolour itself is pretty standard?

 

[XACE-K]

Sign me up Zook. I think I figured out my photobucket problem so I can now post sprites.

Edit: Here is my Pinsir re-color.

I chose the Heracross blue for the body and Huntail fin orange for the pinsirs. It looks good to me but I want to hear other peoples ideas.

And yes, I probably need to download GIMP.

 

[Circa]

I...think this is my assignment. I've been messing with the flame and underbelly for the last hour or two trying to get it right, so I'm a little color-disoriented right now. Oh well. I guess I'll stick with this anyway...

In honor of the recent announcement of Heart Gold and Soul Silver, I decided to try out a recolor of my favorite 2nd gen starter, Cyndaquil. So without further ado, a "G/S/C" Cyndaquil recolor.

I'm most worried about the flames...I couldn't seem to find any sort of crystal-like color system that would work well with them. ;-;

 

[1UPChris]

Sign me up Chris. =D

I'll go ahead and edit my post with my first assignment when I finish it.

EDIT: Here it is. My recolor for the 1st assignment. I took the color scheme from Umbreon's body and put it on Flareon's. The yellow fur was taken from Umbreon's rings.

 

[LordoftheMorning]

ZOMG!

THAT WAS SO FUN!!

I made a re-color of Gallade. I wanted him to look a bit more like he was wearing armor and had real swords, but in the end I just kinda went gung-ho.

Am I doin' it right? =o I'm so proud of myself right now. =D

 

[Zook]

ZOMG!

THAT WAS SO FUN!!

I made a re-color of Gallade. I wanted him to look a bit more like he was wearing armor and had real swords, but in the end I just kinda went gung-ho.

Am I doin' it right? =o I'm so proud of myself right now. =D

You might want to change the background to Transparent.

 

[Spire]

The body is good, but the shell is rather average. The slight blotches of orange seem rather out of place, maybe a lighter shade of red?
Overall, it's pretty good, but you could've done a bit more.



Uh, the colors are a little bit too contrasting, it almost strains my eyes to look at it. However, the sprite itself is good.

No, I disagree.

With the Lapras, I feel that the small orange blotches on its shell actually attribute to the overall unity in the coloring, as the red separates them from the orange body, and hence, they pick up on it. They certainly work to the sprite's advantage.

And as for the Alakazam, the colors may contrast a bit, but they are of the same hue, which is a total plus. They work off of one another, as they are simply different shades of that same yellow, rather than the vanilla Alakazam, who is composed of an orange-brown and a marigold/yellow.

 

[LordoftheMorning]

How can I make it transparent using GIMP?

 

[Circa]

Never mind .