Gladiacloud here.
From the day I became one of the best spriters in Mugen world, many of you have pointed out to me that I am very fast.
Well ... I think it's time to reveal my secret to you.
This is a particular and original method that I invented many years ago.
Are you ready?
LET'S START!1) Choose any graphics program you have. I recommend strongly GraphicsGale.
2) The first thing I do, is to open a new window. A very long window. I personally choose a length of 3000 pixels.
3) Then I choose the transparent color (whatever, but I prefer the green), and then I add layers. I much prefer to duplicate the main one, so I do not have to set the transparent color again.
4) Now I access the properties of the first layer and I decrease the opacity. The green background will still be there, but it will become invisible.
5) At this point, you have to zoom in and create lines that determine the proportions of the sprites.
6) Now you have to zoom in as many times as your eye is able to analyze the pixels to draw the sprites.
7) Now begins the most difficult part to explain, because the scroll bar will enter the scene (I have selected it with an orange box).
Now, you simply have to click on it once:
9) If you have the proportion lines still copied, you simply need to paste and move the pasted image with the arrow keys, then move it and click various times on scroll bar until the selection is aligned.
10) Now you have to paste the proportion lines along the entire length of the window. We got a sort of "timeline" for sprite animation.
11) Now, you just have to sprite, but since this is an example, we'll use Beast sprite made by me and Motorroach.
Under the beast sprite I added a kind of red cross: that cross is adjacent to the proportion lines.
12) Click on the scrollbar and paste the beast sprites so that the red cross rests on the proportion lines. Obviously, this must be done with the zoom.
If the zoom, the proportion lines and the sprites are well aligned, when you press the scroll bar the animation (if so we can call it) will be static. If it is static, it means that we have done well.
12) Just to give an example, we take every Beast sprite and select and move various areas randomly, then press the scroll bar until the end
And you've done it. You have created a sprite animation in a very simple way.
FINAL WARNING: Don't change the length of the window by clicking on the border at the left and at the right, or the "timeline" would mess up.
I hope this tutorial can be of much help to aspiring spriters.
See you next time!
Veterans Day