!! If this is considered as spamm please delete this topic, I will edit my old "pixeling guide" topic.
The reason I haven't posted it on there was because this is a way different subject!!
Seeing allot of people are asking what program to use for editing sprites.
I decided to make a short guide about a few programs I have used in the past.
I will only explain the basic knowledge you need to start "editing or pixeling".
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Microsoft paint (Windows Vista/7) - Standard
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(Ignore the dutch)
Pro's
- Very Organized.
- Standard on Windows.
- Fast starting up (the program).
- Free
Con's
- Bad selection tool.
- Might be a bitch by choosing 16bitmap instead 24.
- Very limited.
Click here with mousewheel.
I will just mention the standard things as I said above.
I've put borders around the things im going explain.
Red border:
Cut & crop tools, used to slice the sprites, although I recommend using another programs for that.
Also it has the simple rotation option, This is only usefull for sheeting a weapon (in my opinion).
Make sure you only rotate 90' or 180' so it won't lose any detail!
Blue border:
The standard tools like Pencil/brush,Paint bucket,eraser etc.
Most of you people know all these options ofcourse, I don't have to explain that I guess.
(Just mentioning it anyway).
Green border:
The button on the left is about selecting the thickness (range w/e) of ur tool.
Then you have the color selections, you can choose two colors to work with (Left mouse click & right).
But if you use more colors then two you should make ur own palette by clicking on "edit colours".
Other information, well you can undo ur actions by clicking on the "return looking button" above the "start" menu.
Also you could simply press "Ctrl + z".
Paint is usefull if ur just doing to standard editing, replacing or saving.
If ur going to "pixel" urself and doing whole sheet's I suggest using one of the following programs.
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Graphic Gale - Opensource
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Pro's
- Also very organized.
- Best color "picking" option.
- Fast starting up (the program).
- Color selection tool!
- Layers.
- Free.
Con's
- Bad selection tool. (slicing)
Click here with mousewheel.
Well this is the "interface" of Graphic Gale, it looks quite old but it's very organized.
Let's start by checking the menu's on the top.
File: Just like all the other programs, it's about "save/load/open" import/export etc.
Edit: This is mostly about the layers, personally I haven't used it so I guess you won't either.
View: I haven't used this either, and about the grid I'll get back on that later.
Image: Here you can "flip/rotate" the image also count the color's and add some effects. (flip/rotation is usefull).
All frames: This has kinda the same options as "image" but I havent really used this.
Capture: Let's forget this one.
Window: Well nothing interessting, mess with it how you want to.
Help: Help.
Green border:
Those are the Undo and the Redo action buttons, this will Undo or Redo ur actions (How smart :3).
But ofcourse you can simply press "Ctrl + Z" to undo ur actions to.
Yellow border:
This is usefull if you don't fully zoom into the picture, this way you won't click the wrong pixel.
You can toggle it by clicking on the grid button. (on/off).
Red border (from left to right):
Magnifier: Aka Zoom. (great zoom!).
Image mover: Moves image if selected.
Selection tools: Selects area you select....
Selection by color: The all mighty selection tool you must have, Photoshop has this option too.
Pen/Pencil: Draw with it. 1x1.
Line/curved line/retangle: Makes lines how you want it.
Paint bucket: Fills whole area's with the same color.
Purple border (under the palette):
You can choose RGB and HSL, Personally I like to work with HSL choosing the colors is easier.
You have to experiment with it a bit.
^ A.K.A Different colour palettes.
Blue border:
I will explain later what the layers are for and how to use it.
I will post it under the Photoshop explanation.
Other Information:
This is in my opinion the best program to use if ur going to "pixel" and full sheet ur armor/weapons.
I don't really have anything else to say about this one xD.
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GIMP - Opensource
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Pro's
- Good color "picking" option.
- Color selection tool! (Ctr + O).
- Layers.
- Free.
- Downloadable plugins.
Con's
- Slow start-up.
- Unorganized (Is 3 different tabs/windows really nessesary?).
Click here with mousewheel.
First I'd like to say it crashed the first time I started it xD, I don't suggest using this if you have a slow pc.
Well I haven't used this program much, infact I especially downloaded it for this guide (yes I've used it before).
Like I said I'm going to say the basic things, good that it's all in the same "toolbox"
Red border:
First row are all selection tools, the last one is the color selection tool (ctrl + O) really usefull.
Second row are all things you should use for EO sprites, you can zoom by pressing "Z" and choose color by pressing Ctrl.
Third row, same as the second row exept you could use the rotation tool.
Last 3 rows, I only suggest using the pencil and paintbucket tool, I'm serious the rest are all pointless. (Blur/smudge = bad).
Blue border:
I will explain later what the layers are for and how to use it.
I will post it under the Photoshop explanation.
Other information, I only suggest using this if ur actually going to use it more then once a week.
There's no point in trying this if ur not going to do anything with it, it's also used to make the "gui" with effects like glow etc.
It's opensource so you can simply download it.
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Photoshop (Cs3) - Paid
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Pro's
- Best selection tool (slicing)
- Downloadable pluggins.
- PDF read/save format.
- Long undo memory.
Con's
- NOT Opensource
- Slow start-up
First I do not advice you to ilegally download photoshop (I just don't no questions asked).
And if you have the school Key and/or work key, make sure you aren't selling any products or you could get a problem.
But for the people that have this software legal or not, I will make a tiny/short explanation.
Click here with mousewheel.
Red border:
This is ur toolbox/bar:
Select/move tool.
Selection tools (right mouseclick to change).
Crop/cut tool.
Ignore the spot healing tool and stamp etc.
Pencil tool and paintbucket should only be used while editing sprites.
The reason would be to much colors (might make a slightly difference in kbs).
A simple hotkey to zoom in or out = Ctrl + or Ctrl -.
Then to move ur view over the picture press space and click/drag.
Ctrl + T is the warp/rotate or resize hotkey.
Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + shift + Z = undo and redo actions.
Blue border:
I will explain later what the layers are for and how to use it.
I will post it under this one :).
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Layers.
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Layers is like an invisible piece of paper.
As example I have my sprite sheet on the table, and I want to draw an armor on it.
Ofcourse you don't want to erase the spritesheet if you do something wrong.
Then you have to put an "invisible piece of paper on it" and draw on that. (This way it looks like ur drawing on the spritesheet).
If you did something wrong you can just remove the layer, or erase different parts of the layer.
To use the layer option, you have to put ur base (in this case sprite sheet) as first layer.
Then make a new layer (looks like a piece of paper with a fold) and select it.
you can now draw freely on it without touching the base layer.
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Ok, this was a short guide about which programs you can/could use.
If you have any questions about the programs please post them on this topic.
If you have any questions about pixeling or editing images please post it on my pixeling guide.
Which can be found here: Click me ;)
(Because it's a way different subject).
(xD I'm writing these guides to help people, and ofcourse kill some time, I'll be in germany next week (boring) so I will have enough time to talk to people on msn that need my help of have questions.
I've had a few people that added me because of this website, and I hope I can help some more :3)
Thank you for reading, hope I helped you.
Have fun editing/pixeling, Roefl.
Editing sprites (software guide) Pro's & Con's included.
