Simple sprite tutorial

[xxxRedMetalxxx]

Here is a tutorial for creating simple sprites for Fallout: Tactics as requested by FUBAR.
Weapons and items do not require much artistic knowledge but do require a highly systematical creation process. My method uses programs that can be changed, you can use upgraded versions of these programs but the principle of creation will remain pretty much the same. All the tools and programs used in this method are available on RED-TECs website, just join our community to gain access to the site.

Here goes...

 

[RobertHouse]

Very impressive Red, I added your post as a sticky.

 

[xxxRedMetalxxx]

Na, I un-stuck it.
I don't think it is that good or useful when it comes to Fallout: Tactics modding. After all, not many people create sprites anyway and I will not be updating it often. It may only be of any use to one or two dudes.

And in any case I don't believe that adding to many stickies to this forum is a good Idea. I like it the way it is.

Thanks for the gesture though, I do take it kindly. But I decided not to sticky this before it was created.

 

[FUBAR]

Kudos to you, Red. I've a whole new respect for what you do; even with a step-by-step, I feel like I'm banging my head off a wall. Learning curves aren't fun.

 

[phillon]

Thanks for putting this resource out there for the community Red, much appreciated.

 

[Lexx]

Why does it have to be an image? Some day the image might be down and then nobody knows what was written.

 

[xxxRedMetalxxx]

Kudos to you, Red. I've a whole new respect for what you do; even with a step-by-step, I feel like I'm banging my head off a wall. Learning curves aren't fun.

Yeah i apologize as it was not a very well planned concept, other important projects in the background and all...
It is complex and time consuming, you can imagine what it was like for me years ago when I had no idea where to begin and no help. Lots of trial and error, mostly error.

Thanks for putting this resource out there for the community Red, much appreciated.

No problem Phil, but it's kindof unimportant to me compared to what I am actually working on right now. Nice surprises around the corner...

Why does it have to be an image? Some day the image might be down and then nobody knows what was written.

Because I decided it to be an image. I created this using 5 images I made with Adobe so that pictures could be added in easily and to imply a different style to what has already been done. Some day, if the images do go down, I have the backup and since I moderate this forum and my posts, I don't see it as a problem. Also the 'Toolkit' available for download on my website comes with this exact tutorial and is permanent.

 

[RobertHouse]

Na, I un-stuck it.
I don't think it is that good or useful when it comes to Fallout: Tactics modding. After all, not many people create sprites anyway and I will not be updating it often. It may only be of any use to one or two dudes.

And in any case I don't believe that adding to many stickies to this forum is a good Idea. I like it the way it is.

Thanks for the gesture though, I do take it kindly. But I decided not to sticky this before it was created.

If you insist.

 

[xkcon]

First let me thank you for this info. But I have to admit that totally intimidated by the whole process... I'm having problems installing Adobe photoshop CS2. I have been using photoshop 6.0 but I guess apparently it won't work. I can't load the recent converted BMP from PNGs. I get the error

I have to install power whatsa and what ? OMG learning curve is giving me anxiety.

 

[xkcon]

I spent all day making my three PNGs, Ground,Small, and Large. I hate having to install software so I can install more software. This Power ISO wants to restart my computer --is this correct?

 

[Lexx]

Because I decided it to be an image. I created this using 5 images I made with Adobe so that pictures could be added in easily and to imply a different style to what has already been done. Some day, if the images do go down, I have the backup and since I moderate this forum and my posts, I don't see it as a problem. Also the 'Toolkit' available for download on my website comes with this exact tutorial and is permanent.

Well, if you say so. But I've seen many people disappearing already from one day to the next when they lose motivation, even forum moderators.

 

[xkcon]

My earlier posts were a little unclear. My frustration got the better of me.

I will try to be more clear. I was using Photoshop 6.0. I made it as far as creating the three sized PNGs and then converted them to BMP using AlphaConv. Then I tried to reload them in Photoshop 6.0 and got error message 'file cannot be opened because the file format module cannot parse the file'

I thought this could be a version specific error of Photoshop 6.0. So then I downloaded the tools for easy sprite creation from RedTecHQ and tried to install Adobe cs2 and got yet another error. It's at this point that I throw in the towel. I'll try to comeback to this with a clear head....

 

[xkcon]

Alright, I'll have another go at this...

I've got so far as to install PowerISO properly. But I don't understand what to do. How do I 'Load Virtual Drive manager and find a free drive' ? in what sense do you mean free drive? I need to know what keys to push or what to click -- Abstract concepts like a 'virtual drive manager' mean nothing to a technologically unsophisticated person like me... UggggH

 

[xkcon]

The hardest part about making sprites so far has been installing and using the software to install the software that makes the sprites...

Throws in the towel...

 

[xkcon]

Alright, I've managed to get it all installed after fucking around for a few hours - I feel like I've just won bronze at the special olimpycs

Anyways I loaded my BMPs and coloer indexed then RGBed them and then I made the sprite template and got it all going. I successfully loaded the ground the ground image into the sprite, but when I loaded the large and small gui images I got an error 'too many colors in layers pallette'

What did I do wrong now???

 

[xxxRedMetalxxx]

Well, if you say so. But I've seen many people disappearing already from one day to the next when they lose motivation, even forum moderators.

I appreciate your cause for concern. Is this information not available elsewhere or something?

(eyebrows raise) @ xkcon



You alright there buddy? You seem a little tense! LMAO!

Dude, I've just got back to this to find the multiple posts unveiling your horror!
I feel for you man, shxt, did'nt think this was gonna wreck peoples day! LOL! (Just how much towel throwing can one man do? LOL).
Alright so most of your questions you already have answers for. That last one though, hmmm.
If you definitely changed them to index, maybe try to choose a type of index colour... local or exact I think I use. Then you definitely changed back to RGB AND SAVED?
Other than that, the only other thing I can think of is the sprite template. You said you made this yourself? Use the one I made, it's in the pack.

 

[xxxRedMetalxxx]

I don't blame anyone for never even trying to to make sprites for this game. But seriously, If you think this is difficult you wanna see animated sprites. Or worse, 4 colour layer animated sprites. Just starting in this realm and it really makes me appreciate all animated sprites found on NMA.

 

[RobertHouse]

Well, if you say so. But I've seen many people disappearing already from one day to the next when they lose motivation, even forum moderators.

I appreciate your cause for concern. Is this information not available elsewhere or something?

That's why i stickied the post, i ain't seen a complete tutorial spread out like this since i first started modding, its something that not to many people would take the time to make, and this is the first one in this forum.

 

[RobertHouse]

I don't blame anyone for never even trying to to make sprites for this game. But seriously, If you think this is difficult you wanna see animated sprites. Or worse, 4 colour layer animated sprites. Just starting in this realm and it really makes me appreciate all animated sprites found on NMA.

Hahaha ya

 

[xkcon]

I tried to use use your template. It still gave me the same error. I am just going to assume that I did something wrong during the creation process or that my files created on 6.0 just aren't compatable or whatever. It's strange though my ground image worked properly and the other two failed but they were all ported from the same image file.

I will start from scratch, and try again.

But it just chokes me - I spent 2 days just to get that close to the finish line, and then fail.

If I can just make my first sprite - one-time, then I am over the hump. Until then it's a phucking frustrating stress fest. Oh man I was mad.

I'll just use a placeholder sprite/entity for now and try this again the future. For now I throw in the towel (Again!)


At anyrate I appreciate your tutorial, and these tools are very powerful. it will just take a retard-boy like me a while to learn how use them...