[READ ME] SPRITE SHEET GUIDELINES (UPDATED 6/23/2012)

[Gors]

Sprite Sheet Guidelines
by Gors

check out the old thread here.

The latest revision of the icon maker can be found here: http://www.mediafire.com/?25bjqvxnx9dp8wo

Is this your first time adventuring in the world of sprite ripping? Then I think you'll need some valuable tips for making a good sprite sheet!

Most sheets are made by using others as example, so while they work, they mightn't look organised enough to be useful. This guide will help you organize the graphics better and save us time.

Sprite Organization

ORIGINAL RIP
Probably this is how your sheet looks like when ripping stuff. I'll start explaining the techniques from here.


BACKGROUND
Once you finish ripping everything up, it's time to order it! Let's start with the background.
Using a white background might not be the best idea; it is too bright and may make the sprite difficult to read, principally if it uses the same shade of white. Because of this, use a neutral color as a background so you can see all the sprite's details properly. Gray, light tones work the best.


Do not use a color similar to the one used in the sprite (in this case, black). It'll eat up all the details and destroy the sprites.


Don't use a bright saturated color either, because it is harsh for the eye. Some of the sheets in tSR use saturated colors, but that's because any other color would blend and/or hamper visibility (case 2).


LABEL, ALIGNMENT
Once you're happy with the BG color, you can start aligning it. Draw an imaginary line below the sprites, and align them accordingly. Make it so each animation occupies one line, and finally label it.


A common practice in sprite sheets is to represent the height arcs in jumping animations. It's advisable to do it, this way a person that never played the game will know which frames are used for going up and going down.


While aligning that way is already enough, you can do a huge favour to us tSR and sprite users; fit your sprites in even boxes. This way, you'll make animating much easier for users.


Though, do not simply fit them in boxes. Proof-animate the sprites using a sprite animator program (check out Previous' Gif Animator).
WRONG.

CREDIT TAG
Credit tags are text that explains who ripped/made the sheet, and you can specify if the user should give credit for use or not.
A common practice in first-timers is to leave an enormous quantity of blank space and making a credit tag that takes up half of the sheet's size. DO NOT DO THAT, IT MAKES THE SHEET LOOK TERRIBLE AND YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT.


Thus, make a small, simple tag that conveys all the important stuff. Adding info such as the game the sprite is from and the character's name is also a plus.


Additionally, always make sheets in 1x pixel ratio, as it is its native size. Do not enlarge it even if the sprites are rather small.
WRONG.

PALETTE
Usually games include different palettes for characters (hurt, alternate colors, etc.). Include a frame of the changed palette so the user can recolor it as he wants.


EXAMPLE
If the character has animation that interacts with several objects, rip the clean animation first and then add a visual example to complement it.


The same happens if the character is made up of several pieces. Include all the pieces so the user can use them as he wishes.


DON'T DO THIS
Finally, NEVER SAVE THE SHEET AS .JPG. It destroys the sheet's quality and renders it completely unusable.
YOU FUCKED IT UP!!!

Other Stuff

After finishing your sprite sheet, submit them to tSR via threads in the exact sections. Make icons for it (you can find an icon maker here) and DO NOT FORGET TO SAY WHERE IT IS FROM, AND IF THE CHARACTER IS PLAYABLE, A NPC, AN ENEMY ETC. This info will make it easier for us to upload it.

Observations:

• It's ok if you give these info in the post itself rathern than inside te sheet, but adding that extra text on the sheet won't hurt, right?
  
• Those are only tips to make spritesheets, NOT A RULE. Though if your spritesheet doesn't meet with the minimum of standards, it won't be accepted.
  

Sheet Completing
It's common for the rippers to overlook some sprite frames or elements, be it from forgetting about it or not ripping them because of difficulty. If you can rip those missing bits of the sprite sheet, or want to correct something that isn't right, feel free to fix it.

By submitting a sheet, you have the rights to limit its use and avoid theft with credit tags, but a genuine edit that completes the sprite sheet is not considered theft or any illicit action. Thus, do not complain if someone did the work of completing your rip for you.

Observations:

• If you're planning to fix/add missing frames to a sheet, please arrange them in a way that don't stick out too much from the original arrangement.
  
• Make clear what graphics you ripped and you didn't rip in the sheet, to avoid confusion.
  
• Do not remove the original sprite sheet's credit tag, if it has any.
  
• Do not claim that you ripped everything. That is sprite theft and you'll be severely punished.
  
• When submitting, make the thread in the right console section, explain that your sheet is corrective (you only fixed parts of it) and link to the original sheet.
  

EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO DO





Thanks for reading.

[TomGuycott]

This reminds me that I should really reorganize some old sprite rips of mine. Mostly because they are not properly aligned, I don't think I started to do ANY sort of formal aligning until I started to rip Little Samson. I should also consider labeling some of the less self-explanatory ones.

[Gaia]

This reminds me of the time when credit tags were necessary of "who ripped what". Now I just make sure where each frame goes since we have the "ripper name" "filesize" "file format" "format" "widith/height" and "hits" thigamajig going on now, but I guess it's for those that still perfer credit tags..

[Garamonde]

YES. We needed an update to this.

...Again, half the new submitters won't read this.

[Gors]

stop uploading sheets that don't obey this, then you'll see

[FormerUser20]

Usually games include different palettes for characters (hurt, alternate colors, etc.). Include a frame of the changed palette so the user can recolor it as he wants.

If the character has animation that interacts with several objects, rip the clean animation first and then add a visual example to complement it.

DO NOT FORGET TO SAY WHERE IT IS FROM, AND IF THE CHARACTER IS PLAYABLE, A NPC, AN ENEMY ETC. This info will make it easier for us to upload it.

The same happens if the character is made up of several pieces. Include all the pieces so the user can use them as he wishes.

Oh dear, are all of these mandatory? Because I have a hard time getting different pallets for certain character sprite sheets, and It's hard/impossible for me to rip the pieces individually of characters.

Also, we have to indicate the game, character playable, npc, and enemy in the sprite sheet? Because I thought I normally did that in my posts but not in the picture and kind of feel bad for not having it in the picture.


I still appreaciate the guide though! Specially the part with wasted space and stuff, I really loathe those.

[Vipershark]

stop uploading sheets that don't obey this, then you'll see

This is a legitimately good idea and I feel that we should start enforcing this.

[Gors]

Oh dear, are all of these mandatory? Because I have a hard time getting different pallets for certain character sprite sheets, and It's hard/impossible for me to rip the pieces individually of characters.

Also, we have to indicate the game, character playable, npc, and enemy in the sprite sheet? Because I thought I normally did that in my posts but not in the picture and kind of feel bad for not having it in the picture.


I still appreaciate the guide though! Specially the part with wasted space and stuff, I really loathe those.

of course, we aren't sprite nazis so we won't jump on you if you forget one or two palettes or pieces.

There is no problem if you explain about the sheet on the post itself rather than inside the sheet, but I find it's better to put it in the sheet.
This way someone who downloaded the sheet but forgot where he got the sheet can easily track it down again.

[Garamonde]

Uhh, I don't understand, are you saying I upload bad rips all the time?

[Gors]

point me the exact part where I said your rips are bad

[Garamonde]

No,

I said, "I upload bad rips", meaning other people's sheets. I just don't understand what you meant up there by "stop uploading sheets that don't obey this, then you'll see ", and need it to be elaborated on more.

[Gors]

oh





WELP

sorry for the misinterpretation, I just meant that if the sheet doesn't meet those standards, you shall not upload it until ripper organizes it. my bad

[Garamonde]

Hahah, it's okay. I know enough to not upload a sheet that isn't up to snuff.

Sorry for the confusion. I'm bad at explaining sometimes. :<

[Gaia]

I just meant that if the sheet doesn't meet those standards, you shall not upload it until ripper organizes it. my bad

That's good to hear, I don't normally submit sheets until I'm 100% sure they are complete anyway, which is why I also make WIP sheets with rips too, not just customs.

[lemurboy12]

Uh oh, are my sheets like this? I feel like they are.