SIMPLE TIPS to make HI-QUALITY item sprites!

[nadeauhugo]

Everyone want to make hi-quality item sprites, no? Here is a way with Photoshop CS to have a perfect result on first attempt.


1. Make your final image in Photoshop at its highest resolution, with transparency, multiple layers etc. Must be the way you want it.


2. DUPLICATE all your layers and MERGE them (CTRL+E). You now have an extra flat layer with transparency that will be your CHANNEL.


3. Option LAYER/LAYER STYLE/COLOR OVERLAY... = Change the red color there to white and hit OK OK


4. Create a new layer BELOW and paint it all BLACK. Select the layer made in 3. and merge it with the all-black layer (CTRL+E). Wow! You have a PERFECT CHANNEL.


5. CTRL+A and CTRL+C to copy that layer - PASTE it in the CHANNELS tab - Alpha 1. (you have to create this layer)

MOST IMPORTANT STEPS COMING!!!!!

 

[nadeauhugo]

6. KILL all transparencies. Bring shadows to 100% black, make sure the whole image is OPAQUE and still looks great. You can duplicate layers over and over again to make them opaque by addition if the were partly transparent!


7. Make the image more THICKER because if you don't do that, there will be an UGLY white line around your sprite. BELOW your image, create a layer that will be your image but bigger. Don't worry if your image now looks like shit! The important thing is THE ALPHA CHANNEL.


8. Show your ALPHA channel to see if the channel don't go over a transparent zone and if it looks great. Of course, it does look great!

9. Resize the image to BIG (140 x 69 max.) - SMALL (65 x 37 max.) or DEFAULT (about any size) for an item.

10. Option IMAGE/MODE/INDEXED COLOR - Choose "CUSTOM..." (you will see the palette). For the next 2 images, you will use the color mode PREVIOUS.

10. Put back RGB mode (important), and save the image as a 32 bit BMP. (ALPHA CHANNEL must be visible - red shadow)


11. Use all three BMP to make an item in SPRITE EDITOR (http://www.jarekfall.cba.pl/download.php?id=1)


12. Contemplate the result!