Lately, objects have been attaching to the quadrant points of other vectors. I do not want this happening, and it has become rather annoying as of late. Does anyone know the cause of this?
Wow, you've got some great tutorials here! Being a student and a programer doesn't leave much time for making artwork, and these tutorials are/will help(ing) me alot. Thanks for sharing!
I decided to alter the approach and use a slightly more complex character with all the parts that make up a human [rather than join legs and arms into one object the way I set up the character in part 3].
I should state that this is just one way of doing animations. It's very similar to old school cut out animations. It's not as fluid as hand drawn animations or 3D work but it's a straight forward and somewhat easy to follow approach. It works quite well with small size sprites.
Creating the [soon to be animated] caveman
It's pretty much the same process used in the tutorial's 3rd part with some added complexity in the facial features.
Note: I mirrored the limbs in the image above just to show the 'exploded' body setup. There is no need for that when you use the elements in a side on view [both feet should point in the same direction].
Note: Working with CorelDraw a lot I come to appreciate the multiple page setup of CorelDraw documents. Instead of layering animations you just place them on separate pages and flick through them to check your progress. The program even alows you export the pages in one layered bitmap file keeping layers and pages separated.
Animating:
If you start out animating it's helpful to go with some more basic animations first - there is nothing wrong with the 'mad-kung-fu-360-tiger-meets-dragon-in-mid-air-move' but it might be a little frustrating to start with.
Think simple and create something you can use in your game. This way you keep motivated and focused.
Note: It's always helpful to check out references, poses, animations and other tutorials. A lot of the reference will show you a simplyfied setup that makes it a little easier than working off memory and your own experiences.
First steps (quite literally)
Note: This setup will seem very familiar to those of you using Adobe Flash or similar timeline based tools. The groups of object created in inkscape are similar to symbols either as 'movieclips' or 'graphics' used in flash. All you have to do though is animate the bits inbetween which Flash handles for you with 'tweening'.
Variations
It's all about changing and trying different poses, placements, rotations and flows. Based on the setup of the caveman I created three more characters as inspiration:
I hope you enjoyed this addition and it gave you some ideas how to have fun with vectors.
Unfortunately I don't have the time to deal with Inkscape / GameSalad at the moment, but this is exactly the kind of tutorial blog I have hoped for. Nontheless I have to say that I'm staggered by the amount and regularity of Spriteattack's blog entries. No matter if you work on a game or not, these tutorials make you want to deal with vector art. There doesn't really seem to be a barrier between you and vector art if you follow these tuts. Really amazing work!
I looked at your electricity / lightning strike effect and think I found a rather quick and simple way to do it in Inkscape.
With a some additions it turns into a night lightning strike.
If you want to animate these I suggest doing the lines first and altering a copy of the line shape in a new layer [see the animation tutorial for this]. Animate the shape roughly and not too similar. After creating a few variations of the lightning strike start with the conversion to paths.
It's a lot easier to adjust a few nodes on a line than twice that many or more in a shape.
@HapiApps... I had a look at your site... and it's a little tricky... You offer art packs (even though there is a lot a empty space still on your site)... The idea of putting my tutorials on your site doesn't sit well with me as it might give the impression that you created these... You are most welcome to link to my blog but putting up whole tutorials is a no go.
Hey SpriteAttack your tutorials are great !!! They helped me a lot But can you maybe make a tutorial about how to do a wood grain effect in inkscape?? and please say what colour you use for wood... WTDeveloper
Here's a quick tutorial on a cute tank design as requested by one of the forum members :
Note: When you scale in Inkscape holding SHIFT+CTRL down allows for the ratio of height to width to stay intact - which is rather helpful at times...
Note: Remember to keep overlapping parts separate when exporting to bitmaps - eg. the barrel separate from the body... and maybe 4 different images of the tracks with different rotation angles for the wheels and some movement on the chain...
Enjoy!
@WTDeveloper - I will try... it shouldn't be too hard...
Could I place a request for the back side of a plane or fighter jet? If you could show how to make it or just make it I would be willing to pay. Thanks, <><
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chris, I want a baby of you
(P.S. I bookmarked your blog)
In other news, when is your next tutorial coming?
My GameSalad Academy Courses! ◦ Check out my quality templates! ◦ Add me on Skype: braydon_sfx
I should state that this is just one way of doing animations. It's very similar to old school cut out animations. It's not as fluid as hand drawn animations or 3D work but it's a straight forward and somewhat easy to follow approach. It works quite well with small size sprites.
Creating the [soon to be animated] caveman
It's pretty much the same process used in the tutorial's 3rd part with some added complexity in the facial features.
Note:
I mirrored the limbs in the image above just to show the 'exploded' body setup. There is no need for that when you use the elements in a side on view [both feet should point in the same direction].
Note:
Working with CorelDraw a lot I come to appreciate the multiple page setup of CorelDraw documents. Instead of layering animations you just place them on separate pages and flick through them to check your progress. The program even alows you export the pages in one layered bitmap file keeping layers and pages separated.
Animating:
If you start out animating it's helpful to go with some more basic animations first - there is nothing wrong with the 'mad-kung-fu-360-tiger-meets-dragon-in-mid-air-move' but it might be a little frustrating to start with.
Think simple and create something you can use in your game. This way you keep motivated and focused.
Note:
It's always helpful to check out references, poses, animations and other tutorials. A lot of the reference will show you a simplyfied setup that makes it a little easier than working off memory and your own experiences.
First steps (quite literally)
Note:
This setup will seem very familiar to those of you using Adobe Flash or similar timeline based tools. The groups of object created in inkscape are similar to symbols either as 'movieclips' or 'graphics' used in flash. All you have to do though is animate the bits inbetween which Flash handles for you with 'tweening'.
Variations
It's all about changing and trying different poses, placements, rotations and flows. Based on the setup of the caveman I created three more characters as inspiration:
I hope you enjoyed this addition and it gave you some ideas how to have fun with vectors.
Love this. Will try this out soom. Hope it is not to difficult to make a great thing like this
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Nontheless I have to say that I'm staggered by the amount and regularity of Spriteattack's blog entries. No matter if you work on a game or not, these tutorials make you want to deal with vector art. There doesn't really seem to be a barrier between you and vector art if you follow these tuts. Really amazing work!
I forgot to show the end result. This is the little caveman walking:
If it's not too much of an inconvenience, could you show us how to make something like this?
I looked at your electricity / lightning strike effect and think I found a rather quick and simple way to do it in Inkscape.
With a some additions it turns into a night lightning strike.
If you want to animate these I suggest doing the lines first and altering a copy of the line shape in a new layer [see the animation tutorial for this]. Animate the shape roughly and not too similar. After creating a few variations of the lightning strike start with the conversion to paths.
It's a lot easier to adjust a few nodes on a line than twice that many or more in a shape.
I hope this quick tutorial is helpful to some.
your tutorials are great !!!
They helped me a lot
But can you maybe make a tutorial about how to do a wood grain effect in inkscape??
and please say what colour you use for wood...
WTDeveloper
You're animations tutorials above are not there anymore?!
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Benjamin
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I like to draw by hand but your tutorials are great.
Very clear. You could be a teacher. A good one
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@LudwigHeijden.... thanks... I am glad you enjoyed them... and I am not sure about that... I prefer my peace and quite
please put these tutorials in an app... iPad
be so nice to be able to view them while I practice in inkscape!
Thanx!
MH
Note:
When you scale in Inkscape holding SHIFT+CTRL down allows for the ratio of height to width to stay intact - which is rather helpful at times...
Note:
Remember to keep overlapping parts separate when exporting to bitmaps - eg. the barrel separate from the body... and maybe 4 different images of the tracks with different rotation angles for the wheels and some movement on the chain...
Enjoy!
@WTDeveloper - I will try... it shouldn't be too hard...
Lump Apps and My Assets
If you could show how to make it or just make it I would be willing to pay.
Thanks, <><
@WTDeveloper - you are after a tutorial for wood like this?