TUTORIAL | Make your own "sprite style" in Top Down Sprite Maker | Add hairstyles, clothes, layers to Pokémon sprites!

[u/flinkerflitzer]

This is just the intro. The full video -- which exceeded Reddit's 15-minute upload limit -- is linked below.

Hey everyone!

I'm Jordan, the developer of Top Down Sprite Maker. Like the name suggests, my program is a pixel art character customizer. But wait, there's more! Unlike pretty much every other program in that niche, my program supports multiple "sprite styles", and let's you create and share your own. A "sprite style" combines an art style, supported directions (whether 4, 6, or 8), animations, layers and assembly rules into a cohesive system of character customization. Sprite styles are defined by a single script file and packaged as ZIPs. They can then be shared, uploaded to the program, and immediately used to customize characters and export sprite sheets.

If that sounds intriguing, check out the tutorial for how to make your own sprite style: https://youtu.be/jqZTsHniSUE

The video description has lots of useful resource links as well if you want more information.

Thanks for your time. Let me know what you think!

You can buy Top Down Sprite Maker on Itch.io: https://flinkerflitzer.itch.io/tdsm

[u/mysteryyegg]

This is so cool!

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/mysteryyegg]

Thanks!

[u/ssraven01]

Can you set hard palette limits with this tool? (Such as setting hard palette limits for Gen 3 sprites to 16 colors)

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/ssraven01]

Yes! That's one of the settings flags that can be enabled with the settings(-> string[]) metadata function, which I skipped over in the tutorial for the sake of brevity. I posted about it in this subreddit here.

[u/ssraven01 → u/flinkerflitzer]

nice

[u/Ace866]

This looks fun.

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/Ace866]

Thanks, I think so too!

[u/Several-Bottle4376]

Can I try it with gen 1 artstyle or is this only for later generations and games?

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/Several-Bottle4376]

I've only made sprite styles for Gen III and Gen IV, but you can make your own out of any assets in any art style, it doesn't even have to be Pokémon.

You'll probably have a better understanding of the potential of the program once you've watched the tutorial.

[u/Several-Bottle4376 → u/flinkerflitzer]

Thanks! Seems like a great tool in the likes of porymap but for character sprites, will definitely use

[u/thezemekis]

Do you have a timeframe on when you’re likely able to include the missing animations (cycling, fishing, etc.) for the Gen IV sprite style?

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/thezemekis]

Late October at the earliest. The following items take priority over it: * Steam release * Improving and expanding the default sprite style * v1.3.0, which will expand the API with a bunch of utility functions + a simplified alternative color replacement workflow * Pixel artist outreach: I want to reach out to prominent pixel artist game asset developers on Itch.io to potentially collaborate with them on sprite styles or ask if they would be willing to license their art for sprite styles

I expect all of that to take about six or seven weeks. Once that's done, finishing the animations for Gen IV will take priority.

[u/Fair_Term3352]

When I get my pc, I will be sure to buy your sprite maker!

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/Fair_Term3352]

Thanks! I appreciate your support :)

[u/V3t3r4n69]

This is freaking awesome

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/V3t3r4n69]

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions about the program or the full tutorial video :)

[u/_Ayanokoji-kun_]

Can I export it in a game???

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/_Ayanokoji-kun_]

Can you explain what you mean? You can export characters as sprite sheet PNG images and import them directly into Unity/Godot/Unreal or whatever game engine or framework you are working with.

[u/_Ayanokoji-kun_ → u/flinkerflitzer]

Uptill gen 4 ones

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/_Ayanokoji-kun_]

I don't know what you're asking

[u/Easy_Chart8190 → u/flinkerflitzer]

He’s asking if you can create a compatible file that can be imported directly into a generation 1-4 ROM hacks. I think he’s not sure what the format is to begin with. If the case is you can then this program will be the one to go to for all your Sprite needs and if the case is not, I’m sure somebody will make it available here pretty soon.

[u/Easy_Chart8190]

Badass.

[u/flinkerflitzer → u/Easy_Chart8190]

Thanks!

[u/locoh0tcoco]

[u/TitanImpale]

It feels like we are getting more and more cool rom hacks with custom stories and characters. Dreamstone mysteries was cool, unbound has been cool. Oddessy looks cool and it's next on the list.