How do Sprites and Animation work?

[juggernaut]

     So I might be getting a little ahead of myself here as I'm just working my way through DiamondandPlatinum's really great video tutorials.

     How are things like frames in a walk animation handled? ​

     While I learn what I can about Ruby I keep my original art in mind and I know that I want some more fluid animations (something like 8 frames seems good). My goal in finding out how things work is to possibly save myself the heartache of drawing up tons and tons of high frame walks, sword slashes and the like, only to find out that I just can't use them. 

Is it possible to make composite sprites from two separate files?​

 ​

     This one is probably a pipe dream but I'm trying to conceive a way that I could have a lot of arms and armor that would be essentially pasted onto the base bodies of sprites they will fit. If there isn't a way to do this the only option would be to draw X amount of characters a sheet for every single possible thing they could be wearing. Make sense?

As always, thanks for your time gang. 

 

[Heretic86]

The easiest way to explain Sprites is that the Characters are clipped parts of a single image.

In XP for example, we have 4 directions and 4 different Stepping Animation Frames.  4 x 4 = 16.  The way sprites work is to divide the whole image file down to clip off all the stuff that isnt properly representing the character at that time.  This concept works exactly the same for any animation.  Tilesets also use Sprites in Spriteset_Map.  It does the same thing and takes one large image and clips off anything that isnt your tile.  Battlers that arent animated can also be animated, but the image file is typically the entire sprite.

    # If graphic is character
    if @tile_id == 0
      # Set rectangular transfer
      sx = @character.pattern * @cw
      sy = (@character.direction - 2) / 2 * @ch
      self.src_rect.set(sx, sy, @cw, @ch)
    end

The end result is that sx and sy will both come out to be the top left corner of the character.  @cw and @ch are "character width" and "character height".  The @character.direction - 2) / 2 * @ch will change the Directions that appear on a numeric keypad, 2, 4, 6, 8 to 0, 1, 2, 3.  This is how the code determines what row and what column of the entire image will be displayed as your sprite character.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

1) explained above


2) you could, but you'd need to script that. I for one has a personal script which basically attaches and draws things above or below any character sprite. Currently using it to show wearables in the sprite.

 

[juggernaut]

1) explained above

2) you could, but you'd need to script that. I for one has a personal script which basically attaches and draws things above or below any character sprite. Currently using it to show wearables in the sprite.

I imagine it'd be a nightmare to animate them as well

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Not really, you just animate them the same way the other characters are animated. So as long as you understand how the characters are animated, it becomes easy peasy. It's just like putting a character above/below another character.

 

[Heretic86]

Animations are not as difficult as you might think.  Basically, its just a Counter.  Each frame, the counter goes up by 1.  When it reaches a certain value, change the frame of animation.  Lots has to do with Move Speed.  All in all, it is the same for almost every animation, select the right frame from the sprite sheet at the indicated time.

 

[juggernaut]

Does anyone have a Where to Start tut or even a video so I can have a look at how it all works? Would be great to see someone import their own art and animate it, especially passing a 3 frame walk. If not, I will delve through the script editor and figure it out! Thanks

 

[TheoAllen]

Animation just simply use sprite src_rect function and update the value.

You could try to put this snippet into your script editor

def updates  Graphics.update  Input.update  $sprite.src_rect.x += 1*32 if Graphics.frame_count % 5 == 0  $sprite.src_rect.x = 0 if $sprite.src_rect.x >= $sprite.bitmap.widthend $sprite = Sprite.new$sprite.bitmap = Cache.character("actor1")$sprite.src_rect = Rect.new(0,0,32,32)updates while true

 

[juggernaut]

Animation just simply use sprite src_rect function and update the value.

You could try to put this snippet into your script editor

def updates Graphics.update Input.update $sprite.src_rect.x += 1*32 if Graphics.frame_count % 5 == 0 $sprite.src_rect.x = 0 if $sprite.src_rect.x >= $sprite.bitmap.widthend $sprite = Sprite.new$sprite.bitmap = Cache.character("actor1")$sprite.src_rect = Rect.new(0,0,32,32)updates while true

Alright! In the interest of this thread being in 'Learning RGSSX', care to explain how you perceive that snippet to work? I'll try playing with it of course but it helps to have a line by line explanation when you're learning

 

[TheoAllen]

Change this line

$sprite.src_rect.x += 1*32 if Graphics.frame_count % 5 == 0To this

$sprite.src_rect.x += 1And try to make a conclusion by yourself 

 

[juggernaut]

Necroing this thread which I only just divined was the source of my Deja Vu. 

So I'm now working on having a sprite that is minimum 64 tall, 32 wide. Frankly, I'd like to be substantially bigger than the chibi's but I'm beginning to see the limitations of that hope! Now then. I'd like to get my sprites into a walking animation that I have at about 8 frames, Any recommendations? The goal for the project is to have these higher frame, more fluid animations wherever possible. 

 

[Bex]

2. Yes you can do that easily with Events. You can put Events on top of each other and use them for Visual Eqipment or different Body Parts.

But you have to Event that the Body Part Events move when Player Moves. (But i tested it it works Bugfree).

1. You Char set got 3poses per direction, they are displayed 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 , so you get 3poses but they are animated like 4 in the good old xp^^.

You could also use the database animation tool and just display animation on char event when needed, like sword slash (with for example 15 frames/pictures +sounds and screen effects.