“Finalizing Character Sprites using Photoshop”

Creating character sprites are not easy to finish. It takes time. However, using Adobe Photoshop software and Graphic Tablet device can reduce time.

Examples of using Photoshop Tools:

An example of their tools is Symmetrical Vertical lines. It can automatically create the same style as the other side as long as making a character front sprite.

Adobe Photoshop Icon

Waverly Character Outline Style and Eyelash Symmetry Process

Using Symmetrical Line to colour Character’s Front

Colouring the Background Icon Process

Another Photoshop tool that can arrange the character sprites is the Layer Folders. This tool allows separating outlines, colours and shading effects to maintain their quality. It is also used to keep the layers connected and rename them to identify their image.

Using Different kinds of Brush to create Character Sprite Outline Process

Screenshot of Character’s Different Expression/Pose Sprites inside their Layer Folders

Arranging Folder and Showing One character Sprite Process

Character Sprite Examples

The time for completing all poses and expressions for one character took 2-3 hours. It also depends on whether I’m determined to finish it or not. When exporting those images, I always make sure their backgrounds are transparent. That way, it’ll be easier to use it in the Unity application.

(Before Version) Waverly Character Fold Sprite colour

(After Version) Waverly with Colour Character Fold Sprite

Waverly with Transparent Background Sprite

Character Sprite Collection Results

The process for producing one character with different sprites/poses/expressions could take 1-3 days to complete and export it in one folder. So far, the first completed character has amount of sprite collections while the others have more than 15 numbers of sprite images.
Another thing is that the process of mixing the character’s pose and expressions are not easy. In fact, I had to go through the long process of outlining the sketches, arranging to where they must fit and adding more layers for colouring and lighting one sprite.
There’s also my experience of using Photoshop to create more sprites, I used one pose to create different kinds of expressions, colouring them and putting in folders to store them. It’s more like one pose per expressions in one character.
When the character sprites are done, I moved their folder collection in another Photoshop file with long portrait canvas, rescaling them in the right size and position. The pose and expressions of the character are connected, showing they’re not necessary to edit them.
As for the other process, I always made an extra layer in the character sprites to stroke with black outlines inside the character in order to remove the lack of colour and their transparent markers on the inside.

The Five Non playable Characters:

Stella Character Front Sprite

Stella Character Front Sprite

Sibylla Character Front Sprite

Sibylla Character Front Sprite

Luke Character Front Sprite

Eric Character Front Sprite

Harvey Character Front Sprite

Harvey Character Front Sprite

Number of Character Sprites:

Luke’s Character sprites: 100 items
Sibylla’s Character sprites: 109 items
Waverly’s Character sprites: 15 items
Harvey’s Character sprites: 20 items
Eric’s Character sprites: 45 items
Stella’s Character sprites: 216 items
Eric’s Shopkeeper Character sprites: 7 items