Pixel Joint Forum: How can I improve this sprite?

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   Hay everyone. My first post here x3.. This is a little sprite I've been working since yesterday.

I wanted to know what all I could do to make him look a bit better.

It's suppost to be a sort of "Time pirate". The symbols circling around him are ancient latin/green numbers 1 to 12. And then there's a small clock on his pirate hat. 

So yeah, I just want to know how I can make him better. No fancy photoshop here please, I make my stuff in Paint.exe.

animated:

Author	Message
Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Topic: How can I improve this sprite? Posted: 18 October 2006 at 12:28pm
	Hay everyone. My first post here x3.. This is a little sprite I've been working since yesterday. I wanted to know what all I could do to make him look a bit better. It's suppost to be a sort of "Time pirate". The symbols circling around him are ancient latin/green numbers 1 to 12. And then there's a small clock on his pirate hat. So yeah, I just want to know how I can make him better. No fancy photoshop here please, I make my stuff in Paint.exe. animated:
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 1:31pm
	Wel you could make the letering always point up. Also save you imges in png format. Please reupload them in png format.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 1:45pm
	*Originally posted by Pixel_Outlaw* Wel you could make the letering always point up. Also save you imges in png format. Please reupload them in png format. I actually left for work just as I posted that. I'll be back home in like 3 hours, which then I'll upload it as a .PNG without those annoying .jpg artifacts, and I'll make a version of it where the rotating symbols always point up and we'll compare the two. Thanks so far :3
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 1:57pm
	Also, the rotaton is off, try to find the midpoint for each symbol. Then use the formula in the Resources and Support to find the proper angles. You have 12 symbols so you must have 12 calculations to find the proper point from the center point. 360/12= 30 degrees. so you use angles 0,30,60,90 ect...untill the lasst angle is 360. You will need to use a constant radius and midpoint. When finished simply line up the midpoint of each symbol with the end point from each of your calculations. Edited by Pixel_Outlaw - 18 October 2006 at 1:58pm

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:12pm
	*Originally posted by Pixel_Outlaw* Also, the rotaton is off, try to find the midpoint for each symbol. Then use the formula in the Resources and Support to find the proper angles. You have 12 symbols so you must have 12 calculations to find the proper point from the center point. 360/12= 30 degrees. so you use angles 0,30,60,90 ect...untill the lasst angle is 360. You will need to use a constant radius and midpoint. When finished simply line up the midpoint of each symbol with the end point from each of your calculations. I think the rotation is off for several reasons.. The first being that the circle isn't a perfect circle. The other reason because the symbols arn't even, they have awkward parts that stick out here and there that make the rotation seem even more imperfect. Not to mention the animation isn't perfect as far as frame to frame goes, I mean, the ammount of spin in each frame. I think making them all point upwards might make it look a little better as far as rotation goes. Edited by Blice - 18 October 2006 at 2:20pm
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:31pm
	Just throw it into game maker, rotate them all and reduce the colors in photoshop. JKS.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:32pm
	*Originally posted by Pixel_Outlaw* Just throw it into game maker, rotate them all and reduce the colors in photoshop. JKS. Game maker?
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:36pm
	It was a joke. (they have a rotation animation tool) Anyways I could do it with math, how advanced do you want to go? Basically find the center of each symbol, you do thi by making a box around it. (The smallest it will fit in) then find the midpoint of the box, Now you have the midpoint for that symbol. Ok now throw the angles and the midpoiint of the rotation into the formula I have and you get an endpoint for each symbol. Line up the endpoint of the calculation with the midpoint of each symbol and you have a perfect orbit.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:42pm
	*Originally posted by Pixel_Outlaw* It was a joke. (they have a rotation animation tool) Anyways I could do it with math, how advanced do you want to go? Basically find the center of each symbol, you do thi by making a box around it. (The smallest it will fit in) then find the midpoint of the box, Now you have the midpoint for that symbol. Ok now throw the angles and the midpoiint of the rotation into the formula I have and you get an endpoint for each symbol. Line up the endpoint of the calculation with the midpoint of each symbol and you have a perfect orbit. Ok, smallest box, midpoint, etc, got it. Now... Angles? Formula? I'm really not cut out for math. I'll get lost if this turns into a number thing. ]:
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:47pm
	your angles will be the following 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 your radius looks to be about 32 pixels

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 2:59pm
	..Where do I input or use these numbers..? I'm using MS Paint.exe here ]:, If it's done with Photoshop, you'll have to explain where and how. I don't use Photoshop almost never (Mostly because I'm so unfamiliar with all the many gadgets and buttons. Takes me an hour to figure out how to move a part of the image. u__u;)
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 7:33pm
	use this endx=basex+cos(angle)radius endy=basey+sin(angle)radius the base x and basy y are the coordinates of yor center point on the main sprite.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 8:58pm
	So, here's A. vs. B. A. B.
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MurrMan Commander Joined: 19 January 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 177	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 9:11pm
	i think it would be cool to make the letters wider and have them come in front of the feet in the front. maybe even a different color
	I have plenty of emotions; It is Sleep that i lack
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Centrefuge Midshipman Joined: 02 September 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 9:20pm
	I think something like sparks or lightning coming from the hands, I don't know, it just feels like it needs that the way its positioned.
	Someday I'll take over the world, just not today...
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 9:21pm
	*Originally posted by MurrMan* i think it would be cool to make the letters wider and have them come in front of the feet in the front. maybe even a different color The thing about over the feet would be cool. Make him like he's in the circle. Thing about widening things and such, is that it has to be smaller than the green square it's in.
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 9:45pm
	I think it would look better if you reduced the height of the orbit by half, Giveing the illusion of perspective. Looks better however.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 18 October 2006 at 10:58pm
	*Originally posted by Pixel_Outlaw* I think it would look better if you reduced the height of the orbit by half, Giveing the illusion of perspective. Looks better however. Like, make his feet in the middle of the circle?
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EyeCraft Commander Joined: 07 July 2005 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 425	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 5:21am
	Hi there. What Pixel Outlaw means is base the rotating symbols' path around an ellipse rather than a perfect circle, which will give it more of a perspective look, or give it the illusion of "depth".
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 1:48pm
	Ah, like a sideways oval. And then have the symbols go over his feet. Hmm... Although, in MS Paint, making the whole rotating bit takes soooooo long. God. It took me a few hours last time. But I suppose I can do it again and do it this way. If it looks better, I suppose it's for the best. I might want to make the symbols blue. Like a glowing sort of magical blue. But I fear that it'll be too light colored, so where you can't really make out the symbols exactly, which is something I don't want. Anyways. At work again. When I get home I'll make this new rotation and see how it turns out. Any more suggestions?
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ManningKrull Seaman Joined: 28 August 2006 Location: France Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 2:31pm
	Maybe leave the letters black but put a bright cyan stroke around them?
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 5:20pm
	*Originally posted by ManningKrull* Maybe leave the letters black but put a bright cyan stroke around them? Eh, if it's against a dark background it'll look funny, I think.
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EyeCraft Commander Joined: 07 July 2005 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 425	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 6:31pm
	No, I think that'll look good. It's ideal if its against a dark background, actually.
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 19 October 2006 at 8:57pm
	I decided not to re-do the animation. I sort of like it how it is. NOW, my next problem here. How the hell do I draw a pirate hat from a side view?! u__u; Here's the sprite: Thanks~ I really appreciate the help everyone is giving me. x3
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 20 October 2006 at 12:24am
	I don't know, I could never get to the center without biting, ask Mr. Owl. I think your sprite head is too big.

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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 20 October 2006 at 1:45pm
	Gah, you're right, the head is too big. It should probably be the same width as the front head is, right...? And I still don't know how to draw a pirate hat from a side view. I've never seen one from a sideview.
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 20 October 2006 at 9:36pm
	I can't help but feel that there's something wrong with his head. .__.; Help? T__T EDIT: I think it may be the lack of hair that looks so odd. Maybe I should add some? Edited by Blice - 20 October 2006 at 11:30pm
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 21 October 2006 at 10:16am
	No hair?

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Yar Midshipman Joined: 25 August 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Posted: 22 October 2006 at 1:03am
	*Originally posted by Blice* I can't help but feel that there's something wrong with his head. .__.; Help? T__T EDIT: I think it may be the lack of hair that looks so odd. Maybe I should add some? IMHO: Hair would be good! Also, tho, I believe you've changed hats on him/her. The top two sprites have what was known as a bicorne (or two brim) hat (similar to napoleon's favorite) and the lower four have what is known as a tricorne (or three brim, the jack sparrow model). Wikipedia has some articles/pics on the two styles. They were apparently both based upon the octocorne worn by Lord Nigel Fardagoogen circa 1642. Ok, I made that last part up, but the I think the thing about the hat-switching might be true. Check it out!
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 22 October 2006 at 11:10am
	I know, it's a different kinda hat. But I don't know how to draw the otherone from a side view, that's the best way I could find u__u; EDIT: I'm trying to get used to Graphics Gale for this. I can't find the eyedropper tool though D: Edited by Blice - 22 October 2006 at 11:35am
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 22 October 2006 at 11:58am
	Well I think pirate hats are simular tricorns but I could be wrong. Google Tricorn hat.

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Yar Midshipman Joined: 25 August 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Posted: 22 October 2006 at 1:49pm
	*Originally posted by Blice* EDIT: I'm trying to get used to Graphics Gale for this. I can't find the eyedropper tool though D: Right click the pixel that has the color you want (using pen and fill tools at least, not sure bout the other tools).
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 22 October 2006 at 2:20pm
	Better? [Y/N] And thanks Yar. Life saver x3, I still need to learn everything else with it though. Like, when you move a peice of something, where in paint you can press CTRL when you move it and it just copies is, I need to learn how to do that. And the thing in MS Paint when you can make it so white is inviable when you move stuff, I need to learn how to do that too.
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Blice Midshipman Joined: 18 October 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 25 October 2006 at 4:45pm
	*Originally posted by Blice* *Originally posted by ManningKrull* Maybe leave the letters black but put a bright cyan stroke around them? Eh, if it's against a dark background it'll look funny, I think. I went ahead and made the symbols a light blueish nice color. It looks awesome against the background. Sorry to dismiss your advice so quickly, you were right and a lighter color looks amazing. Thanks. It's done now, I won't post the finished character. Thanks everyone who helped, it was a great first experience here for me. x3
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WIP (Work In Progress)
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