Where to start with sprites?

[OurLordMonty]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this topic, but I couldn't find a better place for it so here goes:
I'm curious about where a good place to start learning about sprite creation for Blitzkrieg would be, its something that has always intrigued me.  At the moment about all I'm able to do is mess around with the colour filters in gimp to be able to very clumsily recolour existing sprites.  I'm wondering if there were any good tips or tutorials out there that might be able to give me a good place to start learning how this sort of this is done.

[Major Pain]

You my friend have asked the 67 dollar question.   So this is as good of spot to ask as any.    Sprites are everything.... objects, infantry, background terrain, etc...   that are 2 dimensional things.   Basically, they are flat on the screen since they have no depth.


A good place to start is on objects like terrain objects, or simple objects.    The best resource I can offer you is the exact same Resource material that NIVAL used in the game.

Everything used in the game is in the Blitzkrieg Resource Files.   There are some thing that will not be there, like items from BH and RT and the other titles.    This is limited to the original game.

I call this a Resource....  because as the whole it is.   But each folder gives you the Source Files for the object.   These are the files before the export has been completed.   But if you study them, you will learn a lot quicker than trying to learn from any of us.   We can give you pointers and suggestions to enhance your skills.   

Here is the link for download:   www.mediafire.com/download/v1m9xvu64iy9b7v/bk-editorstuff-Complete.exe

Create a new Work Folder for your work to go in.   You do not want to mix Resource and Working files.  I named my Work Folder BK RESOURCE KIT    (after the Bk Resource files).   Then I created two new folders, Work Files and Original Files.    Put the Contents of the download in the Original Files folder.   All of your work should go in the Work Folder by the name of the object.   Be sure to follow the same Folder System that BK utilizes, and life will be much easier.

I recommend that you not rebuild any of the original Source Files.... make a copy of the folder in the Work Files and rename it with a new name, then modify it all you want.   


As you begin to get the idea of what you want you can do....  check with the other guys so they can give you advice along the way.   We all started new one day in our past.    We all remember how overwhelming it seemed at the time.   We can help you avoid much of this and help you on the fast track somewhat.


I wish to welcome you to the long list of Artists that dedicate their time to this excellent game.   We all will be looking forward to what kinds of new art you can bring to us all.


Major Pain

[Mat]

<--- follows this Thread with great pleasure!

[OurLordMonty]

Thank you for getting back to me, I'll see what I can find from poking around the files. I'm especially interested in making or modifying infantry sprites. Thats mainly what I've been modifying with colour filters in GIMP. However it seems that their is not a good way to create really new infantry units due to the number of the various sprites involved and their small size. I have no idea of what I'll be able to do since I'm more or less completely new to this, but I'll see where this takes me. Once again thanks.

[Herr Kodax]

My advice: Stick with that one project (sprite creation) of yours, don't try to do multiple things or they'll just clutter your mind and end up in frustration.

Master the sprite creation and be the resident expert in sprites.