☻~How To Sprite~☺
What is a 'sprite'?
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional/three-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.
(Thank you Wikipedia)
What is 'spriting'?
Spriting is simple making, altering, or otherwise getting involved with sprites. Also known as "Pixel Art".
What is a 'spriter'?
Someone who "Sprites" (verb; to sprite).
Where is 'spriting' done?
Microsoft (MS) Paint usually.
Now this thread is not just for any type of spriting, but for pokemon spriting and trainer spriting.
This is a pokemon sprite.
There are many ways to manipulate this sprite.
This, for example, it a 'Recolor':
A recolor is simply that you... well... recolor the sprite using different colors.
Drawing a sprite from scratch is called, unoriginally, 'scratching'.
Like so.
Scratching does not use any parts from any other pokemon. That would be cheating. There are however, Mutations that occassionally use 'Scratch'.
*See Muk Chao
A mutation is when you take parts from one sprite, and move it on another sprite.
Now this doesn't look finished to me, what do you think?
Mutations are usually paired with Recolors like so:
Now doesn't that look fantastic? Yay!
Spriting using pokeballs and Chao's.
This is a pokeball.
This is a chao. Chao's usually have a little circle floating above their head.
Let's make a Ho-oh pokeball and a Muk Chao.
Well... it has all Ho-Oh's colors, but can you really tell it's Ho-oh's pokeball? No. So for pokeballs you need to mutate the pokeball to make it look like Ho-Oh's pokeball.
Ah, there, now you can see it.
Be careful not to go too over the top with pokeballs. It's very easy to get carried away.
Now, I'm going to explain what I did to get a chao to look like Muk. As seen below.
First off, notice they have matching colors. Good.
Then I put the arm up so it would mimick Muk. Good.
Then came the hard bit which was scratching the body so it looked like a little pool of... well... Muk. Good.
After that I had to make the expression somewhat match Muk's. Yay. Good.
Now the last thing I did was make sure the little circle above the Chao's head looked like it belonged to a Muk chao. Good.
And that's almost step by step how to make a chao. I may have missed something. It's been a while since I made that baby.
This can all be done with trainer sprites as well.
Shading is also very important when creating sprites. This will come easier when you practice spriting more, undoubtedly.
Light usually comes from the top left in pokemon sprites and trainer sprites.
ALWAYS save your sprites as PNG format or else they will look all nasty and pixellated when you upload them.
and 
< are pixellated badly PNG ensures the best quality when you upload.
Any Questions, comments, or help with Sprites? Post away!
