Hey there!
It's been a long time since I've been in the forums (I doubt anyone remembers me, anyway).
I'm back to learn a little how to do a little of pixelart and maybe start a little game (we'll see).
I've been searching in the forums but I haven't found what I was looking for. There are a couple of things:
A) I would like an simple and easy (freeware if possible) program with which I could draw simple 3D shapes and place them (just the outlines), and then take it to a painting (pixel) program to create backgrounds.
Create something like that (done with MSPaint):
(http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3410/hab4il.png)
and then add objects, textures, ...
B) I've seen in various C&C posts people talking about Erics Tutorial of Walkcycles, but I couldn't find it...
Thanks a lot!
I dont know, use blender, you will then have to draw the lines in mspaint or whatver...
That should work just fine to get your perspective right...
Here's Eric's Tutorial:
http://kafkaskoffee.com/tutorials/walkcycletut.shtml
Definitely use Blender.
Also here's an idea: try modeling something in 3D and then draw over it in 2D. That way it is pixel-drawn, but has great perspective.
If Blender's too confusing, try Anim8or (http://www.anim8or.com). Despite its 1337 name, it's pretty simple, especially if you're just talking about doing basic shapes layout. With default + perspective & ortho views, as well as camera views and animation, it might be just the thing. When rendering, it also can render an alpha mask for every frame.
Thanks for all the replies dudes,
but I was thinking about something different [I exlpain myself pretty bad].
I need a program to trace lines to the vanishing point and add some cubes and all, but I don't need a pure 3D program (way too complicated).
I don't know if that exists... but it would be cool...
you need something so bare-bones you.. might as well... do it by hand....
So, more like something that'll let you adjust lines and basic shapes quickly, move them around if you like and get a general outline before moving it over to a rasterizing program (like MS-Paint)?
If that's the case, you could try something like Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org). It's got loads of options, does most vector-type effects & manipulations, is free, works alright for basic animations, allows point manipulations, can convert that MS-Paint bitmap you posted to adjustable vector lineart, and is free. It's also free. I like free.
(or you could do it by hand, way to ruin the mood Helm (avatar's looking awfully I Have No Mouth-ish))
Try SketchUp. It's a 3D-prog, but you'll get quick and nice results without having to read the manual for days first.
Create the scene, then switch to wireframe and export this to an underlying layer in your favourite Gfx-prog.
Here are two threads with SketchUp pics:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=23348.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=22532.0