a puzzling piece, sprite "art"

[Tuomas]

Hi there. I started thinking, now that I should study more than ever, I don't have time to do anything else, so I might as well not study and make a short game or such...
Ã,  Ã,  So I started doing a character, this one here, but I had a problem with the other leg in the 3rd frame. it doesn't look like it was in the back as it's supposed to and it bothers me. I'm pretty much out of ideas how to make it so.

I'm not after some outstanding graphics this time, just want to make a game for once, hence the low-res and simplicity.

[ildu]

Go back to your studies, son . Don't be swayed by the inspirations. Have you created a study schedule already? I swear if you don't get your act together I'm gonna have to be your life coach. I really had nothing else to say .

[Tuomas]

awww bugger, I knew you'd say that. Well I guess I must. I'm stuck with this

[Corey]

his foot in the 3nd frame seems to bent but not hit the ground.

[Tuomas]

I think I see what you mean. I tried something, but I don't want to make the guy too short.

*shortened the forward leg to make him look like he hits the ground
*straightened the behind leg to make it look more human...

[Corey]

looks good now, better then i can make

[ildu]

Kinda looks like he's sneaking.

[Tuomas]

Yes, I think it's the low profile, but I don't think it's that bad since he's supposed to be a bit out of place and stuff. I'll try to get the whole thing running today to show it to you. mmm, that is if I'd know how to make a looping .gif

Btw. How does it actually make a dfference if I use 32-bit colours instead of say, 8-bit. Because the man has parts that are black that won't be visible on even 16-bit.

[Khris]

The main advantage of 16bit: No need to manage the colors. 8bit (=256) colors means that you have to use the same palette throughout the game, otherwise the colors will get screwed up.

[Tuomas]

Yehey, well this was such a battle for me and especially for Ildu, to get this working, so here it is, give me something of it, it's a bit rough, i know...


But I still don't get why the background it black when it's supposed to be transparent
And frankly, I'm rather disappointed with the right arm.

Geez, now that I look at it, he looks like he's drunk-walking

[Privateer Puddin']

Are you sure about the black? a) it's on each frame so it's going to be there and b) it's used in the character so one can't just go and delete the black.

[ildu]

It's done in ImageReady, so the background doesn't really matter. The individual sprite frames don't have to have black as the background. Tuomas, you can add a separate background layer in ImageReady to the file, so that it affects all the frames.

[Tuomas]

Hi again. Here's the whole quintet, from the left, saxophone, piano, fatbass, piccolo, droms. Well they don't actually play jazz, but they all have a role in my mind.
Ã,  Just thought I'd show you the reference pics of these so that you could tell me what to do better

[Alun]

And frankly, I'm rather disappointed with the right arm.

Actually, it's the left arm that I think is the most problematic.  In one frame--the frame where the left arm is as far forward as it goes--there's suddenly this pink spike in front of it that looks really out of place.  It looks kind of like either there's a pink snake popping out of his sleeve or his left hand spontaneously grows an extra finger or two that's pointing the wrong direction.

The only other somewhat major issue I see is that his crotch height--where his legs come together--isn't consistent.  It's much higher when his right foot is forward than when his left foot is.  (When his right foot is forward, it looks about right--when his left foot is forward, it looks kind of like he has his pants down around his hips, gangsa-style.)