The BeadSprites Forum

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

I am new, and these are my first two Bead Sprites!

Link and Tanooki Mario!

What I REALLY want to do is be able to make much smaller Bead Sprites for Keychains and earrings! Any Suggestions? Also, is there a way that I can iron it to melt the beads to make a more solid creation without the holes?[/img]

DoctorOctoroc · Lvl. 7 Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 712 Location: Philly

I would like to offer a second opinion...(sorry, bad doctor pun there).

Anyways, in reference to your inquiry concerning smooth sprites, there are a few ways to do this and it depends on what you are using it for.
If you don't need superb durability (magnets, mounts, etc.) then you only have to iron one side really. If you want to use the bead sprite for a bag tag, coaster or something more demanding, you should iron both sides.

Here's how I just started doing magnets only ironing one side (since I stick a magnet sheet to the back), and it works pretty well. As long as your iron can cover the entire sprite, you're good. If I add in obvious steps, its because some new people may see this and not know to do them.

1) Secure your pegboard with beaded character and place ironing paper on top (paper should be cut to size of the one peg board).
2) Iron for 20 seconds in circular motion, leave the iron on top for 10 seconds and iron for 10 more (all approximate times). By now you will see some holes starting to close up.
3) Remove the bead sprite from the pegboard and set the pegboard aside. Do this by lifting one corner of the ironing paper upwards and the sprite should lift up with it as it will be sticking to the paper.
4) Place the bead sprite on a flat, smooth surface. Iron in a circular motion for 20 seconds and leave the iron on top for 30 more seconds. This will allow the beads to heat pretty evenly without being pushed around by the friction, then they will be quite melted.
5) Holding the iron 90 degrees from normal (still flat on bead sprite, only rotated 90 degrees, but don't burn yourself!) use the far side of the iron to gentle 'scrape' the bead sprite downwards. You should really see some holes closing up now.
6) Basically, you can go back and forth between leaving the iron on top and the 'scraping' technique. Also, try scraping in different directions. The key is to never put a lot of pressure on the iron, as this may dent the bead sprite.
7) Once you find that the holes have all closed nicely, let the bead sprite sit for a few minutes until the paper starts to peel away on its own. Also, wait until it starts to bow, middle up. When around half of the area is no longer stuck to the paper, remove the sprite. It should flatten on its own if you set it down, smooth side up, but you can feel free to lay a book on top to keep it nice and flat.

I hope this helps. It's a lot to read but I didn't want to leave anything out. Plus, after a few go's, you wont have to think about it, it will just come naturally.

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

Thanks for the advice! I have been busy this weekend!

first, Mudkip!

Mario and a Custom Mushroom I made, he's 9x8!

and then a custom Dig Dug,he's 10x10!

Any suggestions and tips are awesome!

Also, Dr. Thanks for allt he advice. The custom sprite I am trying to make next would be Chun Li

here

She's over 100 in length now, and I want to try to get it atleast half the size. Any suggestions help thanks everyone!

DoctorOctoroc · Lvl. 7 Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 712 Location: Philly

For my customs I use game concept art, shrink it down and draw the sprite myself on an overlay. But for resizing an actual sprite, just shrink it to the size you want and clean it up. Just experiment a bit by zooming in and out (or by stepping back from your computer, if you're more active, haha) to see how the small changes effect the outcome of the sprite as a whole.

Also, I noticed on the Mudkip, are there pieces of the ironing paper stuck in small areas? I had that happen a lot to me and I found that the problem that causes that is simply overuse of the paper.

AnimeFur · Lvl. 3 Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 189

One sugeestion, look here http://www.spriters-resource.com/capcom/fighting/vssnk/display.php?file=svsc_charselect.gif

Character select is smaller, but still awesome.

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

a RYU from Street Fighter that's small! he's SO CUTE!!

and then I made a BATTLE ATTACK mudkip!

coming up: Chun-Li and Blanca from Street Fighter! I just need to get more beads!

Oobgarm · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 10:53 am Post subject:

Is that a custom Ryu?

That's super awesome.

(of course, you can't go wrong with mudkipz)

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

If you go to google images and search "street fighter RPG" you will find two gifs that are sprite sheets with Ryu, Blanca, Chun Li, Guile, Ken, Zangeif and others that look like little RPG characters! both of them are different, and it gives me inspiration to make the rest of the Street Fighters in cute little RPG characters! I've never done pixel are before, but it's worth a shot!

here is the search link, actually!
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=street+fighter+RPG

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

OH HAPPY DAY! I Finished my entire STREET FIGHTER RPG set! Here are all of them excluding Ken because I forgot to take a picture of him before I gave him away! oops!

A few of them are entirely custom made, I am SO proud of myself! M bison, Sagat, Zangief, Vega, Balrog, and Guile are all entirely custom that I made a template to customize my little RPGs. Also Ryu was an old template that I updated. Vega was my very first entirely custom beadsprite and I am very pleased with him. Please let me know what you guys think as well!! I'm thinking of doing Mortal Kombat II next! WHOO!

AnimeFur · Lvl. 3 Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 189

Wowzah...Great work!

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

I wanted to make them in some action, but I am not quite skilled enough for that yet. THANKS though! I gave all of these away as a housewarming gift for my friend! I think his words when he saw Vega (his favorite character) were "I think I just peed a little"

AnimeFur · Lvl. 3 Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 189

Funny you should say that, i just recently took my forward facing horror guy(see my sprite flood, he's in the pixelart post) and turned him to the side, i could see these too.

Could I pester you to try an Akuma since he is being added into sfiv, if you get the time?

DoctorOctoroc · Lvl. 7 Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 712 Location: Philly

I think I would love to see any character in RPG style...love the Street Fighter ones - and if you do requests, I'd have to throw in a vote for Sakura, she's my girl's favorite.

miss.goldenweek · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

OMG They are soooooooooo cute!!!!!!! Almost too cute Razz

You should definetly do more. I agree with Doctor Octoroc....you should do Sakura. Good job!!!

Bantaro · Lvl. 3 Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 101

I love your Street fighter set! Please do more!

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

Anyone here a fan of.....

DAFT PUNK!!!!

BUAHAHAHAHHAHA I AM SO PLEASED.

Anyways I also have a LOT MORE beadsprites to post up! Sorry I fell off the face of the planet! I've been doing these things since though! AND AND!!! I STILL plan on doing more Street Fighters, it just hasn't happened yet BUT IT WILL I promise, especially with SFIV out now! (I love it SO MUCH)

dreemsofdark · Lvl. 1 Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 26

cue The Immortals!

this isn't all of them, I forgot to get pictures of Jax, Kitana, Sub Zero, Noob Saibot, and Johnny Cage before I gave them away, OOPS!

And Also I made a couple of fun ones, here!