Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!amiga!jimm
From: jimm@amiga.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A Sprite Editor?
Keywords: SPRITE EDITOR
Message-ID: <6130@amiga.UUCP>
Date: 28 Sep 90 20:18:30 GMT
References: <8615@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Reply-To: jimm@amiga.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
Organization: Kodiak Software, Mountain View CA 94041
Lines: 90

In article <8615@helios.TAMU.EDU> aaron@stat.tamu.edu (Aaron Hightower) writes:
)I am currently developing, of all things, a sprite editor.  The reason that I 
)began developing this program is to suit my own needs.  

Kind of makes it difficult to tell if my thoughts apply to your situation ...

)After seeing the
)existing software to edit sprites, I realized the following things:
)
)(1) There is no IFF standard for a sprite data file, although there is a
)    "SPRT" ID for the ILBM IFF spec.

I recommend using brush .ilbm's.  This is the approach used in V2.0.
That's to specify the *system* pointer sprite.  You might have other
needs if you're designing sprites for an application program's direct
use, such as animation.  I'd recommend trying to go with the
AnimBrush format in that case, whatever that is.  Note that the sprite hotspot
is encoded as the brush GRAB item, and you can set that easily in DPaint III.
You can basically ignore the "transparency" stuff, since you don't really
have a choice in it, but set the right bits if you *write* "sprite brushes".

)(2) There is no editor, to my knowledge, that allows creation of 15 color
)    sprites.

Actually, most people use a brush-to-sprite tool, I think, so DPaint
creates 15 color sprites just fine.

)(3) There is no editor, again to my knowledge, that allows the creation of
)    sprites with variable heights.  IE: Why waste space with NULL data because
)    of a set sprite height.  Or more importantly, why limit your sprite height?

Again, brush-to-sprite doesn't screw with these.  Are you trying to make
a sprite editor for users, to replace the preferences editor?  Or are
you trying to make a developer's tool.  If the former, I recommend you
look at V2.0 for comparisons.  It has a nicer editor, and also supports
clipping a brush out of DPaint and saving it to ENV:sys/pointer.ilbm
for instant change to your system pointer (using V2.0 file notification).

For the developer, I think tools which work with ilbm's are the best.
Some sprite animations (position or movement direction changes) MIGHT
be doable by snipping the multiple frames out of a large grid-mapped
ilbm painting.  I'm looking forward to using a little ray-traced
15 color image as my pointer under V2.0.

(Note: 15 color sprites are "not supported" under V2.0 because there
are a lot of limitations and uglinesses that can arise.  Thus, you
won't see a 15 color sprite editor, but the system *will* accept
deeper .ilbm's and give you a 15 color sprite, if you can live with
the glitches.)

)At this time, my sprite editor incorporates the following:
)
)(1) An special IFF file for sprites (similar to the 8SVX format for sounds.)

NAK, unless you can identify reasons that ilbm or anim won't work.

)(2) Support for sprites of varying heights.

No big deal, if you use brushes.

)Please, I need your suggestions; programmers, what kind of functions do you need
)in a sprite editor?  

Sprite animation.  Multiple frames, not necessarily a linear sequence.

Types of sprite animation I can think of:
1) Time sequence: sawing wood, turning gears, clocks that tick
2) Position map: different pictures for odd and even positions, or
  for positions modulo some number larger than two.  Little guy
  who walks around when he moves, for example.
3) Direction dependent: different images for movement to
  the "north", "southeast", and so on.
4) Combinations of 1-3.

)Please send all responses via mail to: aaron@stat.tamu.edu

Oops, sorry.

)The final product will be released to ShareWare.
)
)Thank you for your support,
)   Aaron Hightower.

All the best,

	jimm
-- 
--------------------------------------------------	- opinions by me
"I've got great news.  That gum you like is going to come back in style."
						-the man from another place