What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

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gundestiny
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What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#1 Post by gundestiny »

I've always wondered what the best canvas size would be to create a sprite on.
Since games are created in different screen resolutions and moniters are pretty much getting larger and larger as time rolls on, is there a size that would cover you in any scenario?
I'm assuming always something a little larger than what you need since sizing down an image is better than sizing up but yeah, what canvas sizes are best? :D
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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#2 Post by dramspringfeald »

They are Images but would mess up my flow.
3 to 4 times the size of your project sprites.

as for the "Size" of a finished project I use 600x300 or 600x500 for the Characters and 200x250 for the Icons.

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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#3 Post by Auro-Cyanide »

Work larger than the largest size you will need. That way you are covered. I work on an A4 sheet so not only can I use the sprites for any online size, they are also fairly sized for print... just in case. I'm also more comfortable working at this size because I like to be able to zoom in for details without seeing pixels. Some people work smaller though. I would say work at a large size that your computer can handle and that you are comfortable with.

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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#4 Post by Tetiel »

I'm with Auro. You just never know if you want to print so I usually work in 300DPI and generally around a 3000-4000px tall canvas. This is probably a really crappy reason, but I find it's also easier to hide mistakes/sloppiness if you work at a larger size... ^^;

If you do work on a large canvas, be sure to use the Bicubic Sharper option in Image size when reducing your images, if you use Photoshop. It just helps keep the image looking nice.

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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#5 Post by nyaatrap »

I'm too. sketch on A4 paper and scan at 300dpi then work on this size. Photoshop CS2 or later and SAI can handle this size without performing down.

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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#6 Post by Razz »

I've found 1500-1600 width to 2000-2300 height to be perfect. It's just enough to hide mistakes but not so much that your art gets that weird 'too perfect/thin' feel from downsizing from a massive size.
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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#7 Post by Auro-Cyanide »

Tetiel wrote:If you do work on a large canvas, be sure to use the Bicubic Sharper option in Image size when reducing your images, if you use Photoshop. It just helps keep the image looking nice.
Though just Bicubic is good too. Sometimes Bicubic Sharper can over sharpen images, especially if you have a 'soft' look going on. It's best to try both and sit them side by side and see which one looks best with your work.

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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#8 Post by Deji »

Apparently, I'm the only one that works usually at screen resolution because for some reason, working bigger and zooming in/out doesn't feel the same when working huge ;v; (Don't be like me, work bigger!!!)
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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#9 Post by Obscura »

In regards to scaling down I'd recommend using xnview (suggested to me by axemred) at least once. It has a variety of algorithms Photoshop doesn't have and seems to work nicely with images made in Sai.
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Re: What canvas size should you create a sprite on?

#10 Post by Taosym »

Tetiel wrote:I'm with Auro. You just never know if you want to print so I usually work in 300DPI and generally around a 3000-4000px tall canvas. This is probably a really crappy reason, but I find it's also easier to hide mistakes/sloppiness if you work at a larger size... ^^;

If you do work on a large canvas, be sure to use the Bicubic Sharper option in Image size when reducing your images, if you use Photoshop. It just helps keep the image looking nice.
I wrote about this here

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 46&t=17559

I work at 5000x tall canvases for sprites. But I sketch at half that. Typically I sketch at 2500x and then I double the canvas size to do the lineart (because you don't want to stretch final lineart). This isn't just a good idea, it's the industry standard. The larger the canvas, the better.

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