Tutorial : Character Creation

Step 0: Required tools:

Character Sprites, artwork, PNGs, Ect. Ect. 

Editing Service: GIMP, Photoshop, MS Paint?, Pixlr (My recommendation for editing online, free, without a program). Anything that can work with .GIF or .PNG file types

Editing Service Optional: Anything that can make .GIFs or edit .GIF files for animations

Time

Patience

(Blank folder was removed because of confusion. Have Kud and Sasami as they were the provided examples for characters in the video)

Kud: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kxl3e31f9yP9Nctq1HLyo4mpNTkosceC/view?usp=drive_link 

Sasami: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lsZdAlVNEBlwoTLmy2KPsoyoImjZ8TQ4/view?usp=sharing 

Step 1: Converting your RAW images into AO format. 

Take your Raw image files and convert them into the size you need.

Helpful Tip: Add the character into a no transparency 256x192 (or any 4:3) and then shrink the character. Converting by machine is gonna give you a smashed character. 

AO files are usually .PNG or .GIF and size 256 x 192 however files of the aspect ratio  (4:3) can be used as well!

For example: 800x600, 512x284, classic 256x192

If your character is already in one of these sizes then congratulations! You now have an higher resolution character with none of the work! Feel free to edit to your hearts content or use as is (provided they fit)!

Make sure your character is centered. If your character is in another position (defense bench, prosecution bench, judge, ect) then set them accordingly.

I usually use the witness stand file as a layer in my image editor. Either setting it in the background or layering it on top to make sure my characters are in the center of the screen. Make sure you remove the layer before saving. You may also use defense/pro benches as well if your character is located in those positions.

Included as well is the chatbox. This helps you tell more accurately where the text is going to overlap your character. Helpful for details and sizing.

To use PNG type characters easily, use the Emotes folder and the char PNG ini. (rename to: char). This will allow you to name every PNG as a number and save a ton of time. 

Use numbers as the emote names to save a ton of time and fiddling with the ini. You can use names like "thinking" for emote names. Numbers are faster but less descriptive. 

You can name every emote in a style that helps you know what emote is what. Just remember to ensure they match in the Ini, the buttons/emotions folder, and the emotes themselves! (it's a common error to accidentally save an emote to the wrong button or mistype it in the ini because of a naming error!)

Remove the (char GIF) file and use char PNG as a base. Rename it to: char

Helpful Tip: In the ini, you may use FolderName/ImageName for any number of folders. This can be helpful in making and keeping emotes separate.

>[emotion number] = comment#pre-animation#foldername/imagename#modifier# 

To use GIF type characters be sure to name all .GIF files according to the (a) (b) format. GIFs are separated into 2 parts. 

(a) is the idle animation. Or, the animation you want them to do initially. (depending on the mode you select. Such as setting it so the character will do this as a pre-animation). 

(b) is for talking animation. 

If you are using a GIF style format use the GIF char ini as a base and remove the (char PNG) and (Emotes) files. Rename the char GIF file to: char

It may be helpful to use a program to break apart the images of a GIF you are trying to resize. Then changing the size of each individual image into PNGs 256 x 192

Then using a program to combine the separate PNGs back into a moving GIF.

If you use this method remember: the last image of the gif will snap back to the first image/frame of the gif. So make sure any moving animations have a few frames that will move their pose back to the same pose as the first frame. Failing to do so means a jarring character that will snap their pose every time the GIF cycle has finished. 

Helpful Tip: Use similar poses of your character as layers to ensure they match pixel perfect. 

The last thing you want is a character that wobbles one pixel left and right/up and down every time you speak. Really zoom in and make sure they are lined up pixel to pixel.

Step 2: Editing the Ini

Here is a helpful guide to figuring out how the ini files work.

PNG Steps:

If you use the PNG format file you should be almost done with the ini already. You should have all your PNG images named as numbers and in the Emotes folder. 

Helpful Tip: In the ini, you may use FolderName/ImageName for any number of folders. This can be helpful in making and keeping emotes separate.

>[emotion number] = comment#pre-animation#foldername/imagename#modifier# 

All that is left is to open the Ini, add the character name 

(The name of the folder the character is in. It MUST match the name of the folder. Make sure you include capitals, lowercase, and spaces)

The showname: is for the name players will see in the chatbox.  

Remove/Increase excess emotes from the ini and edit the number line to equal how many emotes you have. Be sure to do the same with both sound sections. 

GIF Steps:

If you used the GIF format you should read the guide posted above for more detail on what specific GIF settings do for animations. This guide might help as well. 

(The name in the ini must match the character folder name. It MUST match the name of the folder. Make sure you include capitals, lowercase, and spaces)

Remove/Increase excess emotes from the ini and edit the number line to equal how many emotes you have. Be sure to do the same with both sound sections. 

Ensure that you name all of the emotes in the Ini as needed.

Be sure to delete the format guide that’s pasted inside the ini! 

Helpful Tip: Take a look at a vanilla character that uses GIFs Ini to help you understand.

Ini swapping tutorial Here < if interested