Importing Art into Gamesalad - Best Practices
Cluv
Member Posts: 229
Hello!
I have started to create the art assets for my game. In a funny twist, I am using Pixen to create Pixel art that I then vectorize in Inkscape. So far, I am enjoying the results.
With that being said, I would like to import my art into GameSalad. I was under the impression that I could import the vector art itself. I thought that would be cool so I could resize it in game; maybe even create a zoom in function. GameSalad, however, doesn't seem to want to take the vector art. I know I can convert it to png or bmp or what-have-you. I was wondering if I indeed have to convert the pictures and if so, what is the best way to do it. Also, would it make sense to resize the art extra large and then import it, then make it smaller for specific uses? Or, is there a better way of handling the art.
Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Charles
I have started to create the art assets for my game. In a funny twist, I am using Pixen to create Pixel art that I then vectorize in Inkscape. So far, I am enjoying the results.
With that being said, I would like to import my art into GameSalad. I was under the impression that I could import the vector art itself. I thought that would be cool so I could resize it in game; maybe even create a zoom in function. GameSalad, however, doesn't seem to want to take the vector art. I know I can convert it to png or bmp or what-have-you. I was wondering if I indeed have to convert the pictures and if so, what is the best way to do it. Also, would it make sense to resize the art extra large and then import it, then make it smaller for specific uses? Or, is there a better way of handling the art.
Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Charles
Best Answer
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RP Posts: 1,990
Was the graphic project set as 72 dpi?
I thought that GameSalad did now support SVG files (perhaps that was in the works maybe not yet). Nah scratch that I just tested it myself.
Save it as a .png file preserving the canvas alpha channel (I believe the canvas is transparent by default in Inkscape). GameSalad will take care of the rest. You can import the images larger and resize them. Since they get flattened smaller images will not look as clean when they are scaled.
Answers
while the casual user won't notice the difference in quality between png8 and png24 theres still a small difference that a keen eye would spot. if the image requires transparency then always use png24. you can convert it to png8 later if you need to save on file size
always save the image as a multiple of 4
you can animate by either importing a full animation sequence or you can just use various behaviours in GS to "animate". so if its a simple up/down bobble movement for example, dont import 25 frames or whatever. just use interlope so ur only using 1 image
don't drag a bunch of images all at once into the animate behaviour. while its quicker to do so if you ever import a bunch of images at once GS sometimes likes to change the ordering of them. when you drag in the images to the animate behaviour they'll be in whatever order they were set at in the images window. when you goto play your animation you might notice strange jerky movement. thats because one or more of your frames is in the wrong position (because GS can't count). so... pull them in one at a time unless you know for sure that they are in the correct order
an invisible actor still eats up memory. GS still registers the image as loaded so be wary of how many invisible actors you have on the scene
your art assets can and will appear smaller on ipod/iphone/ipad. monitor pixel size > iDevice pixel size
happens very very rarely, but GS sometimes freezes when importing images, especially a large amount of them at once. if it freezes up just cancel/close out then retry. make sure that if GS asks you about the file name to replace the previous files. sometimes GS can create "phantom" images that you know you've imported but you can't see them in the window. replacing them again seems to fix it.
i get GREAT results with imageoptim+imagealpha combo. plus its free. just wondering :P
Thanks!