Graphic resolution help

jigglybean

Hi all. I have a question about graphics for all formats - iphone/ipad/android+android tablets.

I understand the whole divide by 4 512x512, 256x256,128x128 etc for your graphics to support retina, but I am kinda stuck with the following.

One image is a truck but doesnt fit the entire 256x256 box, so when I export it, I want to resize it in Gamesalad. Its this resizing where I am confused. Must this image in Gamesalad also be divided up? Or can it be (for example) 202x150 but the actual IMPORTED png is 256x256.

Confusing? Or does someone hear my cry?! lol

AcceleratedGames

The image should be the same size as the actor that is using or double if you are using Resolution Independence. Also, images don't have to be exactly 512x512, 256x256,128x128 etc. You should see a post I made a while back. It should help. http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/46652/31-optimization-tips

SlickZero

The resolution applies when you import the image. Re-sizing in GameSalad doesn't make it blurry, unless you re-size it bigger than what you imported it as. And you can re-size it to an odd number, but I always re-size to an even number personally when I do this. Although, it is always best to import the image at the actual size you will be using it at.

jigglybean

Thanks guys for the advice. @slickzero yeah I have been making all my images the best size I can but its just this vehicle. The hit box for the dropping bombs is too big and I cant make the truck any bigger really or it will look squashed lol

MotherHoose

images do *not* have to be square for retinaDisplay
images should be 2x the size for display

EX: iPhone background image: 960x640
actorSize with that image should be 480x320

ideally for your Actor that is 202x150 … create image at size 404x300

alas, we do not always know what size an image should be in relationship to the other items in the scene … so one can always create the image large

if your image for that truck … open in imageEditor
(I use Preview.app for this work … when image is perfect except for retinaDisplay)

duplicate
change the resolution (dpi) to 144
save
change the size 200%
save
change the resolution (dpi) to 72
save with same name as your already imported images

import the new one to replace the old
even on the desktop … the results look good!

MH

jigglybean

@MotherHoose - I really need to get a mind of a developer lol. This is what I have thus far.

background 1024x768 images
Actors - various but mostly 64x64/128x128/256x256/512x512 which are all pngs dpi72 etc.

So if I imported all my art work using the above methods, I can resize them(to make them smaller maybe) in Gamesalad without a dip in quality?I just cant increase the size without having to make a larger image?

MotherHoose

@jigglybean … LOL we are all having the same problems with our minds when it comes to retina display!

if that background images is for iPad … it should be 2048x1536
usually making images smaller … will not show a loss in quality
while making images at 72 dpi larger … will look lousy

and, of course … changing an image that is 64x64 to 50x32 will look awful
so square images should only be resized to a square image … 32x32

create your images at 2x the size you want in display
or create your images at the sizes you like
… when looking good … crop and make sure the canvas size divisible by two
double the dpi and then scale image at 200%
after the image is larger … change the dpi back to 72
(or create your images in 144 dpi … you will like what you see!)

conversely if you have resolution independence √ed in GS
dragging the image to the actorPane or onto an newActor in that Inspector: area
will automatically resize to the correct actorSize for that image in retina

aha this is one of those topics:
the more you delve into them… the more confusing they get!

rule of thumb:
images imported at twice the W and twice the H that they display on screen

MH