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MudPuddIe In reply to evertenn [2020-02-05 18:15:20 +0000 UTC]

Omg TYTYTY!
I love making them but I almost never get to make them. No one ever comms them. Nehcjcbshxjd

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MudPuddIe In reply to PengZa [2020-02-03 13:28:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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MudPuddIe In reply to yewforia [2020-02-02 23:05:13 +0000 UTC]

Hi I just wrote a whole ass explanation and then accidentally clicked the back button and deleted it aLL. So here we gO AGAIN.
I've used 3 methods to animate my pixels as of now, and each works well enough. Below, I'll list the ones I used, and how to do it. \
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With Aseprite (PC/Mac)
Aseprite is an excellent little software that was recommended to me by Martith when I was just starting out pixel work.It doesn't break the bank either, being only $15.00 USD.
Despite all it's great tools, I haven't been very dedicated to actually making my pixel work IN aseprite however, though you definitely can. I just haven't taken the time to learn how. I primarily use it for actually animating pixels that I have already finished. So I will explain how to do it with this method. 

     1.) Open whatever program you're comfortable making pixel art in. Create the character and background pixels in full.
     2.) Export/Save your finished pieces. Make sure the background and character are saved in separate PNG files, and are both transparent. Also make sure both files are the same resolution (Ex, both are 100x100 even if one piece is smaller than these limits)
     3.) Open both images in Aseprite. On a separate canvas. 
     4.) Cut or copy the character off of their canvas, and paste onto the background canvas.  
     5.) Select both layers at the bottom by shift clicking. Richt click and select duplicate.
     6.) Now select only the character layer and move it by one pixel. I generally move it up 8 pixels, then down 8 pixels. My FPS is usually about 10-12, but on Aseprite, I think that's default. 
     7.) Repeat step 5 and 6 until you have the character moving, then play your animation to see if the loop looks good. 
     8.) When you're happy, save/export the animated pixel as a transparent GIF. Upload as you desire!
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With Procreate (iPad/iPhone)
I have been using procreate since it's release in 2011/2012. Back when it came out, I never could have animated anything with it unless I exported each frame and edited elsewhere, but as ov late 2019, Procreate has upgraded to version 5, where the "Animation Assist" option was implemented! I don't usually use this method, simply because I like the experience of Aseprite, but sometimes on live streams, or when I am away from my PC, I'll use this method. It isn't hard really. It's just not like traditional animation.
Procreate handles each individual layer/folder like it's own frame. All layers in a folder will be counted as one frame, so this is how you can animate more complex things like shading over top. If you leave a layer outside of a folder, then it will also count as one frame. In this method, we do not use folders at all.

     1.) Open a canvas and start on your pixel. You can make the background in here, as you can just export the BG separate from the character later. Finish everything you need for the final animation. 
     2.) You have 2 options of prepping for animation. You can either flatten all character layers so that all that's left is the BG layer and the character layer, which is faster. However I prefer to save both the BG and character separate as PNGs to my iPad's photo gallery, and keep the main file unflattened. This will allow you to go back and edit the pixel itself later if you realize you made a mistake. 
     3.) If you flattened, then you're ready for step 4, but if you exported, then you'll need a new canvas the same size as your pixel. You can easily do this by clicking "Photo" at the top,m and choosing your BG image PNG.Once it's open, import in your character. 
     4.) Go into settings, and under "Canvas" Select "Animation Assist". This will bring up a basic timeline. Make sure to tap "settings" on the right side of the timeline to set your framerate. (I use 10/12 FPS.)
     5.) Tap the BG frame at the bottom once to select it, then one more time to bring up the frame menu. Toggle the "Background" option ON. This will keep this image in the background of all frames. 
     6.) Now select the layer of the character and position it at it's starting point (Usually for me this is the lowest point that the character hovers)
     7.) Duplicate your layer and move it by one pixel (Either up or down of whatever depending on where you set the start point of the character in your first frame) Repeat this step until you have moved the character up as many pixels as you want, then repeat this process to move them back down. (I do 8 frames up, and 8 frames down.)
     8.) Turn off the layer at the very bottom labeled "background" if you haven't already (Not the background you drew) Then go to "Share" and choose "Animated GIF" It'll bring you to a screen where you can adjust options, but I don't touch any of that. Export and transfer, then upload at will!
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I don't have those! What do I do?
Don't worry! You're not outta luck! There are tons of methods to animate pixels! I even used one before Procreate had animation, and before I bought Aseprite! Every artist does things differently, but this is the other way I did it! I used this website, which was originally recommended to me by Ging33rsnap !
>>>>>>>> www.ezimba.com/index-ln.html <<<<<<<<

     1.) Open whatever program you're comfortable making pixel art in. Create the character and background pixels in full.
     2.) Exporting for this method is a little bit differently. Move your character pixel to it's starting point. Save the entire image as a transparent PNG.
     3.) Then move the character layer by 1 pixel (Direction depends on where you want the motion to be going) Save the entire image again as a transparent PNG.
     4.) Repeat step 3 until you have all your frames exported. 
     5.) Go to www.ezimba.com/index-ln.html , or whatever other GIF making website you prefer. Upload all frames in order. 
     6.) Choose the duration of the animation, and the FPS. I'm not entirely sure how this works, as I haven't used it in several years. Following the instructions given should help though. 
     7.) Finish and save your GIF. Now that it's done, you can upload wherever.

Some extra notes for animating GIFs 

     - Transparent GIF's do not support semi-transparency or layer types. Anything that is semi transparent will completely disappear when saved in the final GIF. So glowing can only happen when on top of another solid color. If your layer of semi transparency is sticking out into the transparent BG, it'll disappear. You can use transparency on top of another fully opaque color though! 
     - GIFs also don't do well with full on gradients, as it's too many colors to render. It tends to result in little speckles that flash on your character as the frames move. 

I really hope this helped. Sorry for the 7965872345 page wall!

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