As a dev, metadata files are mostly tedious. Not in a 'cut out everything correctly' way, but it a 'I should name all of these for readability' sort of way. Custom metadata formatting would be all but useless to me.
When I'm working with the LPC set, I have a system: I cut each animation out into its own large block (say, the 'swing' animation). Then I just paste in the same 'swing' metadata file for everything. Unity throws a small soft error about the file's GUID being a duplicate and assigns a new one, and all's well. (I chop the sheets up for good reason-- I'll explain if you want, but it's a tad off-topic.)
Now, what I could do is when I push all the LPC clothing assets on github, I could let other people submit other game engine metadata files for the seven animation blocks and keep a small inter-engine library for the set. Once I have that, LPC submissions on this site could be made with a copy of the 'master metadata files', each one a zip file and labeled 'Metadata files - Unity' and so on.
Maybe if a creator wants to metadata their sprites, it would be easier to just make a forum thread asking for files from different game engines for ease of use? And the larger, more popular sets can use repository and community tools.
Thank you, BlueCarrot! The hairstyles are probably going to need more work... I sketched those a while ago with a five-color scale instead of six, and I think I'll redo them. I tested with some proper hair colors, and the shading and outlines are a little off.
I did, however, add that high-low skirt, and I tested and adjusted the sweater and coat with the belle skirt, so they can be worn together! You know, when there's side and back views and they're animated.
Add in the shirt and hair to the new piece, and she'll come out something like this:
A slightly metaphorical way of saying that most artists I know hate their work, they always hate their work at each skill level, and nothing ever really satisfies. It never really feels like the practice and dedication pays off... but it does, though they're not usually aware of it.
Haha... it's more that I spent a lot of time practicing art once upon a time. I used to be a realism digital artist sort of mediocre skill, and I did a lot of life drawing and master studies.
Mostly you just think you're a crap artist forever, but it sinks in when you're not looking.
@elmerenges - Thank you! I hope I get well soon too. I'm about to hit my chronic-illness' eighteen-month anniversary, but these last ten days have been completely awful.
@Spring - Yes! Once I get a little better and make side / back views and animations, I'll run them both through my recolor program and get each one in twenty shades. I see a few pixels I'd shift now, but on the whole I'm pleased with the design.
I've got a small collection of reference images for new styles, as well-- a nice corset / high-low skirt for my steampunk set, a Victorian coat with puffy sleeves, some new hairstyles.
Speaking of hair-- new hair I've sketched as well:
And with that... I think I have everything I need for the body menu UI. Let me know if you have any suggestions / comments about how to improve it any further, but for now we're done.
Thank you both so much, again! This really helped me out!
I was a professional PHP dev for four years, software QA for another four. Given that this is an artist / dev haunt, I'm sure there's quite a few others with that sort of background. Of course changes would need to be reviewed before they'd be pushed to a master branch, but the site could really use some love.
As a dev, metadata files are mostly tedious. Not in a 'cut out everything correctly' way, but it a 'I should name all of these for readability' sort of way. Custom metadata formatting would be all but useless to me.
When I'm working with the LPC set, I have a system: I cut each animation out into its own large block (say, the 'swing' animation). Then I just paste in the same 'swing' metadata file for everything. Unity throws a small soft error about the file's GUID being a duplicate and assigns a new one, and all's well. (I chop the sheets up for good reason-- I'll explain if you want, but it's a tad off-topic.)
Now, what I could do is when I push all the LPC clothing assets on github, I could let other people submit other game engine metadata files for the seven animation blocks and keep a small inter-engine library for the set. Once I have that, LPC submissions on this site could be made with a copy of the 'master metadata files', each one a zip file and labeled 'Metadata files - Unity' and so on.
Maybe if a creator wants to metadata their sprites, it would be easier to just make a forum thread asking for files from different game engines for ease of use? And the larger, more popular sets can use repository and community tools.
Thank you, BlueCarrot! The hairstyles are probably going to need more work... I sketched those a while ago with a five-color scale instead of six, and I think I'll redo them. I tested with some proper hair colors, and the shading and outlines are a little off.
I did, however, add that high-low skirt, and I tested and adjusted the sweater and coat with the belle skirt, so they can be worn together! You know, when there's side and back views and they're animated.
Add in the shirt and hair to the new piece, and she'll come out something like this:
A slightly metaphorical way of saying that most artists I know hate their work, they always hate their work at each skill level, and nothing ever really satisfies. It never really feels like the practice and dedication pays off... but it does, though they're not usually aware of it.
Haha... it's more that I spent a lot of time practicing art once upon a time. I used to be a realism digital artist sort of mediocre skill, and I did a lot of life drawing and master studies.
Mostly you just think you're a crap artist forever, but it sinks in when you're not looking.
@elmerenges - Thank you! I hope I get well soon too. I'm about to hit my chronic-illness' eighteen-month anniversary, but these last ten days have been completely awful.
@Spring - Yes! Once I get a little better and make side / back views and animations, I'll run them both through my recolor program and get each one in twenty shades. I see a few pixels I'd shift now, but on the whole I'm pleased with the design.
I've got a small collection of reference images for new styles, as well-- a nice corset / high-low skirt for my steampunk set, a Victorian coat with puffy sleeves, some new hairstyles.
Speaking of hair-- new hair I've sketched as well:
He's now a fully functional, dressed fighter:
Swing animation + pants: https://opengameart.org/content/lpc-muscular-swing-animation
Hurt animation + pants: https://opengameart.org/content/lpc-muscular-hurt-animation
I've added pants for the poor dude!
https://opengameart.org/content/lpc-muscular-pants
Looking good!
I'd suggest toning down the yellow on the middle skin tone a bit, though?
And, things are in!
The ear menu:
And with that... I think I have everything I need for the body menu UI. Let me know if you have any suggestions / comments about how to improve it any further, but for now we're done.
Thank you both so much, again! This really helped me out!
I second this.
I was a professional PHP dev for four years, software QA for another four. Given that this is an artist / dev haunt, I'm sure there's quite a few others with that sort of background. Of course changes would need to be reviewed before they'd be pushed to a master branch, but the site could really use some love.
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