What do you use for creating game tiles

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  • I have found some older posts about game tile creation but nothing recent. I was just wondering what tools you use for creation of tiles for creation of platform levels, etc... Currently I have been using InkScape. Though I do have Gimp and Microsoft Expression Design. But Creating seamless tiles seems easy until I get to the point where I realize I need tiles for many different scenarios like Slopes, edges, differing types for solid/jump through, etc, etc, etc...

    Are there any tools or at least templates you have found that help with the making of your level tiles? Something that covers all the basic tile types you need in a typical platformer and maybe some tools to help with the others that are a bit mroe difficult.

    I have found that trying to work with the basic 9 block doesn't really cover as many scenarios as I originally thought. The original 9 blocks being Upper left(Corner), Upper Middle (Ground), Upper right (corner), Mid Left (left side/cliff), middle (center block), Mid Right (Right Side/Cliff), Lower Left (Lower Corner), Lower middle (Underside), Lower right (Lower Corner)....

    I keep finding that these 9 really don't cover much at all when you start looking at more complex landscapes and trying to have a smooth seemless look...

    Your thoughts or experience?

  • I hear Pyxel Edit is pretty good,and it's free...it's at pyxeledit.com

  • I usually start out with a seamless pattern generated with a utility like this AWESOME free one:

    neotextureedit.sourceforge.net

    Very cool little product, there are comercial products like Genetica too that make seamless tiles.

    I used Texturemaker for years now, but it does not seem to function with windows Vista or higher.

    Once I have a seamless pattern I will import it into ink scape and Set my shape template to use the seamless pattern.

    In the past I have done the same thing with Blender, but that is a lot more tricky if you are not accustomed to the blender GUI, and workflow.

    The nice thing about blender is that you can do shaded things with normal maps, just make sure you set your camera to Ortho-scopic, and pit whatever kind of light that you choose behind you shing directly off a 90 degree angle from the tile face normal.

    Inkscape and GIMP are the applications I turn to most in this situation.

    I like Inkscape over GIMP because it is so easy to change a single color throughout the entire document.

    The main thing about seamless texture is that you want to Homogenize the colors somewhat so there is no real noticeable feature that really stands out.

    Texture maker actually has a Homogenize filter , not sure where to find it for Gimp or neo-texture edit.

    Another nice tool is a macro-feature resampler. Gimp has one called Textureize, and Texturemaker had one called iSample.

    texturemaker.com/tour.php

    The Gimp plugin was linux only the last time I checked. I am sure there are others that re-synthesize a texture swatch.

    I will use a "variator" decal that I will put over some of my tiles to break things up too. Just small alpha masked things, like patches of grass and rocks to go over a dirt texture. Or on top of a grass block, I will put things like an alpha masked patch of grass, some flowes, or little piles of rubble.

    Hope you find some of this useful :)

  • Wow, Thanks for all the ideas jojoe and pixel perfick that gives me plenty of ideas and tools to try out!

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  • I like Photoshop. Zoom in Close and activate Extras from the view menu.

  • Urled I have used photoshop in the past and 10 years ago was actually pretty good with it. I am on the fence about spending money on the Adobe suite though. Especially with tools like InkScape and GIMP that are free...

  • Hey bluephaze. If you're into pixel-style graphics (or maybe better if you got some skillz :)), then I'd give TileStudio a look. It has a lot of powerful tools and is specifically designed for tiles, sprites, and maps. It even has onion-skinning, customized tilesets, light sources, etc.

    And it's free. TileStudio: http://tilestudio.sourceforge.net/

  • Unfortunately I got sick of pixel style graphics back in the 80's I just don't get excited about retro style graphics as some do. I tend to prefer smoother graphics so much of mine is being generated as vector work then saved to .png. With vector graphics I can still make HD looking graphics without needing to go with expensive apps. I like the smooth edges and gradients I get with vector graphics like inkscape, flash, etc...

  • Unfortunately I got sick of pixel style graphics back in the 80's I just don't get excited about retro style graphics as some do. I tend to prefer smoother graphics so much of mine is being generated as vector work then saved to .png. With vector graphics I can still make HD looking graphics without needing to go with expensive apps. I like the smooth edges and gradients I get with vector graphics like inkscape, flash, etc...

    Smooth like this?

    <img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1660874/Neo-Texture-Edit/window1.png" border="0" />

    <img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1660874/Neo-Texture-Edit/door1.png" border="0" />

    <img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1660874/Neo-Texture-Edit/Neo-Texture-Edit.png" border="0" />

    I am going to be making some videos on different uses of Neo-texture edit real soon.

    You can have your entire project in a file under 30K , and no keeping track of bitmaps! Everything is saved inside the file.

    You can import images too, so the functionality is pretty much limitless.

  • jojoe all my machines are windows 7 or 8. you said that program is only for XP?

  • http://www.filterforge.com/ is nice for texture creation and manipulation, and for some post production.

  • jojoe all my machines are windows 7 or 8. you said that program is only for XP?

    Hi, I mentioned Texture-maker is only for XP. Neo-texture edit is for any windows based system.

    You can get texture maker to work too, it just needs virtuabox and a windows XP installer disk. I really wish Tobias would update it.

    Neo texture edit is Java based so there is a Linux and Mac version too.

  • BluePhaze, i am doing some tests with the bitwise method to autotile, and once we know how to draw the tiles(i am using 16 sprites to cover all positions) and their positions to use the bitwise method, you can achieve great and very organic results.

    And by the way i use Drawplus, a very underated vector software

    I am thinking in making a tutorial if someone is interested

    bitwise autotile

  • cesisco That is pretty damn awesome! Any way to add slopes, jump throughs and moving platforms using that method? Or would you use the auto tile to make the base, then add the extras the traditional way?

  • BluePhaze, i am doing some tests with the bitwise method to autotile, and once we know how to draw the tiles(i am using 16 sprites to cover all positions) and their positions to use the bitwise method, you can achieve great and very organic results.

    And by the way i use Drawplus, a very underated vector software

    I am thinking in making a tutorial if someone is interested

    bitwise autotile

    I have been an Inkscape user for quite some time now. I would love to try something new.

    Looks reasonably priced and a free version too 8)

    Thanks for the information.

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