Need to create a cartoon effect or cell shaded rendering on sprites

Unity Engine
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1

Hello there,

I want to create some sprites for my games with a cell shading or cartoon effect. Here is an example of the rendering that I look for : https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/2d/environments/2d-platformer-tileset-173155

And I will probably use this asset and I’ll add my own sprites. So, I do not know how to create these types of art style.

I have no experience on Photoshop, and I have very basic knowledge on Gimp.

So, if anybody can help me out, or just give me some advices to achieve my purpose.

Thank you.

2

theres no magic to this “effect”

its just an artstyle, no particular trick to create it just hand drawn

if you want to learn how to draw like this you will have to spend time drawing, there is no shortcut to learning art, just like in sports if you want to learn how to run faster no one can teach you that, you just have to get up everyday and keep running.

To tell you the truth this style you are looking at is one of the easier ones to replicate for most artists, since it is minimalist in form and color, also most of the animation looks to be done with spline which is one of the easiest ways to animate.

That being said, if you have no experience with art it will still take you months or years to learn how to do this. An experienced artist could copy this style in his sleep.

3

Thank your for your reply.

I’m not asking for a magical trick :wink: , but if anyone have a good tutorial or tips to follow it will be great. And, I’m conscious that will need to spend time on it. I’m ready for it !

Thanks

4

no problem, i still think you missed the point, there is no tutorial for this

think of it like this, if you want to run sprints in the olympics do you go to watch tutorials for how to run? maybe you can check some better form but there is no tutorial of how to run

this is the same kind of idea, the best advice I can give you is start by copying this art. its easy just open it in a paint program and make it transparent and start tracing over it. Then copy it side by side, just try to copy it until you can do it easily.

Now if you dont know how to use programs, thats another story, theres a lot you can learn about photoshop for example, then you can check photoshop tutorials for how to use photoshop or gimp like you said, same thing.

Its important that you understand the difference of Technical vs Art

Everything technical you can learn with turorials, the time is only how fast can you watch tutorials

Everything art you have to learn with time, watch other people doing it and practice a lot

5

Yeah, there is misunderstanding.

My problem is not drawing, I can reproduce shapes without transparent mask. By the way, I already have my sprites .

My issue is situated at level of painting : which color , filter, effect and so one to add to get colors as in the asset. So, my problem is technical.

Sorry, I didn’t probably describe my problem correctly.

Thanks.

6

theres no filter nor effect

use the eyedropper tool to copy the color from your sprites and the brush tool to fill it in

its very simple these sprites only have 2 colors, 1 light and 1 dark for each part

7

Thank you, but if I want to use my own colors, how can I paint to get the same rendering as in the assset ?

8

what do you mean by rendering?

just open the color picker and choose a light color and then a dark color

9

I don’t want to use the same color as in the asset, I have some sprites with their own colors.

What I mean by rendering is same looking, for example if I want to use the blue color how to paint this blue to have the same look as any color of this asset. I can’t use technical words because I do not master Gimp or Photoshop.
But in the asset, the color is little shiny or glossy …

10

i made for you this video just to show how easy it is it took me 10 min just because i use my mouse and its too much work to take out my drawing tablet

11

Thank you very much dude ! it’s very kind :slight_smile: .

I undertand how you played with color shade, what did you use at the last step ? when you were switching color (blue to green and so one) .

I was thinking there is some glossy filter to add or something, it is more simple than I thought.

I really appreciate your help.

12

no problem, in the end part i was just adjusting with ( brightness/contrast ) (hue/saturation) and (levels), just trying to find the same brown colors

13

Thanks, I have an idea know how to paint my own sprites.

You saved me :wink: